Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Windley and J Birkin.

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.

Councillor R Hall declared an interest in Item 5: CCTV in Taxis.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee held on 11 February 2022.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 11 February 2022 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair. 

To consider progress on the Healthy North East Derbyshire Approach – Tris Burdett, Partnership Officer.

Members received an update on the progress of the Healthy North East Derbyshire Partnership during 2021/22.

Committee heard that the Partnership had been established in 2015 and was fully funded through DCC who were the Chair and administrators of the Partnership. NEDDC administered funds throughout the District on behalf of the Partnership.

Members were informed that the Partnership was comprised of representatives from other local authorities and the community and voluntary sector. It had a yearly allowance of £69,500 per annum.

The overarching priorities of the Partnership were; older people, long-term conditions and independence in the home.

Committee were informed that the impact of Covid 19 continued to be felt on activities delivered in 2021/2022. The Partnership Development Officer updated Members on the progress of projects that had been delivered. These included; The Hub Hangout; Walking into Communities; Feeling Connected and; Digital Connect.

The Officer notified Members that the Healthy North East Derbyshire Partnership was also linked with other Partnerships and Groups. These included; the Joint Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, and Bolsover Financial Inclusion Group and; the North East Derbyshire and Bolsover Place Alliance.

Members noted that NEDDC had been selected for the next phase of the Living Well Programme.

Committee discussed the update and noted that the £100,000 provided from Public Health England to be used towards the emotional health and wellbeing of young people and children would be used to design a programme alongside the community to build resilience to mental health and wellbeing. North Wingfield, Killamarsh and Eckington had been selected as the areas to receive this funding but the intention would be that these would be open to everyone.

Members also enquired into referral processes and heard that the Partnership would ask organisations to demonstrate their links with key agencies and that ensuring these were in place was a key part of the project.

RESOLVED – That the report was noted.

To receive an update on the implementation of the CCTV in Taxis Policy – Charmaine Terry, Environmental Health Team Manager (Licensing) and Matt Finn, Environmental Health Service Manager.

Committee received an update on the implementation of the CCTV in Taxis Policy. It was noted that the policy had been approved by Council during a meeting in October 2021. The Authority was now in a position to begin the procurement process to identify the correct provider for the CCTV equipment. This would be in place by the end of the summer. A staggered introduction of the CCTV equipment would then be implemented throughout 2022/23.

Members heard that the cost of the CCTV systems would be borne by the licence holders but must still be procured by the Authority to ensure access to data and that specifications were met.

The Officers informed Committee that there had been delays with the implementation of this policy due to additional internal time commitments within the Licensing Department.

Members discussed the update at length and enquired into the number of taxis within the District, the unit cost per taxi, how many local authorities had implemented a similar policy and when all taxis within the District would have the equipment installed.

Committee learned that there were 217 vehicles within the District and the cost of the CCTV units were between £500 and £800. It was expected that full implementation would be in place by the end of 2023. Other local authorities such as Rotherham had been used to establish local known specifications.

Members noted that a number of policy areas would still require further clarification such as any exemptions in the event of accidents and what would happen to the equipment if a licence holder leaves the service.

The Committee requested that the timescale for full implementation be shortened, and for the officer to provide an update at future meetings including a delivery timetable.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

Triangulation of Evidence.

The Committee considered all of the evidence which it had received during its review of a potential ‘Out of Hours’’ service for the Council.

Committee identified areas as to why it would be a good idea to establish an out of hours’ service. These included that it could prevent anti-social behaviour, it could lead to a reduced pressure on some Council services and officers, and, it could be used to gather evidence.

Members also highlighted a number of areas as to why an Out of Hours’ Service would not be required such as; a lot of out of hours’ work and issues were already covered within existing contracts in the relevant service areas; there was generally a low demand for out of hours’ work and; there would be a high associated cost with an out of hours’ service.

RESOLVED – That the draft report on the Committee’s review be prepared and submitted to Committee for approval.

To consider the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions.  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

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan of executive decisions be noted.

To consider the Work Programme for the Communities Scrutiny Committee 2021/22.

RESOLVED – That the work programme be noted.

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

There were no additional urgent items. 

The next meeting of the Communities Scrutiny Committee will be held on 20 May 2022.

The next meeting of the Communities Scrutiny Committee would be held on Friday May 20 at 1:30pm. 

To determine whether the next meeting be held formally (in person) at Mill Lane or informally via virtual conference call.

That the next meeting of the Growth Scrutiny Committee would be held in the Council Chamber, District Council Offices, 2013 Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, S42 6NG.