Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillr J Forster. 

To receive declarations by Members and / or Co-Optees of disclosable pecuniary interest, interests, other registerable interest and any other interests in respect of items on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were submitted. 

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any items of business on the agenda.

RESOLVED -

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3 January 2024.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 January 2024 be agreed as a correct record.  The Chair signed the minutes. 

The Director of Place, Sustainable Growth and Transport to submit a report which provides an overview and update in relation to the Leconfield Regeneration Project.

(Copy report enclosed)

The Programme Manager presented a report which provided an overview and update in respect of the Leconfield Regeneration Project.  The Programme Manager gave an overview of the history of the project; the progress made on the project; digital infrastructure; active travel; and funding packages and the associated council decision making processes for the remainder of the remainder of the project.

In considering the report, Members raised the following questions and comments:

A Member sought further detail on the ‘Meanwhile Hub’ referred to in paragraph 2.1 of the report.

The Programme Manager advised that the iSH was to be a permanent structure which would take around 12 months to construct.  The Meanwhile Hub would provide aspects of the iSH services during the construction of the permanent Hub and would be housed in an existing building at the site. 

A Member noted that there had previously been concerns expressed in relation to the use of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). 

The Programme Manager responded that the Order related to a future phase of development and was not currently required, the existing development was being undertaken on Council owned land. 

The Assistant Director of Thriving Place and Investment advised that officers were aware of communications to the relevant landowner who had been informed that a Compulsory Purchase Order was not currently underway. 

A Member commented that the provision of Electric Vehicle Charging Points illustrated in the plans in the report seemed low.

The Programme Manager responded that the design process of the site would allow for additional provision in the future. 

Regarding marketing of the project, a Member suggested that a networking programme for business start ups may be useful.

The Director of Place, Sustainable Growth and Transport explained that he was the Council’s representative and director on the iSH Board and marketing was a key part of the current discussions taking place.  Moreover, business network was an essential aspect of the iSH project. 

In relation to the five year ring fencing of revenue income, a Member asked whether there was list of potential tenants for iSH?

The Programme Manager explained that rental income would come from both existing and new tenants at the site.  In terms of new tenants, iSH, as part of its business case development was working to identify potential tenants and to set up initial meetings. 

The Member further asked whether the new jobs referenced in the report would be new jobs in their own right or if an existing role carried out off site but moved on to the iSH site would be classed as new. 

The Assistant Director of Thriving Place and Investment advised that a significant portion of the government funding was predicated on the creation of entirely new jobs. 

The Committee then discussed the importance of performance metrics to assess the success of the project, with the number of permanent jobs created and retained being a very important measure.  Members requested that metrics be developed and reported to the committee on a regular timeframe. 

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item PLOS.43/23

The Director of Public Health and Communities to submit a report on the forms of community power, options for its future development and the role of elected members in shaping the organisation’s approach of working with communities.
(Copy Report enclosed)

The Assistant Director of Communities and Localities presented a report describing the spectrum of community empowerment and community power as well as setting out the journey the Council was currently on and exploring options for the future and the role of elected members in shaping the approach to ways of working with communities. 

In considering the report Members raised the following questions and comments:

A Member felt community power and engaging with communities was very important work, and that outreach work would be particularly important.  He asked how the Place Standard operated in practice.

The Assistant Director of Communities and Localities responded that it was important that the use of the Place Standard was broader than only council officers as communities knew themselves best.  In his view the Community Networks were the most appropriate arena for the Place Standard work to be undertaken.  An offer of a further briefing for Members on the Place Standard was offered and accepted. 

The Committee discussed their experiences of the Community Panels and Networks thus far which overall had been very positive, with Members appreciating the ability to set priorities that were for the area.   The Community Networks needed further development / time to be in for them to become a conduit of information for their associated Panel. 

Members noted that the Community Networks and Panels were a new approach to engaging with communities as such it was important that their activity was publicised as widely as possible to spread awareness.  The Panels distributed funds via it’s Neighbourhood Investments, a Member suggested that the Council’s social media channels be used to publicise activity funded by the Community Panels.  The Assistant Director of Communities and Localities welcomed the suggestion. 

A Member expressed concern that the Community Development team had sufficient resources to support the expanding work of the Community Panels and Networks. 

The Adults and Community Health Portfolio Holder advised that she had held several discussions on the matter of staffing resource.  The Community Panels and Networks were for everybody and positive contributions had been received from a variety of the Council’s directorates which indicated an understand that the work of the Panels was not seen to be delivered solely by the Community Development team.  

RESOLVED – That the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee had:

1) Noted the report.

2) Given views on the principles of engagement as contained in the draft Community Engagement Framework.

3) Given views on the development of Community Panel and Networks as referred to in paragraph 2.2.

4) Discussed the potential of member’s role in the future direction of the Council’s community power journey.

5) That the Council’s social media platforms be used to share work in the community funded by the Community Panels’ Neighbourhood Investments. 

The Policy and Scrutiny Officer submit a report which provides an overview of matters related to the committee’s work.

(Copy report enclosed)

The Policy and Scrutiny Officer submitted the Committee Update report and Work Programme. The report set out items om the most recent Forward Plan of Key Decision and provided an update on the progress on resolutions from previous meeting.  The draft Work Programme was appended to the report.

RESOLVED – That the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

1) Noted the items on the most recent Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

2) Noted the progress on resolutions from previous meetings.

3) Agreed the draft work programme.