Committee Administrator: Alison Argent: alison.argent@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Direct Dial on: 01263 516058
12 November 2012
A meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of North Norfolk District Council will be held
in the Council Chamber at the Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer on Wednesday 21 November
2012 at 9.30a.m.
At the discretion of the Chairman, a short break will be taken after the meeting has been running
for approximately one and a half hours. Coffee will be available in the staff restaurant at 9.30 a.m.
and at the break.
Members of the public who wish to ask a question or speak on an agenda item are requested to
arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the meeting. It will not always be possible to
accommodate requests after that time. This is to allow time for the Committee Chair to rearrange
the order of items on the agenda for the convenience of members of the public. Further information
on the procedure for public speaking can be obtained from Democratic Services, Tel: 01263
516047, Email: democraticservices@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Sheila Oxtoby
Chief Executive
To: Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds, Ms V R Gay, Mrs A Green, Mr B Jarvis, Mr P Moore, Mr J H PerryWarnes, Mr R Reynolds, Mr E Seward, Mr B Smith, Mr N Smith, Mr R Smith and Mr P Terrington.
All other Members of the Council for information.
Members of the Management Team, appropriate Officers, Press and Public.
If you have any special requirements in order to attend this
meeting, please let us know in advance
If you would like any document in large print, audio, Braille, alternative
format or in a different language please contact us.
Chief Executive: Sheila Oxtoby Corporate Directors: Nick Baker & Steve Blatch
Tel 01263 513811 Fax 01263 515042 Minicom 01263 516005
Email districtcouncil@north-norfolk.gov.uk Web site northnorfolk.org
AGENDA
1.
TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
2.
SUBSTITUTES
3.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
To receive questions from the public, if any
4.
MINUTES
(Page 1)
(9.30 – 9.40)
To approve as correct records, the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee held on 23 October 2012.
5.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
To determine any other items of business which the Chairman decides should be
considered as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government
Act 1972.
6.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any of the
following items on the agenda. The Code of Conduct for Members requires that
declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary
interest.
7.
PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
To consider any petitions received from members of the public.
8.
CONSIDERATION OF ANY MATTER REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE BY A MEMBER
To consider any requests made by non-executive Members of the Council, and notified to
the Monitoring Officer with seven clear working days notice, to include an item on the
agenda of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
9.
RESPONSES OF THE COUNCIL OR THE CABINET TO THE COMMITTEE’S REPORTS
OR RECOMMENDATIONS
To consider any responses of the Council or the Cabinet to the Committee’s reports or
recommendations.
10.
THE FORWARD PLAN AND DEMOCRATIC SERVICES WORK PROGRAMME
(Page 7)
To discuss the Forward Plan and to consider the programme of business for Cabinet,
Overview and Scrutiny, Audit and Full Council.
11.
BUDGET MONITORING REPORT 2012/13 – PERIOD 6
(Cabinet agenda – 12 November 2012)
(Page 60)
(Appendix F – p.69) (Appendix G – p.72) (Appendix H – p.76)
(9.40 – 10.05)
Summary:
This report summarises the budget monitoring
position for the revenue account and capital
programme to the end of September 2012.
Conclusions:
The overall position at the end of period 6 shows a
forecast underspend of £23,552 for the current
financial year on the revenue account. The revised
budget for 2012/13 will be presented for approval in
December.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1) Cabinet note the contents of the report and the
current budget monitoring position.
2) New homes bonus of £40,000 be used to fund
a CIL Planning Policy Officer as outlined at 2.3.
Reasons for
Recommendations:
To update Members on the current budget
monitoring position for the Council and approve
additional capital budget as outlined in the report.
LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW
(Papers relied on to write the report and which do not contain exempt information)
System budget monitoring reports
Cabinet Member(s)
Wards affected
Contact Officer,
telephone number
and email:
12.
Cllr W Northam
All
Karen Sly
01263 516243
Karen.sly@north-norfolk.gov.uk
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT – DELIVERY OF ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 2012/13
QUARTER 2
(Cabinet agenda – 12 November 2012)
(Page 103)
(Appendix K – p.113) (Appendix L – p.125) (Appendix M – p.134) (Appendix N – p.135)
(Appendix O – p.137)
(10.05 – 10.25)
Summary:
The purpose of this report is to give a mid-year review of
the progress in delivering the Annual Action Plan 201213. It gives an overview, identifies any issues that may
affect delivery of the plan, the action being taken to
address these issues and proposes any further action
needed that requires Cabinet approval.
Conclusions:
The delivery of the Annual Action Plan 2012/13 is
progressing to plan. Any areas of concern have been
outlined in this report and where necessary details given
of progress to date and action being taken are attached
in the form of briefing notes presented as appendices to
this report. In addition, reports on progress of major
projects are also included in the appendices as
appropriate.
Recommendations: It is recommended that the rate of take up of new
designated employment land (indicator J 005) be
reported on an annual basis instead of quarterly as
originally agreed at Cabinet in May 2012. See
paragraph 2.14 for details.
Cabinet Member(s) Cllr K Johnson
Wards affected
All
Contact Officer :
Helen Thomas
telephone number
01263 516214
and email:
Helen.thomas@north-norfolk.gov.uk
13.
