Agenda item

The Service Manager, Scrutiny and Democratic Services presented the Committee with an update on the Scrutiny Workplan 2021/2022. The Workplan included suggestions for three additional topics, as submitted to the Scrutiny Research Officer in preparation for the meeting.

Members of the Committee were also provided with a status programme detailing the progress of ongoing topics on the Scrutiny Workplan. The Service Manager, Scrutiny and Democratic Services, updated Members of the Committee on the following topics;

Tenancy Support

Scrutiny Panel A had made progress with the review of tenancy support via their last meeting on the 14 October and an Informal Working Group meeting had been held on 14 September 2021, whereby Members had been presented with detailed information on the Selective Licensing Scheme via a presentation given by the Service Manager for Strategic Housing & Lettings, Phil Warrington and the Environmental Health Team Leader, Stacy White.

Members of the Panel agreed that it was important for them to consider the Selective Licensing Evaluation Report and subsequent Cabinet Report prior to making their final recommendations to Cabinet.

The Cabinet Report detailing consultation proposals was due to be presented in December. This report set out the consultation process for renewing the Selective Licensing Scheme for a further 5 year period. Scrutiny Panel A Members agreed that it would be prudent to feed into that consultation and also consider the wider consultation feedback prior to concluding their findings and presenting them to Cabinet in March 2022.

Climate Change

Progress on the review of Climate Change has been made through both Working Group meetings and formal meetings of the Panel. At the last meeting of the Panel on the 28 October, Members of the Panel considered both the Councils strategic plans in relation to the assets and services that are managed and the wider climate change issues for Ashfield as a District.

Members were informed that the Panel are currently considering a number of draft recommendations for submission to Cabinet in March 2022.

Play Park Inclusivity

The Service Manager, Scrutiny and Democratic Services updated the Committee on the progress that had been made organisationally on ensuring that existing playparks were reviewed in relation to inclusivity and all future playparks considered inclusivity requirements as part of the initial design stages.

Councillor Dale Grounds provided the Members with an update on this review and the work that had been undertaken with Council officers to ensure the District’s recreational areas were equipped to allow access for all children.

Members agreed that the work of the Panel and Councillor Dale Grounds had ensured that this was spotlighted and positive actions had already taken place to address the issue. It was agreed that there was no need to continue with the review however a progress report should come back to the Panel in 2022.

Covid-19 Recovery Scrutiny Panel

The Covid-19 Recovery Scrutiny Panel continued to monitor the recovery actions put into place both by the Council, its partners and businesses within the community. The Service Manager, Scrutiny and Democratic Services updated Members on the progress of the recommendations that had already been submitted to Cabinet and outlined the remaining issues on the Covid-19 Recovery Panel Workplan.

These included:

·       A presentation from Everyone Active

·       Recovery Questionnaire for local businesses

·       Recovery status of voluntary organisations

Submitted Proposals for Additional Topics

The Service Manager, Scrutiny and Democratic Services provided Members of the Committee with an overview of three potential new topics for the Panel to discuss regarding inclusion onto the Workplan. Background information to the potential reviews was provided and Members were asked to consider the potential benefits of Scrutiny consideration.

The topics for consideration were;

·       Gambling

·       Social Housing White Paper

·       Waste and Recycling.

Members of the Committee took the opportunity to debate the reasons for inclusion and any potential outcomes for the suggested topics. These included;

·       The role Scrutiny could play in gambling

·       The Centre for Public Scrutiny’s work with the Gambling Commission

·       Potential joint work with the Licensing Committee

·       Gaining an understanding of the underlying causes of problem gambling and the challenges associated with problem gambling

·       Identifying the ways in which the Council and partners could work together to support people who have gambling addictions

·       The key implications for Ashfield District Council arising from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Social Housing White Paper.

·       Robust risk analysis from performance and legislation changes that impacts operations and compliance

·       Imbedding better partnership working with cross-cutting departments through process reviews and sharing best practice

·       The Cabinet report on Corporate Risk highlighting the risk areas of the Councils Waste Strategy

·       Mitigating actions the Council could take in respect of those risks identified

·       The Environment Bill.

Members agreed that the three suggested workplan items would benefit from Scrutiny involvement.

RESOLVED that

a)    progress against the reviews currently underway by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Scrutiny Panel A and B be noted;

b)    the following topics be added to the Scrutiny Workplan;

·       Gambling

·       Social Housing White Paper

·       Waste and Recycling;

c)    terms of reference be developed for the three additional workplan items outlining methodology, objectives, expert witnesses and any potential outcomes.