To confirm the record of the meeting of the Places Scrutiny Panel on     (previously circulated)

The Record of the Meeting of the Places Scrutiny Panel held on 25 June 2015, copies of which had been previously circulated, were confirmed 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 Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

The following Declarations of Interest were received in relation to Agenda Item 11, Report No. 183/2015, Sports and Recreation Facilities Strategy:

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.  Question 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 out of the total time of 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.

One question had been received and previously circulated to Members.  The Chairman advised Members that the question had been dealt with by Officers prior to the meeting and that the response would be circulated to the Panel.

No petitions or deputations 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 which relates to this Scrutiny Panel’s remit and items on this Agenda.

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. 153/2015 from the Director for Resources.

(Previously circulated under separate cover)

Report No. 153/2015 from the Director for Resources was received.

The purpose of the report was to inform Cabinet and all Members of the full year forecast position as at Quarter 1 for 2015/16 and to alert them to issues that may impact on the Medium Term Financial Plan to enable them to maintain sound financial management of the Council’s operations.

The Chairman invited questions and comments. The Report was taken without debate.

AGREED:

1.    That the Panel NOTED the content of Report No. 153/2015.

To receive Report No. 150/2015 from the Chief Executive.

(Previously circulated under separate cover)

Report No. 150/2015 from the Chief Executive was received.

The purpose of the report was to report to Cabinet on the Council’s performance for the first quarter of 2015/2016.

The Chairman invited questions and comments.  The Report was taken without debate.

AGREED:

1.    That the Panel NOTED the content of the Report No. 150/2015.

To receive Report No. 185/2015 from the Chief Executive.

Report No. 185/2015 from the Chief Executive was received.

The purpose of the report was to provide the Scrutiny Panel with the opportunity to be consulted on the Council’s Strategic Aims and Objectives and to feed back to Cabinet any comments as part of the consultation process.

The following points were raised during discussion:

       i.        That the areas to be excluded or included would be decided at Full Council.

      ii.        That the report had not been considered at the Adults and Health  Scrutiny Panel on 1 October.   The Chairman, Mr Lammie, stated that he would take this to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Commission.

    iii.        Creating a Sustained Environment: Could this priority include a specific comment relating to Green Energy?  Would it be possible for the new Sustainable Community Strategy, which was being prepared by the Environmental Theme Group of the Local Strategic Partnership, to be taken at this Panel prior to implementation?

    iv.        Building our Infrastructure: Support for business growth in the county.  It was noted that it was difficult to encourage larger businesses to the county due to relatively high employment and the cost of land in the area; many small and medium sized businesses, existing and new, based in Oakham and the Oakham Enterprise Park were starting to grow.  Members were advised that sites allocated for business use were included in the Local Plan.

      v.        That there needed to be a strong focus on economic development to go alongside other development in the county.

    vi.        That consideration needed to be given to wider transport links for leisure as well as business, with more focus on young people.

   vii.        That the Strategic Aims and Objectives could be trimmer and smaller focussing on direction rather than encompassing everything.  That the nature of services and delivery over the next four years was likely to change drastically with central government funding cuts.

  viii.        That the emphasis should be on development going forward.

    ix.        That there was no reference to The Arts.  Mr King undertook to speak with the Portfolio Holder, Mr Begy.

AGREED:

1.            That the Panel NOTED contents of the Report No. 162/2015 and Appendix A to the report.

2.           That the Chairman would take to the next meeting of the Scrutiny

            Commission that this report was not discussed at the Adults and

           Health Scrutiny Panel on 1 October.

3.           That Mr King would speak with the Portfolio Holder, Mr Begy, with

           reference to The Arts.

To receive Report No. 182/2015 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy).

Report No. 182/2015 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy) was received. 

The Portfolio Holder, Mr King, introduced the report the purpose of which was to consider the Rutland Local Plan Review Issues and Options document prior to going out to consultation with the local community and key stakeholders.

The Planning Policy and Housing Manager, Mr Troy, advised Members that the review included 20 questions on key issues and options.  Key issues to be developed were: overall housing numbers, setting out overall figures for Oakham, Uppingham and villages; relationship with neighbourhood plans; changes in settlement hierarchy and definition set out; direction of growth for Oakham and Uppingham; direction of growth regarding infrastructure and minerals and waste.  The document was due to considered at Cabinet in October 2015 with the consultation taking place between November 2015 and January 2016.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr King, encouraged Members to contact Mr Troy if they wished to seek clarity on specific questions, or to add to questions.

