i)             To confirm the record of the meeting of the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel held on 7 December 2017 (previously circulated).

ii)            To confirm the record of the meeting of the Special Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel held on 25 January 2018 (previously circulated).

The Record of the Meeting of the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panels held on 7 December 2017 and 25 January 2018 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Act 1992 applies to them.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive any petitions, deputations and questions received from Members of the Public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 217.

The total time allowed for this item shall be 30 minutes. Petitions, declarations and questions shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received. Questions may also be submitted at short notice by giving a written copy to the Committee Administrator 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.

The total time allowed for questions at short notice is 15 minutes of the total time for 30 minutes. Any petitions, deputations and questions that have been submitted with prior formal notice will take precedence over questions submitted at short notice. Any questions that are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting and be the subject of a report to the next meeting.

No petitions, deputations or questions had been received.

To consider any questions with notice from Members received in accordance with the provisions of Procedure rule No. 219 and No. 219A.

No questions with notice had been received from Members.

To consider any Notices of Motion from Members submitted in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule No. 220.

No notices of motion had been received from Members.

To consider any matter referred to the Panel for a decision in relation to call in of a decision in accordance with Procedure Rule 206.

No matter had been referred to the Panel for a decision in relation to call-in of a decision in accordance with Procedure Rule 206.

To receive Report No. 41/2018 from the Director for Resources.

The Leader and the Chair introduced the report. The purpose of which was to approve the membership of the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group.

It was proposed that the Chair of the Task and Finish Group be independent from the Council to ensure impartiality.

The Chair recommended that Mr Chris Wade, Director of the People & Places Partnership be the Chair of the Task and Finish Group. Mr Wade had over 20 years’ experience running place-making businesses at a local and national level including 12 years as Chief Executive of the charity, Towns Alive. Previously, Chris had served as a member of the UK Government’s Future High Street Forum and had held leading roles in town centre regeneration networks in Scotland and Wales. In 2014, Chris formed the People & Places Partnership Ltd to provide ‘hands-on’ research, guidance and project management on community-led town centre regeneration, including practical parking solutions. Chris had been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts for his national contribution to the regeneration of small towns and had recently been appointed by the Local Government Association to develop national guidance for members on town centre regeneration.

It was clarified that the Chair of the Task and Finish Group would not be a voting member, but would co-ordinate and facilitate the work. All other members would have full voting rights, regular update reports would be published and provided to the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel Rutland County Council (RCC) officers would attend to only offer technical support.

The group would have a scoping meeting and draw up Terms of Reference which would be brought to the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel on 22 March 2018 for approval.

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        The quorate of the meeting would be included within the Terms of Reference.

    ii.        It was suggested that Mr Tim Norton be named as a representative on the Task and Finish Group.

   iii.        Mr Clifton suggested there be one representative for businesses and one for residents. The Chair noted that under the scoping meeting, the Task and Finish Group could have the discretion to increase membership to a maximum of 12 if required, and have that included within the Terms of Reference brought to the next Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel.

   iv.        If a RCC Councillor was not able to attend one of the meetings, they would be able to send a substitute of any political party as the group was not political.

    v.        Mr Bird withdrew his expression of interest list in becoming part of the group to allow for a RCC Councillor that was not an Oakham Ward Member to join the group. The Chair noted that Mrs Fox had expressed interest in joining the group if any member were to withdraw.

AGREED

That the Panel APPROVED the following membership of RCC Councillors: Mr Ben Callaghan, Mr Richard Clifton, Mr Jeffrey Dale, Mrs June Fox, Mr Richard Gale, and Mr Alastair Mann.

That the Panel APPROVED  ...  view the full minutes text for item 605.

To receive Report No. 32/2018 from the Director for Resources.

1. The above report is due to be presented at Cabinet on 20 February 2018.

2. Scrutiny has requested this report so that it can review and comment on proposals before the Cabinet meeting so as to inform the decision-making process.

3. Scrutiny is asked to consider the report and provide feedback to the Portfolio Holder and Director.

(Report circulated under separate cover)

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        The reliance on agency staff was less than it previously had been. Agency staff were mainly in the People directorate, and the Council made sure the staff were good quality.  If agency staff do not perform at the required levels then they are moved on or replaced.

AGREED

That the panel NOTED the report.

To receive Report No. 12/2018 from the Chief Executive.

1. The above report is due to be presented at Cabinet on 20 February 2018.

2. Scrutiny has requested this report so that it can review and comment on proposals before the Cabinet meeting so as to inform the decision-making process.

3. Scrutiny is asked to consider the report and provide feedback to the Portfolio Holder and Director.

(Report circulated under separate cover)

The report was taken without debate.

AGREED

That the Panel NOTED the report.

Cabinet is recommended to determine whether the public and press be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, and in accordance with the Access to Information provisions of Procedure Rule 239, as the following item of business is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 1: Information relating to any individual.

Paragraph 2: Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

AGREED

That the Panel stay in the public forum and would not move into exempt unless necessary.

To receive Report No. 18/2018 from the Chief Executive.

The Leader introduced the report, the purpose of which was to develop a prioritised programme for spending commuted sums for affordable housing that had been collected through Planning Obligations.

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        The report would be going to Cabinet on 20 February 2018.

    ii.        That Rutland was not truly exempt to homelessness as it once was.

   iii.        Clarification was requested regarding the number of large families that were in need of housing and the size of families, a written answer would be provided following the meeting.

AGREED

That the Panel NOTED the report.

To consider Scrutiny issues to review.

Copies of the Forward Plan will be available at the meeting.

The Chair noted that an extra meeting had been called on 22 March 2018 to discuss the Terms of Reference for the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group, and would also look at an item regarding the conversion of barns.

It was also noted that the Chair had been in contact with RCC officers regarding an update on libraries, and any updates would come to the Scrutiny Panel.

To receive any other items of urgent business which have been previously notified to the person presiding.

There was no other urgent business.

Thursday 22 March 2018 at 7pm

Items to include:

·         Terms of Reference for the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group

·         Conversion of Barns

Thursday 22 March 2018 at 7pm

Items to include:

·         Terms of Reference for the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group

·         Conversion of Barns