Agenda and draft minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor K Tait.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

Members were requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

There were no interests declared at this meeting.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee held on 23 February 2023.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 23 February 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair.  

To receive a progress report on the implementation of the CCTV in Taxis Policy – Ken Eastwood, Assistant Director of Environmental Health.

The Assistant Director – Environmental Health Service gave Members an update on the progress of the CCTV in Taxis policy rollout.

Members were informed that since the Committee’s last update on 13 January 2023:

·                Licensing had gone out to tender and approved two more suppliers

·                Staff in depots had been trained on use of the new system

·                A driver was assaulted in a taxi and a new CCTV camera captured evidence shared with the Police

·                Licensing had received 8 applications to be exempt from the policy, which were all going to Sub Committee hearings for consideration

·                All legal challenges and driver complaints had been dealt with

Members were informed that Licensing were in discussion with Derbyshire County Council with regard to transport contract restrictions on the use of CCTV in vehicles carrying vulnerable adults or children. The Committee disagreed with the position of the County Council on safeguarding grounds.

The Assistant Director – Environmental Health Service explained that some issues had emerged with installation bookings since the additional providers had been selected. The Service was dealing with these directly and where drivers were avoiding installation, enforcement action would be taken potentially leading to licence revocations.

Members asked if drivers could get around the need for CCTV by changing to a private limousine or something similar. They were informed that these drivers would have to come before a Sub Committee to make a case for an exemption.

RESOLVED – That Committee noted the update.

To consider the lead officer response – previous review on an out of hours service – Ken Eastwood, Assistant Director of Environmental Health.

Members discussed the recommendations in the original Environmental Health Out of Hours Service review report, which were:

1)         The Council does not consider an out of hours service at this present time due to a lack of demand, an unclear remit, costs and sufficient existing arrangements.          

2)         The Council considers a dedicated out of hours area on the NEDDC website which outlines key contacts and where issues in which out of hours attention may need to be provided can be reported.

The Assistant Director – Environmental Health Service stated that information could be placed on the website about emergency contacts for Homelessness and ASB.

Members stated that some people did not use the Council website.

The Assistant Director – Environmental Health Service stated that there was a dedicated phone number for Members to make complaints.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that the main point of the second recommendation was that there was no centralised place for information.

Members felt it was occasionally confusing on the website because many services had the same phone number. Members were informed that many of them were the Contact Centre number, which ensured all requests were handled properly and logged.

Members agreed to invite the Communications Manager to a future Committee meeting to address some of the points raised about the website.

RESOLVED – That Committee noted the update.

To consider progress against the Action Plan – (Item 5 – garage sites) – previous Scrutiny Review into Residential Parking – Niall Clark, Director of Property Services and Development. 

The Director of Property Services & Development (Rykneld Homes) provided an update on progress of the Residential Parking review.

Members were informed that the two sites mentioned at the last Committee meeting (Dovecotes Garage Site in Ashover and Beech Crescent Garage Site in Killamarsh) now had setup work completed at both, and Beech Crescent would be cleared over the coming months.

Members were informed that Rykneld Homes did not do an ongoing review for individual sites, but rather looked at individual options as they came up. Members were also informed that in Stonebroom there was a Medium Term plan in place to replace a bungalow.

Members were concerned that sometimes removing garages made parking issues worse.

Members suggested some sites which could be used for parking. The Director of Property Services & Development (Rykneld Homes) stated that ideas for parking sites should be passed to the Council’s Engineers team.

The Committee considered and agreed to the website amendments as proposed by the Assistant Director of Property, Estates and Assets contained within the agenda in regards to reporting bad parking to the County Council.

RESOLVED – That Committee noted the update.

To receive a report on the work of the Partnership – Faye Green, Community Safety Manager.

The Chair explained that the Community Safety Manager had been unable to attend the meeting.

Members were satisfied with the content of the Community Safety Overview and Partnership Plan for 2023/2024.

RESOLVED – That the Committee noted the Community Safety Overview and Partnership Plan for 2023/2024.

To agree the draft report for Scrutiny Review.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented the draft report for the Scrutiny Review of Leisure Provisions for Older Residents.

RESOLVED – That the Committee approved the draft Leisure Provisions for Older Residents Scrutiny Review report for submission to Cabinet. 

To monitor the implementation of previous committee and review recommendations.

The Chair presented a table of outcomes from recommendations made by all Committees, and drew Members’ attention to the ones by Communities Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED - That the Committee noted the update.

To consider the attached Forward Plan of Executive Decisions dated 15 March  to 15 April 2023.

Please note, the most up-to- date Forward Plan of Executive Decisions can be accessed via the following link:-

https://democracy.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/mgListPlans.aspx?RPId=1137&RD=0&bcr=1

The Committee considered the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions.

RESOLVED - That the Committee noted the information. 

To consider whether the Committee’s Work Programme has been completed at year end.

RESOLVED – That the 2022/23 Communities Scrutiny Committee Work Programme be signed off as complete.

To consider any other matter which the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

None.

The next meeting of the Communities Scrutiny Committee will take place in the new Municipal Year.  

The next meeting of the Communities Scrutiny Committee will take place in the new Municipal Year.