Agenda and minutes

The Chair confirmed that the meeting was being broadcast live to the internet via the Council’s website and was capable of repeated viewing. The images and sound recording may be used for training purposes within the Council. All were asked to keep to the speaking guidelines which were outlined.  Any views expressed by any speaker in the meeting are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of High Peak Borough Council.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2022 be approved as a correct record.

The Committee considered the Council’s Annual Report for 2020/21, which is a core document that compares High Peak’s performance and costs with councils in the East Midlands region and nationally and highlights further action where needed. 

A particular issue to note is that benchmarking shows that High Peak is a low cost but high quality council.  In response to a query around any impact on staff, members were advised that service reviews were being undertaken and capacity would be  increased in some areas, although there were challenges in some areas, particularly planning.

Arising from the place profile, concerns were expressed around the ageing population within High Peak and the view was expressed that as part of the Local Plan Review, developers should be encouraged to build more accommodation suitable for the elderly such as bungalows.  Similar concerns were also expressed around the ability of young people to afford accommodation in the area.  It was noted that within the management plan for the Peak District National Park there are now opportunities to make it easier to secure accommodation, and efforts were on-going with developers to provide more affordable housing.

RESOLVED:

That the findings of the benchmarking exercises and the additional priority actions for the Corporate Plan suggested for the following 12 months be noted.

The Committee scrutinised the drat Performance Framework and associated targets for 2022/25.  It was noted that the measures had also been scrutinised at an earlier meeting of the Performance Framework Working Group, and the amendments suggested by that group had been incorporated, specifically a new measure around housing land supply and the tightening up of some of the housing repairs targets.

In response to a query around the baseline data for the climate change targets. Members were advised that this was part of the work being done by Anthesis which would be reporting back shortly.

It was requested that the target for % appointments made and kept (Housing repairs) be increased from 70% to 80%.

Discussion ensured around the targets for planning processing times and agent satisfaction levels, and it was suggested that the agents satisfaction levels could be compared with other councils.

It was suggested that the target for the %of households living in fuel poverty should be increased due to the general increase in the cost of living, but members were advised that this was a new indicator and work was on-going with partners to  support existing community schemes and the work undertaken by the local energy bank.

Reference was made to any replacement for the Landlord Accreditation Scheme, particularly around difficult to house tenants across the borough.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive be recommended to approve the Performance Framework 2022/25, subject to:

(i)            the target for % appointments made and kept (Housing repairs) be increased from 70% to 80%

(ii)           a note being put on the target for %of households living in fuel poverty to indicate that the target was set in advance of the increase in the price cap in April 2022.

The Committee considered revised Equality Objectives for the Council and the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (“IHRA”) definition of antisemitism.

It was suggested that a random check of the equality and development analysis done around a number of issues be undertaken by members on an ad hoc basis.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive be recommended:

(i)            To adopt the revised Equality Objectives;

(ii)           To adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, together with its illustrative examples, and it be incorporated as an appendix to the Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy; and

(iii)          That a random check of the equality and development analysis done around a number of issues be undertaken by members on an ad hoc basis.

The Committee considered the response to the feedback provided by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) following completion of their review of the Council’s Scrutiny arrangements.  It was noted that the report had been considered by the overview and scrutiny review group who had recommended that it be considered by Corporate Select Committee for a wider consideration of the recommendations.

Comments made included:

·         Training for new members – possibly after they have attended their first scrutiny meeting

·         Mentoring scheme around scrutiny with more experienced councillors acting as mentors for new councillors

·         Ensure reports are accessible for councillors in terms of language etc and ask for feedback

·         Retain 3 committees recognising that there are many cross cutting issues

·         Make greater use of the categories within scrutiny including holding to account and policy development

·         Engagement with residents

·         Identify 3 or 4 key issues for the committee to scrutinise each year and members to take more charge of the agenda

·         Suggested that appointment of chairs be made at Annual Council to help with the planning process

·         Need to be more pro-active

·         Look at how things are judged and quantified

·         Look at more work jointly between committees

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the above comments, the feedback from CfGS as detailed in Appendix A and the suggested response to the recommendations as set out in Appendix B be noted.

Detailed consideration was given to the future format of the Select Committee Work Programmes, with it being suggested that the way in the work programmes were planned should be reviewed, and ways in which this could be achieved were suggested.

The following amendments were requested for the work programmes:

·         HRA Review – move from Community to Corporate

·         Add Parish Grants to Corporate

·         Add Review of Recovery Processes to Corporate

It was added that future items for Economy & Growth and Community Select Committees could include Tourism Strategy and how tourism could be improved and supporting communities.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the above, the Select Committee Work Programmes be noted.

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as there may be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as there may be disclosure to them of exempt information as set out Part I of Paragraph 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2022 be approved as a correct record.

The Committee considered an update on issues relating to the Future High Street Fund project in Buxton.

The Committee considered a variation to the Housing Gas Servicing and Maintenance Contract and made recommendations to the Executive,