Agenda and minutes

An apology of absence was received from Councillor Ms Pankhurst.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Scrutiny Board meeting held on 11 January 2018.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Board meeting held on 11 January 2018 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To receive a presentation by the Executive Member for Streetscene on the progress made and changes to the portfolio over the past year.

The Board received a presentation and asked questions of the Executive Member for Streetscene, Councillor Miss Harper, on an overview of the Streetscene portfolio and the changes that have been made to it over the past two years. (appended to these minutes).

The presentation covered the following areas:

·         Services within the Portfolio

·         Budgets and Resources

·         Management Structure

·         Transport Management

·         Refuse & Recycling

·         Grounds Maintenance

·         Hampshire County Council Agency Agreement

·         Street Cleansing

·         Parks and Open Spaces

·         Countryside Management

The Board noted that some of the most significant changes to the portfolio were the additional services that have been brought in the Streetscene department, which includes; Countryside Services, Outdoor Recreation and the Speed Limit Reminder signs.

RESOLVED that the Executive Member for Streetscene be thanked for her informative presentation.

To consider a report by the Director of Finance and Resources which invites members to give a final review of the Board’s work programme for 2017/18 and draft work programme for 2018/19.

The Board considered a report by the Director of Finance and Resources which gave a final review of the Board’s work programme for 2017/18 and the draft work programme for 2018/19.

The Director of Finance and Resources addressed the Board to inform them of an additional item that is to be included onto the work programme for 2018/19. He informed them that on 14 December 2017 a petition entitled “Stop the building of 1500 homes in Warsash, Locks Heath, Park Gate and Titchfield Common” was presented at the Council meeting.

The petition contained 2,390 valid signatures, with the trigger for a debate at Council being 1500 signatures. The petitioner was advised however, that as the petition was raised in response to the consultation on the Draft Local Plan, it would not be appropriate to debate this matter at the next Council meeting as there are Statutory processes which we are legally bound to adhere to and which must take precedence over the petition.

The petitioner was also advised that the Council is mindful of pre-determination issues where Councillors would be put in the position of publicly voicing their opinions on how they would vote on the issue of site allocations for housing prior to the Local Plan being presented to Council for determination; or prior to the Local Plan being presented to Council for formal determination; or prior to any planning applications on those specific sites coming forward to the Planning Committee for approval.

The petitioner has now submitted a formal complaint about the way the petition has been handled by the Council.

 The Petition Scheme states that “if you feel that we have not dealt with your petition properly, the petition organiser has the right to request that the Scrutiny Board reviews the steps that the Council has taken in response to your petition.”

Officers will therefore bring a report on this issue to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Board, inviting a review on the handling of the petition in order that the complaint can be considered and resolved.

This item will be added to the work programme for the next meeting of the Board in May.

In addition to the above, the Director of Finance and Resources confirmed that the unallocated item of Vanguard Update will be added to the work programme for the November 2018 meeting.

Members were given the opportunity to add any additional items to the work programme for 2018/19, but no further suggestions were made.

RESOLVED that the Board:

(a)  reviewed the outcomes of the work programme for 2017/18;

(b)  inform the Council of the Board’s views on the outcome of the call-in arrangement for 2017/18;

(c)  agree the provisional work programme for 2018/19;

(d)  submit the provisional work programme of the Board for 2018/19 to the Council.

To receive the minutes of the Policy Development and Review Panels held since 1^st January 2018.

The Board was asked to receive the minutes of the Policy Development and Review Panels held since 1 January 2018.

The Chairman of the Planning and Development Policy Development and Review Panel, Councillor A Mandry was invited to present the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2018.

It was AGREED the minutes be received.

The Chairman of the Health and Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel, Councillor M J Ford, JP was invited to present the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2018.

It was AGREED that the minutes be received.

The Chairman of the Health and Public Protection Policy Development and Review Panel, Councillor M J Ford, JP was invited to present the minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2018.

It was AGREED that the minutes be received.

The Chairman of the Leisure and Community Policy Development and Review Panel, Councillor Mrs C L A Hockley was invited to present the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2018.

It was AGREED that the minutes be received.

The Chairman of the Housing Policy Development and Review Panel, Councillor F Birkett was invited to present the minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2018.

It was AGREED that the minutes be received.

The Chairman of the Housing Policy Development and Review Panel, Councillor F Birkett was invited to present the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2018.

It was AGREED that the minutes be received.

The Chairman of the Streetscene Policy Development and Review Panel, Councillor S D Martin was invited to present the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2018.

It was AGREED that the minutes be received.

If requested by a member, to consider any item of business dealt with by the Executive, since the last meeting of the Board. The relevant Executive meetings are 4 December 2017, 8 January 2018, 5 February 2018 and 20 February 2018. (This will also include any decisions taken by individual Executive members during the same time period.)

The Chairman invited members to indicate if they wish to consider any other item of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Board.

There were no other items of Executive Business considered.