SHARED SERVICES
(10.25 – 10.55)
The situation regarding shared services is changing daily and it is felt that it would be more
beneficial to circulate a briefing paper to committee members a couple of days prior to the
meeting and an oral update given at the meeting itself.
14.
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY UPDATE
(page 13)
(Appendix A – page 18) (Appendix B – page 21)
(10.55 – 11.05)
Summary:
This report updates the Committee on progress
with topics in its agreed work programme
(attached at Appendix A) and invites Members
to identify any arising items for future meetings.
The Scrutiny Committee’s working style and role
is attached at Appendix B.
Conclusions:
That progress is being made in some areas,
others need to be monitored and opportunities
for scrutiny should be discussed.
Recommendations:
That Members should consider any followup actions required on these topics.
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
Mr K E Johnson
All
Contact Officer, telephone number and email:
15.
PRESENTATION – EAST OF ENGLAND AMBULANCE SERVICE TRUST
Following the conclusion of the above business and a break for coffee, a presentation will
be made by Paul Leaman – Associate Director, Chris Hartley – Associate Director and
Teresa Church – General Manager of the East of England Ambulance Service Trust. The
following questions have been forwarded prior to the meeting to assist with the presentation
and commence the question session:
1) What are the resources you currently have based in North Norfolk and where are they
located? By resources it is meant Ambulances plus crews, emergency care practitioner
vehicles/staff and rapid response teams.
2) As a result of the proposed changes what resources (as defined above) will be located in
North Norfolk and where?
3) For each of the last five years what is the level of funding that the East of England
Ambulance Trust has received?
4) What are the current targets for response times for the Ambulance Trust and when were
they set. In particular, are there different response targets for ambulances, emergency
practitioner vehicles and rapid response teams? If so, what are the different targets?
5) For each of the last five years what has been the performance in North Norfolk in
meeting targets for response times?
6) It is understood that the Ambulance Trust has to make efficiency savings of £50 million
over a certain period. When was this target set and what is the period over which these
savings have to be made. In particular, do these savings have to be made over one year or
are they to be spread over a number of years?
7) In a typical day what are the movements of the ambulances currently based in
Fakenham, Cromer and North Walsham? Please provide examples?
8) What is the level of demand for ambulance services for each of the last five years in the
region and North Norfolk. How much of this demand has resulted in ambulances being
required?
9) What is the level of staff vacancies currently in the ambulance service operating in
Norfolk?
10) Ambulances waiting to dispose of patients at the Norwich and Norfolk hospital. What is
the scale of the problem and its impact on meeting response times, how long has it been
taking place, and what steps are being taken to remedy the situation?
11) From April 2013 it is understood that the Ambulance Trust for it services in North
Norfolk will receive funding from the North Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group. What
discussions have taken place with NNCCG to date on future funding and targets for
response times?
16.
EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
To pass the following resolution, if necessary:
“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be
excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they
involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph _ of Part I of
Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”
17.
TO CONSIDER ANY EXEMPT MATTERS ARISING FROM CONSIDERATION OF THE
PUBLIC BUSINESS OF THE AGENDA
Agenda item no._______4_______
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
Minutes of a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23 October
2012 in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 9.30 am.
Members Present:
Committee:
Mr E Seward (Chairman)
Mr B Smith
Mr N Smith
Mr R Smith
Mr P Terrington
Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds
Ms V Gay
Mrs A Green
Mr P W Moore
Mr R Reynolds
Officers in
Attendance:
The Chief Executive, the Coast and Community Partnerships Manager, the
Housing Services Manager, the Health Improvement Officer and the
Scrutiny Officer.
Members in
Attendance:
Mrs A Fitch-Tillett, Mr T FitzPatrick, Mrs P Grove-Jones, Mr G Jones, Mr P
W High, Mrs A Moore, Ms B Palmer, Mr R Shepherd, Mrs A Sweeney, Mr
G Williams
Democratic Services Officer (AA)
70 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mr J Perry-Warnes.
71 SUBSTITUTES
Mr R Shepherd for Mr J Perry-Warnes.
72 PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None received.
73 MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 25
September 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Performance Management – Delivery of Annual Action Plan Quarter 1
The Chairman asked for a response to be followed up in respect of whether a meeting
concerning offshore renewable energy sector had taken place with Warwick Energy yet.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
1
23 October 2012
North Norfolk Housing Strategy 2012-15 (Making Best Use of the Existing Housing
Stock)
Mr P Terrington asked for a response to be followed up in respect of how the properties
which were subject to NNDR could be separated from those liable for Council Tax.
74 ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
None received.
75 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None received.
76 PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
None received.
77 CONSIDERATION OF ANY MATTER REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE BY A
MEMBER
None received.
78 RESPONSES OF THE COUNCIL OR THE CABINET TO THE COMMITTEE’S
REPORTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS
The Democratic Services Team Leader said that Full Council had accepted this
Committee’s recommendations at its September meeting and had noted its interest in
looking forward to a policy on bringing empty homes back into occupation.
79 THE FORWARD PLAN AND MANAGEMENT OF COUNCIL BUSINESS
Noted.
