Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received at this meeting.  

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 Declarations of Interest.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee held on 12 November 2021.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 12 November 2021 were approved and signed as a correct record by the Chair.

Members considered the responses that had been received from their questions regarding domestic bonfires and domestic smoke incidents.

Committee requested a full update on these figures, including clarification on what items could and could not be burned, as well as an update on restrictions that had been put in place as a result of the Pandemic.

RESOLVED – The documentation was noted.

·             1.30 pm - Steve Brunt – Head of Streetscene

·             2.00 pm - Matt Finn & Samantha Bentley – Environmental Health Officers

Members conducted a series of interviews with Heads of Service to ascertain if there was a need for an out of hour’s service and how this might work throughout the District.

Interview One with the Joint Head of Streetscene

(1)    Is there a need for an out of hour’s service?

The Joint Head of Streetscene informed Members that there was currently not a high level deal of demand for an out of hours service, and that there was a low frequency of calls to resolve.

The Committee heard that arrangements were already in place for emergencies such as flooding and drug paraphernalia where staff would be paid overtime on an ad-hoc basis.

(2)    How might an out of hours service work?

The Officer informed Members that how an out of hours service might function would depend on what the service was designed to achieve and the subject matter of the complaints.

(3)    How would a service at NED compare with the CAN Rangers BDC?

Committee heard that this would depend on the demand placed on the service and the availability of resources. The possibility of a north/south split across the District was raised.

(4)    What would be the costs of implementation?

The Officer informed Committee that this would depend on the volume of work carried out by the service, the level of demand and the resources necessary to complete the work.

(5)    How would staffing provisions work?

The Officer stressed that this would depend on the required resource for the potential service. Currently at Streetscene the service relied on the goodwill of staff to be available for emergency callouts, and that there was a flexibility clause in their contracts.

Members heard that there were no standby payment mechanisms in place as this had been removed from the staff pay agreements in 2009.

(6)    What would be the barriers to success?

The need for a local pay agreement due to the lack of a standby or callout payment arrangement being in place. Also the costs and remits of the service.

(7)    If you was considering an out of hours service, what criteria would you look at?  How would you benchmark this with other authorities?

The Officer stated that this could be done by comparing with other Derbyshire authorities such as Bolsover District Council.

Members noted that the Association of Public Excellence could be used to aid with benchmarking.

(8)    Have you any other opinions on a potential out of hours service?

The Officer questioned whether the District would want their own service, or to work in partnership with another authority, or to utilise a service already in place from an external provider.

Members discussed the interview at length and questioned what out of hours service requests had been dealt with in the past and who decides how urgently a situation would be dealt with.

The Officer informed Members that fallen trees that presented a risk to person and property, drug paraphernalia and flooding  ...  view the full minutes text for item CSC/43/21-22

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 2021/2022.

Committee agreed that they would like to interview officers from Rykneld Homes and Planning Enforcement at the next meeting as part of their Scrutiny Review.

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 Friday, 11 February 2022 at 1.30 pm.

The next meeting of the Communities Scrutiny Committee will take place on Friday 11 February at 1:30pm.

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

Committee agreed that they would meet in person if possible but would wait until a later date to make a final decision so as to keep in line with the current situation and Government regulations and advice.