A verbal update from the Scrutiny Chairmen will be provided.
Minutes:
The Chairman of the Corporate Overview Group informed the Group that she had recently attended an East Midlands Council’s Scrutiny Network Meeting with other local Council’s about their scrutiny process. The Chairman noted that other Council’s agreed that all parties involved with scrutiny had to have a common goal and was keen to hear the Group’s views on the scheduling of meetings due to one finishing past 10pm recently.
The Chairman of the Communities Scrutiny Group responded by noting that the Communities Scrutiny Group had received a presentation about dog fouling and littering in advance of their most recent meeting as a result of a challenging and busy agenda. The Chairman informed the Group that Councillors appreciated the presentation in advance of the meeting but suggested that perhaps additional meetings were necessary in the next meeting cycle in order for the full scrutiny process to be in the public domain.
The Communities Scrutiny Group had scrutinised the future of Edwalton Golf Course following the findings of Knight, Kavanagh and Page (KKP) who undertook a two-stage study which considered whether there was a golfing need for Edwalton Golf Course and an alternative options appraisal if a needed. The Group approved the recommendations to Cabinet which were that golf and/or other sporting and community use be retained on the site by developing and investing in the main golf course, a driving range and community facility and, if viable, other sporting activities, as part of the master plan work.
The Chairman of the Communities Scrutiny Group was pleased to note that following the request of additional resources to enforce environmental crimes, the Council had commenced a 12-month trial with a private sector partner “WISE”, a dedicated resource to investigate all fly tipping reports and also undertake routine patrols at litter and dog fouling hot spots at zero cost to the Council. The Communities Scrutiny Group also discussed the revised Equalities Scheme and was pleased to note that an action plan for the scheme would be sent out for public consultation and that the Group would revisit the Scheme in 12 months to ensure that actions were being delivered.
The Governance Scrutiny Group considered items including the annual audit letter, an internal audit progress report and the internal audit strategy in which the Group approved year two of the strategy. The Group also discussed the risk management process following the impact of Covid-19.
The Chairman of the Growth and Development Scrutiny Group was pleased to note that the Group had met with representatives of Stagfield and Peveril Homes, who presented their design proposals for the Abbey Road development. The Group were informed that the developers promised to use 30% local labour, sub-contractors and local materials. It was also noted that management fees should be less than £200 and that the Chairman had asked the Portfolio Holder for Planning to write to the Secretary of State to introduce national guidance for management companies. The Vice-Chairman also echoed the comments of the Chairman and suggested that the use of 30% of local suppliers should be monitored.
The Chairman of the Growth and Development Group passed on his best wishes to the Executive Manager – Communities who was currently recovering from an operation and had recently announced that he would retire before the next meeting. The Chairman passed on his thanks to the Executive Manager for his guidance and support on behalf of the group.