Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th January 2016

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11^th January 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Committee

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Committee or the Chief Executive

There were no announcements.

There were no announcements.

Minutes of the meetings held 12^th January, 10^th February (attached) and 8^th March 2016 (to follow)

A Member of the Business Improvement Working Group presented the notes

of the meetings held on 12^th January, 10^th February and 8^th March 2016.

The main focus for the Working Group was the review of the S106 process.

The Committee noted the recommendation on page 13 of the agenda which

related to a new Working Group being established to look at the Council

investing in its own affordable housing stock.

At the meeting of the 8^th March 2016 the Chairman of the Working Group gave

a summary of the conclusions of the S106 review and there were a number of

recommendations listed which the Group would consider at its next meeting,

along with the draft version of the final report, if approved by the Working

Group the final report would be presented to the Scrutiny and Overview

Committee on 9^th May 2016.

The Committee suggested that following completion of the S106 review the

Working Group should review the outcome and progress 12 months later. This

would be fed back to the Chairman of the Working Group.

It was also confirmed that all Councillors would be briefed on the planning application for new homes and a business park on land north of Horsham and this would include briefings on the infrastructure package to be secured through the s106 process.

                                                RESOLVED

That a new Working Group be established to look into the potential for the Council to invest in building and managing its own affordable housing stock.

REASON

All new working groups are to be approved by the Committee. 

To receive an update from the Chairman

The Committee noted that there had been no further meetings of the Crime

and Disorder Working Group and the next meeting was on Monday 18^th April

2016.

RESOLVED

That an update from the Crime and Disorder Working Group be received.

REASON

All updates of Working Group meetings are to be received by the Committee

Minutes of the meeting held 17^th February 2016

The Chairman of the Finance and Performance Working Group presented the

notes of the meeting held17^th February 2016.

There was some concern at the meeting regarding the CenSus Revenues

and Benefits performance and the cost that the Council had incurred as a

result of the audit of benefits payments which revealed for the second year

that errors had exceeded the permitted tolerances.

As a result of the Group’s concerns the Members had asked for a full

explanation from Mid Sussex District Council which was the lead authority for

the Revenues and Benefits service in the CenSus partnership.

There would be an informal briefing, to which all Members were invited, which

would be given by the Chief Executive at Mid Sussex District Council, their

Head of Finance and HR and also the Head of CenSus Revenues and

Benefits on 22^nd March 2016. The Committee suggested that the Cabinet

Members who represented Horsham on the CenSus Joint Committee, also be

invited to the briefing. The Chief Executive would contact them.

The Chairman of the Working Group clarified that this cost was recouping of

an overpayment and that the authorities would be asked to pay back money

which had been paid out in error.

The Committee agreed that this item should appear on the next agenda for

the Working Group in order for Members to monitor this.

Members questioned the impact of Adur District Council exiting the CenSus

partnership 2017. The Chief Executive explained that the remaining

authorities were faced with a number of options and a report would be

brought before Councillors in due course. The Committee suggested that the

Committee and Working Group be involved in this.

The Committee also noted the discussions which the Group had at the

meeting on requests made under the Freedom of Information Act, following

an email received by a member of the public in relation to the performance

indicators which were monitored by the Working Group.

RESOLVED

That the notes of the Finance and Performance Working Group meeting held 17^th February 2016, be received

REASON

All notes of Working Group meetings are to be received by the Committee

Minutes of the meeting held 7^th March 2016 to follow

The Chairman of the Social Inclusion Working Group presented the notes of

the meeting held 7^th March 2016.

The Working Group heard from the Financial Inclusion and Engagement

Officer at West Sussex County Council in relation to the causes of

indebtedness and financial hardship.

Arising from discussions the Working Group suggested that the Council

review its method of council tax collection, by adopting a more flexible

approach. A more flexible system would help those residents suffering

financial hardship by making it easier to pay their bills and therefore avoiding

debt; in addition it could optimise the efficiency of collection and reduce costs

to the Council.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee agreed with this proposal and made a

recommendation to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets.

RECOMMENDED TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE AND ASSETS

That the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets review the Council Tax fixed collection date with a view to having more flexibility in the system. By engaging with those in debt at an early stage rather than simply pursuing them for payment would have appositive outcome on the Council by reducing costs (e.g. bailiff costs) and potentially reducing cases of homelessness. 

