Council and councillors

To confirm the record of the meeting of the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel held on 16 November 2017 (previously circulated).

The Record of the Meeting of the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel held on 16 November 2017 was 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.

Mr Baines declared an interest in item 8 of the agenda as he had an A-Board sign on High Street West in Uppingham.

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. 213/2017 from the Director for Resources.

(Report circulated under separate cover)

·         The above report is due to be presented at Cabinet on 19 December 2017.

·         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.

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

Report No. 213/2017 was received from the Director for Resources.

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        Mr Baines raised that it could be worth looking at setting residents parking permits at £500 per year. Mr Brown, Director for Places (Environment, Planning and Transport) reported that a parking review would be brought forward next year which would consider any potential change.

    ii.        Mr Arnold questioned whether the brown signs fee could be raised further as the venues were benefitting from the signs. Mr Tomlinson raised that the brown tourism signs were for directing people to places and were not advertisement signs per say, and that the cost to the businesses was still fairly substantial.

   iii.        Mr Cross suggested a 1 hour free parking as minimum to encourage more movement of parked vehicles. Mr Mathias reported that there would be a loss of revenue worth £50-70,000 if that were to be brought into place. It was pointed out that Tesco offered free parking for two hours, and as part of their planning application it was not limited to customers only.

   iv.        Miss Waller questioned why the inflation increase was set at 2% when it was currently running at around 3%. Mr Mathias noted that the fees were looked at in September, there was no reason why next year it couldn’t be taken into consideration that inflation was higher. Mrs Briggs, Chief Executive, suggested this was fed back to Mr Della Rocca, as changes could still be made.

AGREED

That the Panel NOTED the Report.

To receive Report No. 219/2017 from the Director for Places.

Report No. 219/2017 was received from the Director for Places (Environment, Planning & Transport)

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        Miss Waller noted regarding the A-Boards, the need to reduce street clutter, so that it was easier for people to move around the streets. The A-Boards needed to be defined more carefully taking into consideration colour and contrast so they could be easily visible for those visually impaired.

    ii.        The Chair noted the need to stick to the policy and make sure to follow through with all aspects. Mr Mathias reported that while it would not be feasible to walk or drive down every road throughout the county every day or week, the Council is looking for the town centres to remain clean.

   iii.        Mr Mathias asked that any further comments be brought forward by the end of January before the report was presented to Cabinet in April.

AGREED

That the Panel NOTED the Report.

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Mr Tomlinson left the meeting at 7.45pm and did not return.

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It is recommended that 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 Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)).

To receive Report No. 170/2017 from the Director for Places Development and Economy.

Report No. 170/2017 was received from the Chief Executive.

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        It was noted that the proposal was in phases, the next phase would only begin when the previous had been completed.

    ii.        Mr Begy noted that going for cheaper options from design to construction may not be best value as the Council could end up paying more on maintenance.

   iii.        The rental income was a forecast and would increase, this was built into the business plan.

   iv.        Mr Arnold mentioned that the head count for gaining employment seemed optimistic. Mr Frieland reported that with businesses moving to bigger units this would generate more employment opportunities. Mrs Briggs noted that there would also be employment opportunities from the construction work that would take place.

    v.        Whilst the Ward Member was not on the Oakham Enterprise Park (OEP) Project Board they would be kept involved with any changes and were happy with the changes so far. Previously it had been that the Ward Member was also the Portfolio Holder.

   vi.        The Chair congratulated Officers for the work that had been done and having taken on the changes after the Audit and Risk report regarding OEP.

  vii.        It was noted that with other projects going forward such as The King Centre and St George’s Barracks, there would be a need to make sure that OEP was not left unfinished. Mrs Briggs noted that the St George’s Barracks would not be vacated until 2021, it would be a disappointment if OEP was not completed by then.

viii.        Mr Arnold asked whether the Council could use the media to celebrate the success of OEP. Mrs Briggs replied that they could try in the New Year.

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After discussion the Panel APPROVED that the meeting returned to public session.

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Mr Frieland left the meeting at 8.34pm and did not return.

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To consider Scrutiny issues to review.

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

      i.        Mr Begy asked that the panel consider reviewing a policy regarding the conversion of barns. Mr Begy had written a detailed document on the subject and would circulate to the panel. The Chair noted that the Panel would take a look at the Scrutiny Panel in February.

    ii.        Miss Waller asked that the Panel looked at the report regarding Uppingham Library when it was ready.

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

There was no other urgent business.

Budget Meeting (date to be confirmed)

Wednesday 24 January 2018 or

Thursday 25 January 2018

Ordinary Meeting

Thursday 15 February 2018 at 7pm

Items to include:       Q3 Performance Management Report

                                    Q3 Financial Management Report

                                    Spending of Commuted Sums for Affordable Housing

                                    Local Transport Plan 4

Budget Meeting

Thursday 25 January 2018 at 7pm