The following points were raised during discussion:

      i.        The possibility of producing summary documents, condensing information, to support the consultation.

    ii.        Members commented on the wording of some of the questions, particularly Question 12 (on the spatial strategy).  The Portfolio Holder, Mr King, requested Members to advise the Planning Policy and Housing Manager, Mr Troy, by email of the questions they wished to focus on and alternative wording to be considered.  Suggestions for wording, or comments, within 7 days.  Members were reminded that the final decision would be made by Cabinet.

   iii.        That neighbourhood plans were part of the Statutory Development Plan.

   iv.        When questioned Mr King confirmed that Oakham Town Council, together with other areas in the county had been given until 8 February 2016 as a deadline date for application to designate a neighbourhood plan area in terms of boundaries.

    v.        That the Local Plan would focus on developing main towns and local service centres: nine in the first option and 12 in the second option (Option A paragraph 5.5; Option B paragraph 5.6).  Members commented on the importance of the public having a say on where development would take place so as not to be disenfranchised and the importance of the definition of technical terms used in the consultation document.  Mr King stated that as Portfolio Holder he was agreeable to the scoring system being made available as part of the consultation to assist those being consulted.

   vi.        That the Sustainability of Settlements Assessment (2015) (paragraph 5.3) could be given to parishes, if they wished to comment on it, to allow better understanding.

  vii.        Question 4 related to new housing to be provided over the next 21 years (2015-2036).  An inspector would see that the assessed need met the indicated need for housing in that period.  There was a need to balance requirement with that which was acceptable to the community.

viii.        That Question 10, relating to possible future growth at Uppingham was included as the neighbourhood plan had not been adopted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 296.

To receive Report No. 183/2015 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy)

Report No. 183/2015 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy) was received.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr King, introduced the report the purpose of which was to present to the Panel the Draft Sport and Recreation Facilities Strategy, which outlined the quantity and quality of sport and recreation facilities in the County; to seek feedback from Scrutiny of any aspects which had been omitted or needed updating; and to note the highest priority areas for future investment, using a variety of funding sources.

Members were reminded that this was a draft strategy from an external consultant.  Any concerns or modifications could be made before it went forward in a final format.  That this document would inform Council on the amount to seek in developer contributions and where there was a need to deliver sport or assistance.

A summary of headline findings was distributed at the meeting.

The following points were raised during discussion:

      i.        That this was a facility strategy, making sure that the facilities were in place to undertake the activities.  Tried initially to look at where activities could be undertaken in a generic hall; articulated where there was need for a particular facility.

    ii.        The report focused on main facilities and need through to 2036.  The report had tentatively picked up the growth level of the county.

   iii.        That the council was looking at a self-populating website, either Rutland County Council or Discover Rutland for the benefit of residents and tourists.  Clubs and organisations would have the ability to put information on to one location.  Reference should be made to this website in the strategy document.

   iv.        Members commented that some of the external report was not accurate and that it should be corrected before going public.  It was agreed that comments would be sent to the Head of Culture & Registration, Mr Clayton.

    v.        Figure 53: Community and village halls survey 2014 key findings – it was agreed that this table would be sent to all Councillors for comment on accuracy.  Members were advised that it had been sent to national governing bodies and would be sent to individual sports clubs for comment.

   vi.        That the report helped to inform where S106 funds available for sport in Oakham would be spent.

  vii.        That funding of a new swimming pool from S106/Community Infrastructure Levy would take several years.

viii.        That the information contained within the report did not justify the recommendation for a second high quality pitch for Oakham Cricket Club to enable the club to progress up a league, at the cost of £1.3m.  The Panel was advised that officers were unable to find anything defined in the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) standards therefore would be contacting the ECB to see if it was necessary at this time.

   ix.        That it would be useful to include skateboard parks in the county to help younger members of the community.

    x.        That S106 funds could be apportioned by the Council but would need to identify where the pressures  ...  view the full minutes text for item 297.

To consider Scrutiny issues to review.

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

The following topics were due to be considered at the next Panel:

·         Draft Planning Obligations

·         Housing Allocation Policy Review

·         Street Lighting Policy

·         Fire Service – Consultation Proposals Briefing (Deputy Chief Officer Steve Lunn)

For February Panel:

·         Highways Capital Programme

·         Local Transport Plan

·         Parking Review

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

There was no urgent business.