Minutes of the meeting held 25^th January 2016

Letter from the Working Group to the West Sussex Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee

The Chairman of the Health Provision Working Group presented the notes of

the meeting 25^th January 2016.

The Working Group agreed to write a letter to West Sussex County Council to

seek its support in action to address the lack of health provision in the District.

A letter addressed to the Chairman of the WSCC Health and Adult Social

Care Select Committee (HASC) was presented to the Committee for

approval.

The Committee noted that the Chief Executive had already corresponded with

HASC and circulated a copy of his letter.

There had previously been meetings with the CCG and NHS England and

Members were keen to keep pressure on in relation to this issue with the

support of the County Council. The Chairman of the Working Group had

already contacted the local MP.   

Once there was a strategy in place the Council could look to gain the support

of the local GPs.

Members noted that there was also some parallel working with the Cabinet

Member for Community and Wellbeing and the Leader in relation to this

matter.

RESOLVED

That the notes of the Health Provision Working Group meeting held 29^th January 2016, be received

REASON

All notes of Working Group meetings are to be received by the Committee

Feedback from the Joint Scrutiny Steering Group meeting on 27^th January 2016 and from the Joint Scrutiny Task and Finish Group on Housing Provision for Care Leavers on 2^nd March

The Chairman of the Committee had attended the meeting of the West

Sussex Joint Scrutiny Steering Group, which met twice a year, at which it

agreed that the West Sussex Joint Scrutiny Task and Finish Group would

review the housing provision for care leavers.

Councillor Alan Britten represented Horsham District Council on the Task and

Finish Group and he provided the Committee with an update following the first

meeting.

Ofsted had highlighted many areas which required improvement in relation to

the education and housing provision, for care leavers. The service was

considered to have deteriorated.

The Task and Finish Group, which included representatives from all district

and boroughs in the County along with the County Council, would be looking

into whether there was adequate support for young people leaving care. The

review was due to be completed by the end of April; some Members were

concerned that this was not adequate time to cover such a wide scope.

Councillor Britten wished to thank the Community Development and

Engagement Manager and the Housing Needs Manager, for their help and

assistance during this review and he would report back on progress at the

next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee supported the suggestion that this Task and Finish Group be

responsible for reviewing and monitoring the progress and outcome following

the completion of this review. Normally any follow up would be carried out by

the Joint Scrutiny Steering Group. Councillor Britten would report this back to

the Group.

It was also important that the outcome of this review was fed into the Scrutiny

and Overview Committee and then subsequently Council.

The Chairman of the Committee was concerned about the costs of three

major planning appeals, which were in addition to the figures reported in the

performance data for the Finance and Performance Working Group.

The Committee noted that there were not any decisions at this stage.

To receive any suggestions for the Scrutiny and Overview Work Programme 2015-16

Chairman’s suggestions:

·         Request for a report from the Cabinet Member for the Local Economy for review of Costs and Revenues of Parking Services

The Scrutiny and Overview Work Programme was circulated.

There was one additional suggestion for the work programme raised by the

Chairman. As a result of all the additional housing in the District he was

concerned that this would lead to an increase in car ownership and that there

was no provision for an increase in parking in the town centre. Car parking

fees were also an important part of the Council’s revenue and needed to be

safeguarded. 

The Chairman sought support from the Committee to ask the Cabinet

Member for the Local Economy to produce a report with a strategy for the

future with consideration to be given to the additional houses, potential car

parking sites, park and ride and the car parking revenue. The Committee

suggested that this also include rural car parks.

The Committee noted that the Cabinet was already looking at a future vision

and plan for Horsham and parking was also part of this. 

The Committee supported the request that the Cabinet Member for the Local

Economy produce an overall review of car parking in the District.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Draft Charging Schedule

Consultation and Viability Assessment were now available and the Scrutiny

and Overview Committee had expressed their wishes to be a consultee in the

process. Members were awaiting confirmation from the officers on when the

consultation period would take place, but in the meantime Councillors Crosbie

and Jupp would begin reading the documents as part of the background work

for Scrutiny’s official response. 

Items not on the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as urgent because of the special circumstances

None.