Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Committee made in accordance with Part 4B paragraph 5 of the Constitution.

Cllr David Adams was in attendance as a substitute for Cllr Peter Spink. Cllr Chris Quirk was absent.

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2023.

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2023 be confirmed as a true record.

To invite Members to declare any interest they might have in the matters on the agenda.

Cllr Suzie Ellis declared an interest in Minute item 17, Pre-Decision Scrutiny - Amalgamation of Chillerton and Rookley Primary School with Godshill Primary School, as an associate school governor at both schools.

Members of the public are invited to make representations to the Committee regarding its workplan. Questions may be asked without notice, but to guarantee a full reply at the meeting a question must be put (including the name and address of the questioner) in writing or by email to Democratic Services democratic.services@iow.gov.uk, no later than two clear working days before the start of the meeting. The deadline for written questions is Thursday, 6 July 2023.

No public questions were received.

To receive an update on the progress against the outcomes arising from previous meetings, and to provide an update on any outstanding actions.

The chairman presented the report which provided an overview of the progress against actions and outcomes from previous meetings.

Reference was made to the request of the committee in January 2023 to receive a copy of the review of leisure centres once it had been completed. It was confirmed that the review was underway and was on track to be completed in Autumn 2023.

Reference was made to the request of the committee in February 2023 to receive a copy of the signed heads of agreement in relation to the proposed disposal of Kingston Marine Park. It was confirmed that this would be circulated to the committee once complete.

The chairman advised that he had discussed with the Leader the formal request made by members of the committee in March 2023 to view the confidential Floating Bridge settlement and advised that a response would be provided.

It was advised that a written response had been provided to the oral question raised by Cllr Karl Love at meeting held in June 2023 in relation to the financial settlement for the Floating Bridge, and whether compensation would be used to replace the vessel. It was confirmed that the settlement figure was ringfenced and could be used to replace the vessel should that event occur.

An update was sought relating to the arrangements for an all-councillors briefing on the delivery of affordable housing, as agreed by the committee at its meeting in June 2023. It was advised that two sessions were being planned for September 2023, one relating to the finances around accommodation and housing and the second focusing on the programmes which are underway.

The chairman advised that he had discussed with the Chief Executive and the Cabinet Member the request made by members of the committee in June 2023 to receive more frequent finance reports. It was agreed that quarterly reporting remained the most appropriate.

RESOLVED:

THAT the progress report and updates be noted.

To identify any items contained within the Council’s forward plan which would benefit from early consideration by scrutiny, either before the Cabinet makes a decision or to monitor post-implementation, and should therefore be included in the Committee’s work programme. The forward plan can be viewed online here.

To note the content of the current work programme, and to consider the inclusion of any additional items. Members of the public are invited to submit in writing to the Committee possible items for inclusion in its workplan. To approve the scope of identified items:

·       Domestic Violence - Perpetrator Programmes

Consideration was given to the committee’s work programme and the scoping document for a future agenda item on Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes. The committee were invited to identify any item contained within the published forward plan that would benefit from early consideration within the committee’s own workplan or one of the policy and scrutiny committees. It was suggested that the Housing Affordability Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), due to be considered by the Cabinet in September 2023, be added to the committee’s work programme.

RESOLVED:

THAT the forward plan, and the current work programme, be noted.

To consider the report on the proposals for the amalgamation of Chillerton and Rookley Primary School with Godshill Primary School, prior to its consideration by the Cabinet on 13 July 2023.

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to publish a Public Notice to the amalgamate Godshill Primary School and Chillerton and Rookley Primary School, through the closure of Chillerton and Rookley Primary School with effect from the 31 December 2023. Questions were raised in relation to the process in place for those pupils on roll at Chillerton and Rookley Primary School and whether the home-to-school transport arrangements had been considered. Concerns were raised around the timeliness of the decision, and the level of detail provided in the report as it related to alternative options. It was recommended that future reporting on school place planning should include objective detail and narrative which clearly outlined the alternative options which had been explored and the reasons as to why those alternatives were not taken forward. Questions were raised in relation to the process in place for those pupils on roll at Chillerton and Rookley Primary School and whether the home-to-school transport implications would be addressed. Concerns were raised around the timeliness of decision and the level of detail provided in the report as it related to alternative options.It was recommended that future reporting on school place planning should include objective detail and narrative which clearly outlined the alternative options which had been explored and the reasons as to why those alternatives were not taken forward.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report to Cabinet be considered and noted.

To consider the strategy that sets out the approach to dealing with empty properties prior to its consideration by the Cabinet on 13 July 2023.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Housing Needs presented the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to adopt the updated Empty Property Strategy (Residential) for 2023-2028, which aimed to bring long-term empty properties back into use; to increase the supply of homes and to reduce the detrimental impact of empty properties on communities. The committee expressed support for the document, and discussion took place regarding the potential resource implications that may arise in order to deliver the strategy.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report to Cabinet be considered and noted.

To consider the strategy prior to its consideration by the Cabinet on 13 July 2023. This item is to be considered by the Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration at its meeting held on 6 July 2023.

Consideration was given to the report which sought the Cabinet’s approval to adopt the Acquisition Strategy (Homeless Accommodation) for 2023-2026, which set out the council’s approach to purchase properties to directly provide temporary accommodation. It was advised that the strategy had been considered by the Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration at its meeting held on 6 July 2023, where a number of comments had been raised, particularly in relation to the level of detail and the lack of specific timeframes contained within the strategy. The committee made comments in relation to the potential resource implications that may arise in order to deliver the strategy, and it was confirmed that this would be addressed at the all-councillors briefing sessions on the delivery of affordable housing. 

RESOLVED:

THAT the report to Cabinet be considered and noted.

To consider a report on the lines of enquiry agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 10 May 2022.

The Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer presented the report which provided details on the capital programme and the capital strategy. Comments were made in relation to interest rates and the impact on the councils borrowing, treasury management, the debt maturity profile, future solutions, and roadblocks.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report be considered and noted.

To consider a report on the lines of enquiry agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 11 October 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Climate Change and Biosphere presented the report which provided an update on the research, findings, and work programme in place to improve the performance management processes within the council. The report was welcomed, and the committee requested to review the matter again when the new processes had been embedded. It was agreed that a progress update would be provided in early 2024.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report be considered and noted.

A question may be asked at the meeting without prior notice but in these circumstances there is no guarantee that a full reply will be given at the meeting. To guarantee a reply, a question  must be submitted in writing or by email to democratic.services@iow.gov.uk no later than 5pm on Friday 7 July 2023.

No questions were received.