80 SCRUTINY TASK AND FINISH GROUP – SCRUTINY COMMITTEE WORK
PROGRAMME AND RELATED ISSUES
a) Mr P Moore, Chairman of the Task and Finish Group, said it had achieved good
cross-party working. The main objectives had been a simplification of the system,
easily understandable reports in plain English and enough time for reports to feed
into the system.
b) Mr G Williams said the issues discussed included style of approach, how to improve
the way in which this Committee operated, how to engage all Members, how to
improve working with the Cabinet. It had clearly been about process not politics and
about getting this Committee to do what it already does better. The Group had
extended its remit to include related matters ie how the Committee brought outside
people in – witness protocol sounded too formal, and how did the Committee gather
and understand issues. The Committee currently met approximately 12 times per
year with a few additional meetings – this was not enough time to be able to do it all.
How do we make the Committee valuable to the Council? The Group had discussed
possible approaches of dealing with important issues. The current report template
had been altered, but needed further alteration. A quick update slot would make
better use of time. Briefing notes could be useful. A two-meeting cycle would make
a significant difference to decision-making. The new report template should help
achieve a better consistency of reports. Meetings off-site may be useful in some
situations. The proposals in the report should create more efficiency and help the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
2
23 October 2012
allocation of resources. Overall, the report gave a range of process-based
improvements which had the potential to make Overview and Scrutiny more
effective but it needed buy-in from Cabinet, Corporate Leadership Team and Officer
teams in the Council to complete the template. It was about more good use of the
meetings scheduled each year. The process should be reviewed after one year. It
may require constitutional change.
c) The Chief Executive welcomed schedules and templates in helping to focus and
progress reports.
RECOMMENDED to:1. Agree use of the work template outlined in Fig 1. for all new areas of work to be
considered by Scrutiny Committee.
2. Support the sequencing of meetings as outlined in Fig 1.
3. Recommend the updated report format in Appendix A.
4. Adopt the updated Witness protocol outlined in Appendix B
5. Hold meetings off site where appropriate in 2013/14 as a pilot scheme.
6. Consider more use of Task and Finish Groups to deliver the work programme of the
Committee
7. Request the Corporate leadership Team and the Democratic Services Team to
manage the implementation of these recommendations including any necessary
training to assist with new or revised procedures.
8. Propose that any financial implications of these revisions be considered as part of the
2013/14 budget round
9. That the annual review of the Scrutiny Committee should include an assessment of
these issues to ensure progress is being achieved.
10.That these recommendations be considered by the Corporate leadership Team and
Full Council as appropriate.
11.To forward the recommendations to the Constitution Working Party so that they
might consider if the Constitution should be reviewed to accommodate any agreed
changes from these proposals.
81 FINAL REPORT OF THE JOINT PUBLIC TRANSPORT TIME AND TASK PANEL
a) The Scrutiny Officer had prepared a colour-coded grid indicating which
recommendations were not applicable to North Norfolk, which would be impractical
and which were joint actions with Broadland and/or Norfolk County Council.
b) The Chairman said that the joint scrutiny project had been an interesting exercise but
that the only thing to come out of it relevant to North Norfolk was community
transport.
c) Ms V R Gay asked for thanks to Broadland District Council to be formally recorded.
There wasn’t much that she disagreed with in the recommendations but had
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
3
23 October 2012
concerns that they didn’t reflect the discussions held in the meetings, including the
discussions of rail travel and considerable work done on community transport.
d) Mr P W Moore said that the recommendations did not reflect discussion of the
importance of taxi services to North Norfolk.
e) The Coast and Community Partnerships Manager said that funding for community
transport groups had been secured for this year. Next year’s funding was conditional
on the findings of the joint review. Feedback was needed if these groups were to plan
ahead.
f) Mr E Seward suggested that employers should make a contribution to community
transport suppliers to enable their employees to get to work.
g) The Chief Executive said that there was £30k in the current budget for community
transport. This was on hold pending the outcome of the joint scrutiny. A task and
finish group should be formed to work with officers on this. Part of the work would be
to consider resources and priority implications. The Leader would be asked to
endorse the joint letter, subject to some amendments as follows: Page 47,
recommendation 4 to be “To continue to support community transport groups”.
RESOLVED
a) To form a Task and Finish Group comprising the same Members who were on the
Joint Time and Task Panel – Mr T FitzPatrick, Ms V R Gay, Mrs B A McGoun and Mr
R Reynolds. Support would be provided by the Coast and Community Partnership
Manager’s team.
b) To request that the Leader endorses the letter to Norfolk County Council attached at
Appendix C to the report including amendments made at the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 11.05am and reconvened at 11.25am.
82 NORTH NORFOLK HOUSING STRATEGY 2012-2015 (SUPPORTING VULNERABLE
PEOPLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY)
a) In response to a question from Mrs P Grove-Jones, the Housing Services Manager
acknowledged that there was a wide range of support and agencies available for
vulnerable people. NNDC had a key role in the commissioning of these services.
b) Referring to concerns regarding finance from Norfolk County Council, Mrs P GroveJones asked if the Council might be in a position of being unable to fund support. The
Housing Services Manager said this was one of the reasons for the strategy.
c) In response to a question from Mr N Smith about people slipping through the net, the
Housing Services Manager said that it was important to raise the profile of available
services and for Members to flag them up to those constituents who needed them.
d) In response to a question from Mr P W Moore, the Housing Services Manager said
that she was not aware of any lobbying of central government regarding funds.
However Norfolk County Council was talking to service providers to see how they
would manage the cuts.
e) Mrs P Grove-Jones expressed concern that cuts in staff dealing with mental health
issues would add to the pressure on support services.
f) Mr G Jones advocated the Personal Budget scheme.
g) RESOLVED
to support the recommendation to Full Council.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
4
23 October 2012
83 HEALTH STRATEGY PROGRESS UPDATE
Developments since the briefing paper was written:
a) The possibility of renting office space to NHS professionals was being explored.
b) The Personal Budget scheme was being looked at within the Workout Programme
and leisure projects.
c) The Health Trainer Service contract to rent office space had been extended to March
2013.
d) The Warm and Well funding had come to an end but work was being done with town
and parish councils to set up a heater loan scheme for vulnerable residents.
e) A bid had been made for funding for Warm and Well 2. It would be known next week
if it had been successful.
f) Mrs A Fitch-Tillett was now NNDC’s representative on the Health and Wellbeing
Board. She commended the Wellbeing Service and proposed that the Reports
Template should include consideration of Health and Wellbeing issues. Ms V R Gay
proposed this and it was seconded by Mr P W Moore. Health and Wellbeing issues
were taken into account when bids for Big Society grants were considered.
g) The Chairman had attended a meeting for town and parish councillors concerning the
Ambulance Service:
• The Ambulance Service received 800,000 calls per annum of which 80% are 999
calls and only 50% actually need an ambulance. This suggested that people
didn’t know how to access out-of-hours medical help.
• There were still problems at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital because
ambulances had to wait outside for significant periods of time until patients could
be transferred to A & E.
• There seemed to be a lack of clarity regarding funding of the service.
• An ambulance might be based in a North Norfolk town but, once it arrived in
Norwich, could be called elsewhere.
h) In response to a Member’s question, the Health Improvement Officer said that people
had to meet certain criteria to be referred to activity schemes. These could be mental
as well as physical health issues.
i) In response to a question from Mr N Smith regarding duplication of services
provided, the Health Improvement Officer said that this was one of the reasons why
the review was taking place.
j) NNDC had recommended to the Health and Wellbeing Board that Physical Activity
should be a category on its own.
k) At the November meeting of the Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
there would be a report on mental health provision. Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds would
report this to Overview and Scrutiny.
l) The reason why so many referrals to the Health Trainer Service had come from
Fakenham was because the local surgery had received additional funding to run a
weight management programme. The Health Improvement Officer would ask for a
breakdown of the figures. She would also ask why there had been no referrals from
Wells. Heritage House had been instrumental in distributing Warm Packs to
vulnerable clients.
m) Concern was expressed that there were no facilities for stroke or cardio-vascular
emergencies at Cromer and North Walsham. Mrs A Fitch-Tillett advised that first
responders were fully qualified and equipped to deal with these emergencies. The
Chairman said that the problem was that there was often a delay between the arrival
of the first responder and the ambulance.
n) Obesity and poor eating habits were often denoted by income and background. Such
people needed to be encouraged to use the leisure centres. Work needed to be done
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
5
23 October 2012
regarding the cost of using these facilities, which could be a problem for people on
low incomes.
o) There were defibrillators in shops etc throughout the District. The Health
Improvement Officer would find out where they were located and report to Members.
p) There was no Member representative on the North Norfolk Health Improvement
Forum.
q) RESOLVED to include Health and Wellbeing on the report template and welcome the
fact that the North Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group is aware of the priority this
Council places on Health and Wellbeing.
84 REVIEW OF OUTSIDE BODIES
a) Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds expressed concern that, apart from NHOSC, none of the
Outside Bodies were reported to Council.
b) The Skills Partnership was an arm of the North Norfolk Business Forum which was
represented by Mr T FitzPatrick and Mr N Smith. However the Skills Forum brought
together employers, schools etc throughout the District and was very important to
North Norfolk which was an area low in skills. It was important that there should be a
Member representative. Ms V R Gay currently attended informally.
c) RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council (December):
• To note that Norfolk Tourism was not a Council appointment and that NNDC is
represented by the Portfolio Holder.
• To continue to be represented on the Norfolk Skills Partnership.
• To remove the North Norfolk Community Transport Partnership, the Norfolk
Playing Fields Association and the Norfolk Rural Community Council from the
official list of Outside Bodies.
85 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY UPDATE
The Democratic Services Team Leader presented the report.
86 MRS M HOWARD, DEMOCRATIC SERVICES TEAM LEADER
This was the last meeting which the Democratic Services Team Leader would attend
before her retirement. The Chairman thanked her for all the work which she had done
at the Council over the years. Mr P Moore thanked her for working right up until her
retirement.
The meeting concluded at 12.40pm.
____________________
Chairman
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
6
23 October 2012
North Norfolk District Council
Cabinet Work Programme
For the Period 01 November 2012 to 28 February 2013
Decision Maker(s)
Meeting
Date
Subject &
Summary
Cabinet
Member(s)
Corporate Plan
Priority`
Lead Officer
Status
Cabinet
12 Nov 2012
Financial Strategy
2013/14
Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision
Karen Sly
Financial Services
Manager
01263 516243
Annual
Cabinet
12 Nov 2012
Budget Monitoring
Period 6
Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision
Karen Sly
Financial Services
Manager
01263 516243
Cyclical
Cabinet
12 Nov 2012
Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision
Overview & Scrutiny
21 Nov 2012
Treasury
Management Half
Yearly Report
2012/13
Tony Brown
Technical Accountant
01263 516126
Full Council
19 Dec 2012
Cabinet
12 Nov 2012
North Walsham
Dual Use Sports
Centre
John Lee
Localism
Nick Baker
Corporate Director
01263 516221
Cabinet
12 Nov 2012
Performance
Management
Keith Johnson
Delivering the
Vision (A)
Helen Thomas
Policy & Performance
Management Officer
01263 516214
Cyclical
Key Decision
* Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (As amended by the Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Exempt Information)
(England) Order 2006)
7
North Norfolk District Council
Cabinet Work Programme
For the Period 01 November 2012 to 28 February 2013
Decision Maker(s)
Meeting
Date
Subject &
Summary
Cabinet
Member(s)
Corporate Plan
Priority`
Lead Officer
Cabinet
12 Nov 2012
Community Asset
Transfer Policy
Rhodri Oliver
Localism (B)
Full Council
19 Dec 2012
Martin Green
Estates & Valuation
Manager
01263 516049
Cabinet
3 Dec 2012
Cromer Council
Office
Improvements
Tom
FitzPatrick /
Rhodri Oliver
Delivering the
Vision (B,D)
Nick Baker
Corporate Director
01263 516221
Cabinet
3 Dec 2012
Empty Homes
Policy
Trevor Ivory
Housing &
Infrastructure (E)
Karen Hill
Housing Services
Manager
01263 516183
Cabinet
3 Dec 2012
Empty Homes Pilot
Scheme
*Exempt item under
Paragraph 1 information relating
to any individual
Trevor Ivory
Housing &
Infrastructure (E)
Karen Hill
Housing Services
Manager
01263 516183
Status
Contains
Exempt
Information
Key Decision
* Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (As amended by the Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Exempt Information)
(England) Order 2006)
8
North Norfolk District Council
Cabinet Work Programme
For the Period 01 November 2012 to 28 February 2013
Decision Maker(s)
Meeting
Date
Subject &
Summary
Cabinet
Member(s)
Corporate Plan
Priority`
Lead Officer
Cabinet
3 Dec 2012
Local Development
Orders
Rhodri Oliver
Housing &
Infrastructure
Steve Blatch
Corporate Director
01263 516232
Cabinet
3 Dec 2012
Compulsory
Purchase Order
(Fakenham)
*Exempt item under
Paragraph 1 information relating
to any individual
North Walsham
Retail Demand and
Capacity Study
Tom
Fitzpatrick
Housing &
Infrastructure
Steve Blatch
Corporate Director
01263 516232
Trevor Ivory
Jobs and the
Local Economy
(A)
Localism (B)
Robert Young
Coast & Community
Partnerships Manager
01263 516162
2012/13 Revised
Budget
Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision
Karen Sly
Financial Services
Manager
01263 516243
Allocations Policy
and Local Lettings
Agreement
Trevor Ivory
Housing &
Infrastructure
Karen Hill
Housing Services
Manager
01263 516183
Cabinet
3 Dec 2012
Cabinet
3 Dec 2012
Overview & Scrutiny
18 Dec 2012
Full Council
Cabinet
19 Dec 2012
3 Dec 2012
Status
Exempt item
Key Decision
* Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (As amended by the Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Exempt Information)
(England) Order 2006)
9
North Norfolk District Council
Cabinet Work Programme
For the Period 01 November 2012 to 28 February 2013
Decision Maker(s)
Meeting
Date
Subject &
Summary
Cabinet
Member(s)
Corporate Plan
Priority`
Lead Officer
Cabinet
3 Dec 2012
Street Naming &
Numbering Fees
Rhodri Oliver
Housing &
Infrastructure
Mark Ashwell
Planning Policy &
Property Info Manager
01263 516325
Cabinet
3 Dec 2012
Options for future
of Building Control
Service
Rhodri Oliver
Delivering the
Vision (D) (E)
Steve Blatch
Corporate Director
01263 516232
Cabinet
7 Jan 2012
Housing Renewal
Policy
Trevor Ivory
Housing &
Infrastructure
Karen Hill
Housing Services
Manager
01263 516183
Cabinet
7 Jan 2012
Council Tax
Support Scheme
(Final)
Wyndham
Northam
7 Jan 2012
Destination
Management
Organisation
Tom
FitzPatrick /
John Lee
Overview & Scrutiny
Full Council
Cabinet
Status
Louise Wolsey
Revenues & Benefits
Services Manager
01263 516081
Jobs & the Local
Economy (D)
Robin Smith
Economic & Tourism
Development Manager
01263 516236
Key Decision
* Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (As amended by the Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Exempt Information)
(England) Order 2006)
10
North Norfolk District Council
Cabinet Work Programme
For the Period 01 November 2012 to 28 February 2013
Decision Maker(s)
Meeting
Date
Subject &
Summary
Cabinet
Member(s)
Background
documents
Lead Officer
Cabinet
7 Jan 2013
Big Society Fund –
grants over £10,000
Trevor Ivory
Localism (C)
Cabinet
7 Jan 2013
Collective Energy
Switching Scheme
Proposal
John Lee
Delivering the
Vision
Cabinet
7 Jan 2013
IT staff structure
Keith Johnson
Delivering the
Vision (E)
Cabinet
7 Jan 2013
Review of Tourist
Information Centres
John Lee
Delivering the
Vision (D)
Localism
Cabinet
4 Feb 2013
Treasury Strategy
2013/14
Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision
Robert Young
Coast & Community
Partnerships Manager
01263 516162
Peter Lumb
Sustainability
Assistant
01263 516331
Estelle Packham
Head of Customer
Services
01263 516079
Estelle Packham
Head of Customer
Services
01263 516079
Tony Brown
Technical Accountant
01263 516126
Cabinet
4 Feb 2013
Performance
Management
Keith Johnson
Delivering the
Vision (A)
Helen Thomas
Policy & Performance
Management Officer
01263 516214
Status
Annual
Cyclical
Key Decision
* Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (As amended by the Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Exempt Information)
(England) Order 2006)
11
North Norfolk District Council
Cabinet Work Programme
For the Period 01 November 2012 to 28 February 2013
Decision Maker(s)
Meeting
Date
Subject &
Summary
Cabinet
Member(s)
Background
documents
Lead Officer
Cabinet
4 Feb 2013
Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision
Overview & Scrutiny
20 Feb 2013
2013/14 Base
Budget and
Projections for
2014/15 to 2016/17
Karen Sly
Financial Services
Manager
01263 516243
Full Council
27 Feb 2013
Status
Key Decision
* Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (As amended by the Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Exempt Information)
(England) Order 2006)
12
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
21 November 2012
Agenda Item No__14__
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY UPDATE
Summary:
This report updates the Committee on progress with
topics in its agreed work programme (attached at
Appendix A) and invites Members to identify any
arising items for future meetings. The Scrutiny
Committee’s working style and role is attached at
Appendix B.
Conclusions:
That progress is being made in some areas, others
need to be monitored and opportunities for scrutiny
should be discussed.
Recommendations:
That Members should consider any follow-up
actions required on these topics.
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
Mr K E Johnson
All
Contact Officer, telephone number and email:
1.
Introduction
The Scrutiny Update report is a standing item on all Overview and Scrutiny
Committee agendas. The report updates Members on progress made with
topics on its agreed work programme and provides additional information
which Members may have requested at a previous meeting.
2.
Progress on topics since the last meeting
2.1
Ambulances
A speaker from the East of England Ambulance Trust will be attending
Overview and Scrutiny on 21 November 2012. All Members have been invited
to attend and submit questions in advance.
2.2
Figures from Joint Staff Consultative Committee
At the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 25 September
2012 a query was raised regarding a perceived discrepancy between
sickness absence figures reported to Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny in
September and figures reported to the Joint Staff Consultative Committee
(JSCC) in the same month. An email from the Policy and Performance
Management Officer has addressed this query:
“The quarter 1 figure of 1.12 days sickness per FTE presented to
Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny is not the same as the figures
13
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
21 November 2012
presented to JSCC. The figures presented to JSCC were the total
number of FTE days (288.71) and the average no. of staff (FTE) (254.17).
This gives a figure of 1.14 days per FTE. The slight difference (0.02) is
due to the difference in the time that the figures were calculated and a
slight difference in the method of calculation.”
2.3
Public Transport Task and Finish Group
As a result of receiving the final report on 23 October Members resolved to
form a Task and Finish Group comprising the same Members who were on
the Joint Time and Task Panel – Mr T FitzPatrick, Ms V R Gay, Mrs B A
McGoun and Mr R Reynolds. Support will be provided by the Coast and
Community Partnership Manager’s team.
2.4
Outside Bodies
The following recommendation has been forwarded to Full Council for 19
December 2012:
•
•
•
2.5
To note that Norfolk Tourism was not a Council appointment and that
NNDC is represented by the Portfolio Holder.
To continue to be represented on the Norfolk Skills Partnership.
To remove the North Norfolk Community Transport Partnership, the
Norfolk Playing Fields Association and the Norfolk Rural Community
Council from the official list of Outside Bodies.
Health and Wellbeing
At the last meeting the Portfolio Holder, Mrs A M Fitch-Tillett recommended
that Health and Wellbeing should be included as a consideration on the report
template. Her recommendation was formally proposed to the Committee by
Ms V R Gay, seconded by Mr P W Moore and resolved. This has been sent to
Corporate Leadership Team for approval. At the meeting of CLT on 5th
November it was agreed that this would not be introduced at this stage but
would be considered as part of the overall review of the committee template.
2.6
Recommendations from Task and Finish Group
The following recommendation has been forwarded to the Chairman of the
Constitution Working Party and to the Monitoring Officer:
“To forward the recommendations (Minute 80, recommendations 1 – 10) to
the Constitution Working Party so that they might consider if the Constitution
should be reviewed to accommodate any agreed changes from these
proposals”.
2.7
Community First Responders
At the October meeting a question was asked regarding Community First
Responders. The following information has been received from the Health
Improvement Officer:
“In North Norfolk there are six Community First Responder Teams
covering the following towns and surrounding areas:
14
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
•
•
•
•
•
•
21 November 2012
Cromer and Mundesley
Sheringham
Fakenham & District
North Walsham
Wroxham & Hoveton
Potter Heigham
A Community First Responder scheme is made up of groups of
volunteers who, within the community in which they live or work and
have been trained to attend emergency calls received by the NHS
ambulance service, providing first aid until an emergency ambulance
arrives. When a 999 call is made an ambulance or response vehicle is
dispatched to attend - if appropriate a CFR will also be dispatched.
The CFR will probably arrive first, as they are likely to be closer to the
incident than the ambulance.
The CFR will be able to:
• Clear and maintain the airway of an unconscious patient
• Administer oxygen to patients who are short of breath or
who have chest pain
• Provide resuscitation and defibrillation when required
• Control haemorrhage
• Put the patient at ease
• Take basic observations like pulse and respiratory rate
Where the patient has suffered a cardiac arrest the CFR can provide
vital, rapid defibrillation (an electric shock to the heart), which plays
an essential role in allowing the heart to re establish normal activity.
The quicker the patient receives this treatment the greater the
chances of success, if you can get to a patient in the first 8 minutes
you have a very high chance of saving their lives. Made up totally of
volunteers from the community, whilst the group works with the
Ambulance service, it does not receive any financial support from the
NHS or Ambulance Service, so is a charity and relies on donations.”
2.8
Health Trainer Service
The following information has been received from the Health Improvement
Officer in response to a query regarding referrals to the Health Trainer
Service:
“Fakenham Surgery runs a weight management programme so they
have referred people from that to the health trainer service. In terms of
% referrals per area most up to date shows a slight change.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cromer
Fakenham
Birchwood (North Walsham)
Sheringham
Hoveton & Wroxham
Stalham Staithe
Mundesley
15
20.6%
14.7%
12.9%
6.6%
5.9%
4.4%
4.0%
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
•
•
•
21 November 2012
Paston (North Walsham)
Wells
Ludham and Stalham
2.9%
2.2%
1.8%
Wells Surgery offers the health trainers a room for ½ day a week but
don’t get large number of referrals from Wells area. There is no real
engagement with Wells hospital.”
3.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Review 2011 - 2012
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Review 2011 – 2012 was
received by Full Council on 24 October 2012. It has now been published on
the Council’s website.
4.
Community Safety Workshop – County Hall 26th October 2012
Emma Denny attended this on behalf of the Committee. The aim of the
workshop was to provide an understanding of community safety issues and
community safety working in Norfolk and to demonstrate how agencies are
working together to prioritise these issues and develop services that respond
to them. The following were invited to attend:Norfolk Police and Crime Panel
members, Norfolk County Council Community Safety Partnership Scrutiny
Body members, Norfolk County Community Safety Partnership
representatives, Norfolk County Council Cabinet member for Community
Protection (Nigel Dixon) and County and District Scrutiny officers
There was a brief outline of the role of the Norfolk County Community Safety
Partnership (NCCSP) and it was explained that from April 2013 the NNCSP’s
grant funding will transfer to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) who
can then commission community safety services. The PCC and the NCCSP
have a duty to work with each other and consequently there is likely to be a
shift towards more dynamic partnership arrangements, with the NCCSP
focussing on informing and influencing services.
The individual workshops focussed on three of the main priority areas for the
CSP:
• Young people, anti-social behaviour and crime
• Domestic abuse
• Reducing re-offending in adults
There was a slant towards restorative justice and the potential this approach
had to reduce crime.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee used to receive 6 monthly updates in
community safety issues. This could be reinstated if there is an interest
amongst members. An alternative would be to have a series of items on
specific issues under the community safety ‘umbrella’ and the County Council
ahs offered to provide some support on this. Nigel Dixon chaired the
workshop and he has offered to attend committee as County Cabinet Member
for community protection – to answer any questions that Members may have.
5.
Changes to the Work Programme and Future Topics
No changes were made to the Work Programme at the meeting of 23 October
2012. However, to accommodate the presentation by the Ambulance Service
16
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
21 November 2012
on 21 November it was decided to defer the item on planning performance to
January (to coincide with the item on planning fees) and the update on the
Big Society Fund to December. It is intended that this will include a review of
the Fund.
Members should also be made aware that it may be necessary to hold a
series of special meetings in January to approve the final version of the
Council Tax Support Scheme. It is hoped that we will be able to keep the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on the scheduled date but it may
be necessary to schedule a special meeting of Cabinet and Full Council.
17
Appendix A
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME
2012/2013
GUIDANCE FOR REVIEWING THE WORK PROGRAMME
In setting future Scrutiny topics, the Committee is asked to:
a) Demonstrate the value any investigation would have to the Council’s Community
Leadership Role.
b) Consider the relationship any future topic may have with the work of the Cabinet’s Work
Programme and the Council’s Corporate Plan
c) Be mindful of the public’s priorities.
d) Provide reasons for the investigation (so that Officers/Witnesses can assist Members to
reach an outcome).
e) Consider the outcomes required before commencing an investigation.
f) Balance the need for new topics with existing items on the Scrutiny Work Programme.
g) Consider whether it would be helpful to time limit investigations or break down some topics
into smaller areas.
h) Provide sufficient notice, where possible, in order that the Cabinet Member with
responsibility for the subject, Officers and outside witnesses/attendees can fully assist the
Committee.
Date of
Meeting
Topic
Nov 21
2012
Budget
Monitoring
Period 6 (April –
September)
Links with
Corporate Plan
Notes
Delivering the
Vision E
Cyclical
Presentation –
East of England
Ambulance
Trust
Angie Fitch-Tilllett
Performance
Management
Helen
Thomas/Keith
Johnson
Wyndham
Northam/Louise
Wolsey
Delivering the
Vision A - E
Delivering the
Vision E
Update requested by
Members
2012/13
Revised Budget
Karen
Sly/Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision E
Cyclical
Big Society
Fund Update (to
include review
of BSF)
Trevor
Ivory/Sonia
Shuter
Localism A, B, C
6-monthly update
Shared Services
including ICT
procurement for
Revenues and
Benefits
replacement
systems
Dec 18
2012
Organisation/
Officer/
Responsible
Portfolio Holder
Karen Sly/
Wyndham
Northam
18
Requested by
Members
Appendix A
Date of
Meeting
Topic
January
23 2013
Planning Fees
Organisation/
Officer/
Responsible
Portfolio Holder
Rhodri
Oliver/Steve
Oxenham
Links with
Corporate Plan
Notes
Housing and
Infrastructure A
Review after 9 months,
requested by Members
Coast,
Countryside and
Built Heritage A
Planning
Performance
Update
Rhodri
Oliver/Steve
Oxenham
Housing and
Infrastructure A
Requested by
Members June 2012 –
deferred from Nov 12
Waste Contract
John Lee/Barry
Brandford
Coast,
Countryside and
Built Heritage A
6 monthly update
Environmental
Sustainability
Update
John Lee/Peter
Lumb
Delivering the
Vision E
Annual update
Budget
Monitoring
(October –
December)
Karen
Sly/Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision E
Cyclical
Performance
Management
Helen
Thomas/Keith
Johnson
Delivering the
Vision A - E
2013/2014 Base
Budget and
Projections for
2014/15 to
2016/17
Karen
Sly/Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision E
Cyclical
Budget
Monitoring
Period 10 (Jan –
March)
Karen
Sly/Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision E
Cyclical
Health Strategy
Update
Angie FitchTillett/Sonia
Shuter
All
6 monthly update
April or
May 2013
Car Park
Charges
Rhodri Oliver/
Duncan Ellis
Delivering the
Vision E
Review requested by
Members
May 2013
Performance
Management
Helen
Thomas/Keith
Johnson
Delivering the
Vision A - E
February
20 2013
March 20
2013
19
Appendix A
Date of
Meeting
Topic
Organisation/
Officer/
Responsible
Portfolio Holder
Tom
FitzPatrick/Estelle
Packham
Links with
Corporate Plan
June 2013
Complaints,
Compliments
and
Suggestions
June 2013
(Outturn Report)
Final Accounts
2011/12
Karen Sly/
Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision A - E
Annual
RIPA/
Surveillance
Nick Baker/John
Lee
Coast,
Countryside and
Built Heritage A
Annual
Future of the
Happisburgh
Steps
Brian Farrow /
Angie Fitch-Tillett
Coast,
Countryside and
Built Heritage
Request by Coastal
Management Board
(Nov.12)
Budget
Monitoring
Period 4 (April –
July)
Karen Sly/
Wyndham
Northam
Delivering the
Vision E
Cyclical
Happisburgh
Beach Access
Steps
Monitoring
Report
Angie FitchTillett/Brian
Farrow
Coast,
Countryside and
Built Heritage C
Undertaking to monitor
made to Cabinet on
10 September 2012 –
request by Coastal
Management Board to
consider in June 2012
TBA
Customer
Access Strategy
Tom
FitzPatrick/Estelle
Packham
Delivering the
Vision B
Item on
All
Scrutiny
agendas
Scrutiny
Committee
Work
Programme
Keith Johnson/
Scrutiny Officer
All
Sept
2013
20
Notes
Delivering the
Vision B
At Committee
Appendix B
Working Style of the Scrutiny Committee
Independence
Members of the Scrutiny Committee will not be subject to whipping arrangements by party groups.
Member leadership
Members of the Committee will take the lead in selecting topics for scrutiny and in questioning
witnesses. The Committee will expect members of Cabinet, rather than officers, to take the main
responsibility for answering the Committee’s questions about topics, which relate mainly to the
Council’s activities.
A constructive atmosphere
Meetings of the Committee will be constructive, and not judgmental, accepting that effective
scrutiny is best achieved through challenging and constructive enquiry. People giving evidence at
the Committee should not feel under attack.
Respect and trust
Meetings will be conducted in a spirit of mutual respect and trust.
Openness and transparency
The Committee’s business will be open and transparent, except where there are sound reasons
for protecting confidentiality. In particular, the minutes of the Committee’s meetings will explain
the discussion and debate in a balanced style, so that they could be understood by those who
were not present.
Consensus
Members of the Committee will work together and, while recognizing political allegiances, will
attempt to achieve consensus and agreed recommendations.
Impartial and independent officer advice
Officers who advise and support the Committee will give impartial and independent advice,
recognizing the importance of the Scrutiny Committee in the Council’s arrangements for
governance, as set out in its Constitution.
Regular review
There will be regular reviews of how the scrutiny process is working, and a willingness to change
if it is not working well.
Programming and planning
The Committee will agree the topics to be included in its published work programme and the
extent of the investigation to be undertaken in relation to resources, and the witnesses to be
invited to give evidence.
Managing time
The Committee will attempt to conclude the business of each meeting in reasonable time. The
order of business will be arranged as far as possible to minimize the demands on the time of
witnesses.
21