Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair began the meeting by expressing condolences to the family of Councillor Gerry Morley on the news of his passing. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K Tait and N Morley.

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.

Councillor Stephen Clough advised the Committee of an interest in the agenda item titled ‘Leisure Activities for Young Children and Older Children/Teenagers’ as a member of Killamarsh Parish Council. This would not prevent Councillor S Clough from participation in the item.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee held on 8 May 2024.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 8 May 2024 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Overview of Scrutiny and remit of the Committee.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer delivered a presentation to Members which included an overview of how the Scrutiny function operated, the specific remits of the Council’s four Scrutiny Committees, how to add topics to the annual Work Programme, and the different options to carry out reviews.

RESOLVED – That the presentation was noted.

An update on the Combined Authority – Who’s who and NEDDC’s role.

Lee Hickin, Managing Director

The Managing Director delivered a presentation to Members explaining how the recently established East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) was progressing in terms of its operating framework.  Members were also informed of the Strategic Leadership Board that was used as a feeder into EMCCA. The presentation included details on the EMCCA’s formation, how the EMCCA would operate, who would sit on the Board and other Committees, and how the EMCCA’s Scrutiny function would operate.

Members discussed the Council’s position as an associate member of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority (SCRCA) and how this would compare to the Council’s position in the EMCCA. The Managing Director informed Members that the EMCCA structure would essentially transfer powers from central Government to the region, and the mechanisms for this were already in place.

RESOLVED – That the presentation was noted.

To receive a presentation on activities available at our Leisure Centres for Young Children and Older Children/Teenagers

Darren Ward, Centre Manager (Eckington & Killamarsh)

The Eckington Swimming Pool & Killamarsh Active Centre Manager and the Killamarsh Active Duty Officer delivered a presentation to Members on the activities available at the Council’s Leisure Centres for Young Children and Older Children/Teenagers.

Members discussed the new Leisure Centres currently operating at a loss. The Eckington Swimming Pool & Killamarsh Active Centre Manager explained that new leisure facilities often took a few years to make a profit, because money had been spent on its initial upkeep and the word of mouth had not built up yet.

Members discussed the activities on offer at the Centres for disabled people and children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Members requested that the Eckington Swimming Pool & Killamarsh Active Centre Manager circulate information to Committee Members about activities offered to disabled people, and also activities offered to children with SEN.

Members suggested that a recommendation to Cabinet should be put forward on the membership scheme for younger people and the feasibility of it from a fees & charges perspective. The Managing Director advised that Members could consider this as part of the fees and charges review.

The Chair referred to the Residents’ Survey including questions aimed at activities for older children/teenagers, and felt that the outcome for this particular area were possibly skewed as it was likely an adult would have completed the survey.  The Chair suggested that as part of the recommendations to Cabinet it should be put forward the possibility of targeting older children/teenagers as part of a survey to see what they would like to see on offer within the District, with also the need to promote more to schools. 

RESOLVED –

(1)       That the presentation was noted.

(1)       That a recommendation be submitted to Cabinet along the lines of what was agreed above.

To inform Committee of recent and forthcoming Cabinet business.

A digest of Cabinet decisions taken since 23 May 2024.  This information is published by Cabinet meeting on the Council’s website.  Cabinet Agendas, Decisions and Minutes can be viewed at: Cabinet

The Forward Plan of Executive decisions.

Plans

These plans are updated to include new business.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented a digest of Cabinet decisions taken since the last Committee meeting on 8 May 2024. The digest set out key information for each decision.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer also presented Members with the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions for the period 15 May 2024 – 30 September 2024.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To contribute to major Policies being considered by the Council.

The Chair informed the Committee that there were no major policies for Members to consider.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To consider and contribute to potential changes in the operating environment which may include legislation, regulation and key projects being undertaken by the Council, for example.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer updated Members on potential significant changes in the Council’s operating environment, including changes to national legislation and regulation.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer informed Members that the operations of the East Midlands Combined Authority would be closely monitored. Members were also informed that the recent General Election result would mean a lot of new legislation in the near future, which would also be monitored for the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.

To consider the Committee’s Work Programme.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented the draft Work Programme 2024/25 for the Committee to consider. If approved, it would be the first Work Programme of the new municipal year. Members were told that the new draft design of the Programme now included an ‘outcome’ section for each issue, to set out what the Committee aimed to achieve with each one.

Members referred to the suggestion in the draft Programme to invite the Police and Crime Commissioner to a meeting, and requested that the Senior Scrutiny Officer investigate which of the scheduled Committee meetings would best suit the availability of the PCC.  They also suggested that the Committee look at the Voluntary Sector Grants and see how organisations have spent their funds.  Also, they requested to look at the five year housing land supply. 

RESOLVED –

(1)      That the PCC be invited to a future meeting.

(2)      That how Voluntary Sector Grants are spent by organisations is added to the Work Programme for 2024/25.

(3)      That the Committee add the five year housing land supply to the Work Programme for 2024/25.

(4)      That the Work Programme 2024/25 be approved with these additions.

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

None.

The next meeting of the Communities Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to take place on 18 September 2024 at 10.00 am.

The next meeting of the Communities Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to take place on 18 September 2024 at 10.00 am.