To review the existing work programme and consider items for the committee’s future consideration taking account of
a. Any items within the forward plan for discussion at the next meeting
b. The update from the policy research officer on existing projects and forthcoming matters
c. Suggestions of other work for the committee in 2023-24
Minutes:
a) Motion 583 - Protecting Rivers and Seas work, making sure that Planning Development on large developments work with South West Water (SWW) on planning infrastructure was working effectively relating to sewage and so on is appropriate, continues.
It was agreed that the Committee receive clarity on what this motion was meant to do. There were two areas that the motion seeks to deal with; a) inviting further information from SWW to state the current loads on their infrastructure and how this would be affected by new development so that that may have significance for planning decisions, b) SWW had been invited and had attended to give a presentation to the Scrutiny Committee about their future investment plans. . The Committee requested the background journey of the motion that led to the SWW presentation, the Clerk will look for the information. The Committee would like to talk with the Environment Agency. Have SWW provided the information they were asked to provide? Is there a Data Controller? Do they have a plan – is it effective? The Clerk will review all of the requests and look at the previous minutes. This will all be put into a document to be discussed at a future meeting.
b) Review recommendations of the Planning Enforcement Working Group.
In response to the public questions, it was agreed that background of the working group along with their final report and officer updates should be provided in a new report to the July meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.
c) Motion 564 – Inclusivity and Community Engagement – does Local Government work for women? Work needs to be continued. Some recommendations had been approved by the Scrutiny Committee and Full Council but they still need to be finalised.
It was discussed that it would assist the committee by having an updated report on this matter for the July committee. It was agreed to review whether there is a crossover with the Community PDG. It was also agreed to move from the Increases to members allowance here to look at how to encourage greater diversity at local elections.
d) 3 Rivers – It was discussed that the review needs to look at the whole 3 Rivers history as well as looking forward at 3 Rivers future. It was agreed that this will come back to Scrutiny once the two external reports are received.
e) Increases to members allowances. – It was confirmed that there had been an Independent Review Panel (IRP) and the matter had gone to full Council. This was not a matter for the Scrutiny Committee. The Deputy Chief Executive (S.151) was asked whether increases to member’s allowance was included within the budget? He replied that the matter of member’s allowances is taken from the IRP. The Deputy Chief Executive (S.151) said that this council had a history of following the recommendations of the IRP. With regard to the overarching budget, reports would go to the PDG’s in November. Cabinet receives a report just before then which gives an overview of the Council’s medium term plan, where we are predicting to be next year and the three years thereafter. In December we receive information from Central Government as to the likely level of funding. The Cabinet will start receiving formal reports in late January. The IRP report will come in before or after that process, but if it arrives later, then the Deputy Chief Executive (S.151) will have made an allowance towards it. The monitoring Officer confirmed that there was due to be a fundamental review of member’s allowances in any event.
f) Participatory budgeting review, it was discussed that a lot of work has been done and needs to be carried forward. It was agreed that the committee should find examples of Participatory Budgeting and look at other councils for examples both good and bad.
Other matters for the work plan:
1. Making Green requirements part of future planning applications – The Chairman commented that the Environment PDG would be a good place for this work to start. At the same time the Chairman will ask the Environment PDG to consider what Energy Efficient Standards need to go into go into new build properties.
2. Can this committee and the Council support the installation of sprinkler systems into all new build residential properties. The Fire Service can provide displays. The Chairman asked for a demonstration of these systems to be arranged.
3. The Clerk was asked to put any outstanding proposals into a document that could be considered on an actual agenda.
Supporting documents: