Overview and Scrutiny Committee
25 September 2012
Agenda Item No__16__
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY UPDATE
Summary:
This report updates the Committee on progress with
topics in its agreed work programme (attached at
Appendix C) and invites Members to identify any
arising items for future meetings. The Scrutiny
Committee’s working style and role is attached at
Appendix D.
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 and suggest any
amendments to the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee Annual Review 2011 - 2012.
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
Mr T J FitzPatrick
All
Contact Officer, telephone number and email: Mary Howard, Democratic Services
Team Leader, Tel.01263 516047, mary.howard@north-norfolk.gov.uk
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
Norfolk Credit Union
James Bacon of Norfolk Credit Union attended Overview and Scrutiny on 24
July 2012. He has since provided literature, including application forms. The
literature, together with slides from the presentation, will be available at the
meeting of 25 September 2012.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
2.2
25 September 2012
Six-monthly review of Environmental Services Contract
At the meeting of 24 July 2012 Members asked for additional information as a
result of this item. The following response has been provided by the Head of
Environmental Health:
Beach Cleaning: The contractor’s method statement for fulfilling the contract
specification outlines the following in relation to beach cleaning
25.3.4 Areas within zone 5 will include; Amenity beaches
25.4.27 All beach areas, peripheral roads, accesses and car parks will be
cleansed and maintained to the required grade “A” standard of cleanliness
from March through to October inclusive. An annual cleanse will be
completed before 31st each year
Clearly this indicates that amenity beaches will be maintained to a high
standard of cleanliness. However in practical terms this is difficult to achieve
due to occupancy levels during low tide and variance in times of high and low
tide.
The deposit of litter on the beach is an offence and amenity beaches are
included in the areas patrolled by officers from Environmental Health on a
regular basis in the peak season.
If an area of beach is of particular concern then this should be raised through
Customer Services.
Volume of calls to Kier and how they feed into the Customer Services
system: Kier operate a different computer system to the Council, this was a
key part of Kier delivering service efficiencies for the contract. This does
mean that Customer Services cannot access the data live. We are sent
monthly information on the call data and this is analysed to identify any
trends. We are currently investigating the potential to adopt the same
software system as Kier which would enable live interrogation but this will be
subject to as cost benefit analysis.
Paint Cans: Empty paint cans or those with dried paint can be placed in the
domestic waste bin for collection, but these should have the lid removed.
Empty metal paint cans may be recycled in the Recycling bin. Cans with liquid
paint can only be disposed of at selected Norfolk County Council Recycling
Centres (please see below)
The following is a selected extract from Norfolk County Council’s web site.
Dried out paint cans (including spray cans) can be taken to any of Norfolk’s
Main Recycling Centres. Empty metal paint cans are to be disposed of in the
‘scrap metal’ container. Empty plastic cans can be disposed of in the ‘waste
to landfill’ container or put in your general waste kerbside bin.
Liquid Paint cans (including spray cans) can be taken to the eight Main
Recycling Centre Plus’. Liquid paint is classed as hazardous waste so will
only be accepted at our eight Main Recycling Centre Plus sites, where safe
storage facilities exist.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
25 September 2012
The Main Recycling Centre Plus sites are Caister, Dereham, Hempton,
Ketteringham, King’s Lynn, Mayton Wood, Mile Cross and Thetford.
It can be taken to an annual hazardous waste amnesty at selected Main
Recycling Centres.
Repaint Scheme - At three Main Recycling Centres (Dereham, Ketteringham
& King’s Lynn) we are running a RePaint scheme where paint in a useable
condition is sold on site. Community groups are able to join the new scheme
to access unlimited amount of paint for a small charge. Members of the public
are also able to purchase and donate good quality paint for reuse at these
sites.
Fly-tipping: During quarter four of 2011/12 a significant drop off in
performance was observed in the percentage of fly tipping incidences
investigated in two days. Investigation identified issues in the performance of
the contractor meeting the required target and through contract meetings
remedial steps and changes to working practice on both the contractor and
Councils part were put in place.
This has seen a significant improvement in performance and although not yet
at the desired level regular monitoring of performance and improved
communications should bring about further improvements in the future.
The table below provides monthly figures on fly-tipping incidents since the
beginning of the year.
2.3
Month Incidents
Average Size
Investigations
Costs
(clearance)
£
Jul-12
30
2386
30
Jun12
May12
Apr12
Mar12
Feb12
Jan12
27
car boot load - small
van load
car boot load - small
van load
small van load - transit
van load
car boot load - small
van load
car boot load - small
van load
car boot load - small
van load
small van load
1137
27
2311
30
1185
17
2899
49
2937
20
2488
45
30
17
49
20
45
Community Transport
A question was raised at the July meeting about funding for community
transport. A review of community transport funding in North Norfolk is to be
undertaken by the Coast and Community Partnerships Manager. Members
may wish to monitor this.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
2.4
25 September 2012
Provision of a temporary extra resource in Planning Enforcement
The Head of Development Management advises that an update was made on
this topic as one of the key points of the Management Team Meeting of 26
July 2012 which was emailed to Members and staff by the Chief Executive:
“Planning Service – LGA peer review likely to be carried out in the autumn.
Support to be provided from Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk for
enforcement work and IT to ensure a full communication system for service”.
3.
Performance Management – Delivery of Annual action Plan Quarter 1
This report, at Agenda Item 12, went to Cabinet on 10 September 2012. The
Chair of Overview and Scrutiny requested some comparative figures
regarding lettings of social housing. The Strategy Team Leader has provided
the following response:
“There were 405 lets in 2010/11 and 415 in 2009/10. I do not have access to
data on lets prior to 2009/10 as it is no longer available on TEN and our
current IT system went live in 2009 and we do not have access to the old IT
system.”
4.
Public Transport Joint Scrutiny Panel
Councillors Barry Smith and Peter Moore attended a meeting of the Overview
and Scrutiny Committee at Broadland District Council on 31 July 2012 for a
review of recommendations from the Time and Task Limited Public Transport
Joint Scrutiny Panel. The final recommendations will be presented to
Broadland’s Cabinet on 11 September.
A report will be made to the October meeting of the NNDC Overview and
Scrutiny Committee to inform Members of the recommendations and provide
a basis for discussion on how they can be implemented in North Norfolk.
5.
Ambulance Service Cuts
Proposed cuts to the Ambulance Service are causing concern in the District.
The East of England Ambulance Service has indicated that one of the 2 fulltime ambulances in Cromer would become part-time and that North Walsham
would get a rapid response vehicle instead of an ambulance. Members are
asked to consider if they wish to investigate this further and invite a
representative from the East of England Ambulance Service to Overview and
Scrutiny in October.
6.
Changes to the Work Programme and Future Topics
5.1
The Housing Strategy report which is going to Cabinet on 10 September 2012
has been added to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme
for 25 September because it is going to Full Council the following day and is a
topic which the Overview and Scrutiny Committee has been monitoring.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
25 September 2012
5.2
At the pre-Agenda meeting on 10 September 2012 it was decided that
scheduled reports on Review of Outside Bodies and the Health Strategy
should be deferred until October to avoid overcrowding of the September
Work Programme.
5.3
A report on the recommendations from the Public Transport Joint Scrutiny
Panel has been added to the Work Programme for October.
5.4
On 31 January 2012 a special meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee was convened to consider the proposed operational framework of
the Big Society Fund. At this meeting it was resolved that the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee would receive 6-monthly reports on the operation of the
Fund. The Fund opened to applications on 2 April 2012 and therefore has
been in operation for a period approaching 6 months. Members are asked to
consider adding an update to the Work Programme for November or
December.
7.
Overview and Scrutiny Annual Review
The draft Overview and Scrutiny Annual Review 2011- 2012 is attached at
Appendix E. It includes an introduction written by the Chairman. Members
are requested to suggest any amendments. It is planned to forward the final
version to Full Council on 24 October 2012.
8.
Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
The outcomes and actions from the Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny
Committee held on 6 September 2012 have been provided by Mrs A
Claussen-Reynolds and are attached at Appendix F.
9.
New Regulations
The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to
Information) (England) Regulations 2012 comes into force on 10 September
2012. The regulations affect decisions made by the Executive either as the
whole Cabinet, individual portfolio holders, Cabinet sub committees and
executive decisions taken by Members.
There will no longer be a requirement to produce a Forward Plan but 28 clear
working days notice must be given before a key decision can be taken. If a
meeting is to be held in private 28 clear working days notice must also be
given. Meetings must be held in public unless agenda items contain exempt
or confidential information. If it is impossible to give 28 clear days notice of
taking a key decision or holding a meeting in private then agreement must be
obtained from the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny.
Background papers must not only be listed on reports but must be made
available for public inspection. Decision lists will need to show extra
information including details of any alternative options considered but rejected
in making the decision. NNDC committee documents will be revised to
comply.
Upon request from a Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee the
Executive must make available any material relating to business related to
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
25 September 2012
past decisions. This must be provided as soon as reasonably practicable and
no later than 10 clear days after the request is made. This does not include
exempt information unless it relates to an action or decision that the Member
is scrutinising. If the Executive determines that material will not be provided, it
must put the reasons in writing.
The purpose of the new Regulations is to encourage greater transparency in
the making of executive decisions. However there are concerns that they
could be a significant burden to councils and could become legislation with
out any formal consultation. Compliance with the legislation could increase
red tape and bureaucracy despite the government’s stated aim to reduce it.
The Council will need to take a decision about whether or not to support this
view.