Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 19 March and 20 May 2019 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings held on the 19 March and 20 May 2019 be signed by the Chairman as correct records.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest in the agenda item.

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

There were no issues raised during the public participation period.

An opportunity for the Portfolio Holders to provide an update to the Panel on developments within their portfolios.

Cllr Diane Andrews outlined the areas under her portfolio which included the following:-

·            Community Grants

·            Elections and Electoral Registration

·            Town and Parish Council Engagement

·            Community Safety Partnership

·            Hampshire Adult Social Care

Cllr Steele who had recent taken over responsibility for the Health & Leisure Portfolio, summarised the current work underway.  Two separate reviews had been undertaken, a Member Task and Finish Group looking at future delivery of the service looking at other Councils and different operating models.  The preferred option was a partnering model and the market would be tested in due course.  Several customer forums had been held to discuss the proposals.

As well as the Task and Finish Group, there had been an internal review to identify measures to reduce the £600k deficit on operating costs, (which was on target).

In both cases his aim was to deliver a sustainable leisure service for the community over the next ten years.

Identifying a preferred bidder would likely take us through to April 2020, for implementation from June 2020.  In answer to a question, it was explained that operationally, the service was in surplus, although there were capital and support costs to be taken into account.

To receive the Annual Performance report.

The panel received the annual performance and provisional budget out term report for 2018-2019.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Affairs felt it was an excellent document with lots of very valuable information which new members in particular should find useful. 

RESOLVED:

That the Panel note the following:

(a)       The performance and achievements as set out in Appendix 1;

(b)       The key strategies in progress for 2019/20 set out in Appendix 2;

(c)       The provisional General Fund outturn position set out in Appendix 3;

(d)      The provisional outturn position of the Capital Programme set out in Appendix 3;

(e)      Note the provisional outturn position of the Housing Revenue Account set out in Appendix 3; and

(f)       That the Cabinet be advised that the Panel support the content of the document.

To receive a verbal update on the Health and Leisure review.

The panel received a presentation giving an update on the Health & Leisure Review.

The Panel noted that an external expert had been engaged for the procurement exercise, as well as external legal expertise. A full condition survey of all 5 centres had been recently completed, which would help the Council establish the building maintenance costs over the medium term.

Customer forums had been held across all 5 leisure centres.  A full procurement exercise would need to be undertaken and there would be preferred presentations opened to customers.  A customer focus group would be set up.

A member asked why a private company might be interested in running the Leisure Centres when the Council had historically been running them at a deficit (though latterly in surplus).  It was explained that there were savings available to large providers, such as economies of scale, which were not available to the Council.

Members felt that more work could be done to ensure the public understood that the intention was not to sell the Leisure Centres, but it was a partnership arrangement.  Members were reassured that this was explained in the Forums.

Evening and daytime forums had been held at each of the five Leisure Centres.  It was envisaged that the fee paid by the prospective partner would ensure that the service would pay for itself.  A decision had been made to go out to tender to receive bids, and once evaluated, if there was a preferred bidder a recommendation would be made to the Panel, Cabinet and the Council.

To receive a verbal update from the Council’s representative on the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel.

The Panel received the verbal update from Cllr Steve Clarke, the Council’s representative on the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel.  Cllr Clarke explained that the Crime Panel scrutinised the work of the Police Crime Commissioner.  He showed a video on the County Lines initiative by Hampshire Police which seeks to counter gang activity exploiting and targeting vulnerable children to get them involved in trafficking drugs.

Other updates were given, including the recruitment of 200 plus Police Officers funded by the increase in precept, which had commenced, and training officers were expected to be joining the neighbourhood teams in April.

Nationally, knife crime was a key emerging threat and the Commissioner was seeking to engage community partners in preventing the problem before it evolves. The Community Safety Partnership purchased deployable cameras for incidents of emerging crime trends and community reassurance.  Some members sought further information on the CCTV Cameras upgrades and Brian Byrne would give written details to members so they could cascade this information down to their respective Parish and Town Councils.

To review the membership of the following task and finish groups:

·         Health and Leisure Task and Finish Group (10)

·         Dibden Golf Course Working Group (4)

·         Customer Services Task and Finish Group (5)

·         Community Grants Task and Finish Group (7)

·         Citizens Advice New Forest Task and Finish Group (8)

The Panel agreed the continuation of the following Task and Finish Groups:

·                     Health and Leisure Task and Finish Group

·                     Dibden Golf Course Working Group

·                     Customer Services Task and Finish Group

·                     Community Grants Task and Finish Group

·                     Citizens Advice New Forest Task and Finish Group

It was agreed that an email would go to all Councillors inviting them to volunteer and the Chairman would agree the final membership of each group.

To consider the Panel’s future work programme.

Future Panel dates are:

17 September 2019

23 January 2020

25 March 2020

The Panel considered its future work programme.

Regular updates from Task and Finish Groups would be brought to the Panel, as well as items on community safety and strategic assessment.  A work programme would be drawn up and circulated at the next meeting.