Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and record apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Carpenter, Hughes, Quantrill, Shimbart and D Smith.

To confirm the minutes of the Scrutiny Board held on 26 September 2017.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Board held on 26 September 2017 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the addition of Councillor Ponsonby to the list of attendees.

To consider matters arising from the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2017.

There were no matters arising.

To receive declarations of interests relating to matters on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interests.

The Chairman to report the outcome of meetings attended or  other information arising since the last meeting.

The Chairman reported that:

(a)          he had been appointed Chairman of the Push Scrutiny Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

(b)          he had attended a meeting of the Push Scrutiny Overview Committee on Monday 31 October 2017;

(c)          he had attended a meeting of the Five Councils Partnership Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee on 30 October 2017 which had agreed to hold future meetings in abeyance until all the services to be transferred under the contracts were operational and issues had been identified by the individual Councils.

To consider recommendations from the Operations, Environmental Services and Norse Scrutiny and Policy Development Panel relating to the Beach Huts Review.

Documents Attached:

Report

Appendix A – Comments Received

Appendix B – Committee Procedure (to follow)

Further Information:

Findings Pack

The Board was given the opportunity to consider and comment upon the Review of Beach Huts undertaking by the Operations, Environmental Services and Norse Scrutiny and Policy Development Panel (“the Panel”).

The Board was reminded that the first Phase of the review had been considered by the Board on 4 April (minute 32/4/2017) and agreed to consider phase two of the review. 

The Chairman reminded members that the role of the Board was not to consider the review afresh but to direct its attention to the following issues:

·                         Had the Panel completed the review in accordance with its project plan?

·                         Had the Panel followed the correct scrutiny processes?

·                         Had the Panel addressed the issues and concerns raised since the report and findings pack had been published?

The Scrutiny Lead:

(A)         introduced the report and drew the Board’s attention to:

              a.           the problems caused by misinformation raised by officers of the Council and Norse South East relating to the benchmarking survey undertaken during Phase 1 of the Review and the terms and conditions of the licence;

              b.           the project plan had been agreed by the Panel following consultation with the Cabinet Lead and Hayling Island ward councillors and took into account the issues raised by the complainants. At the suggestion of one of the Hayling Island ward councillors, the Panel had agreed to concentrate on ways to resolve the issues raised and not look back on past errors or decisions;

              c.           the review had included: an analysis of the complaints and benchmarking survey, consultation with ward councillors and beach hut representatives; and consideration of options put forward by beach hut representatives and the Cabinet Lead;

              d.           the findings and conclusions set out in the report

(B)         requested that the recommendations set out in Section 2 of the report be agreed subject to recommendation 2.1.7 being amended to read

              “Agree that the facility to pay by equal instalment by direct debit over a six month period specified by Norse South East be offered to new and existing licensees with no administrative charge included or added”

The Board invited the following to address the Board and answer questions from members of the Board:

(a)          Mr Bedford, a beach hut representative, expressed concern that the following key issues raised by the beach hut owners had not been addressed by the Panel:   

              (i)      the 14.2% increase in plot for hire fees had been endorsed by the Panel without adequate reasons to justify this increase being given: the explanation given by the Council that the increase would bring the Council’s fees in line with other Council had been proven to be untrue with the Council’s fees before and after the increase being higher that an the average market rate for Councils on the south coast;

              (ii)     the beach hut owners felt badly exploited; over a ten year period the plot for hire licence fees had increased by 100% for residents and 275% for non residents over the past ten years

              Mr Bedford thanked the Hayling Councillors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

To receive recommendations from the Communities and Housing Scrutiny and Policy Development Panel in relation to the Assets of Community Value Policy Review.

Documents Attached:

Report

Further Information:

Findings Pack

The Board was given the opportunity to consider and comment upon the Review of Assets of Community Value Policy. The Scrutiny Lead for Communities and Housing Scrutiny and Policy Development Panel presented the report and answered any questions raised. The Cabinet Lead for Communities and Housing, the Assistant Solicitor, Corporate Support Manager, and the Planning Policy Manager were also invited to join the meeting and answer any questions in relation to the report.

The Planning Policy Manager requested that recommendation 2.1.3 be amended to read:

“agrees to information on how the Council considers  ACV applications and how planning applications on designated ACVs are considered be included in the Draft Local Plan Local Plan 2036”

RESOLVED that

The Scrutiny Board recommend to Cabinet that:

1            the Council’s website be updated to contain clear information for the public detailing exactly what an Asset of Community Value (ACV) is, how they can apply, what can and cannot be used as a reason for the application and the requirements for groups submitting nominations;

2            Councillors be sent information to enable clear direction to be given to residents;

3            investigate the feasibility of levying a charge for all ACV applications to the Council, with a refund given to successful applicants;

4            agrees to information on how the Council considers ACV applications and how planning applications on designated ACVs are considered is included in the Draft Havant Borough Local Plan 2036;

5            a review be undertaken into the resources used by the Council to facilitate the ACV process.;

6            the Constitution be amended to include the delegation of the authority to determine nominations for the listing of AVC’s to the Cabinet Lead for Communities and Housing; and

7            authority be delegated to the Head of Communities and Housing to select Councillors to the Assets of Community value panel on a meeting by meeting basis, provided that these Councillors are not members of the Cabinet or where the asset concerned is within their ward.

To consider latest update on the Scrutiny Board Work Programme.

Documents Attached

Report

Appendix A – Current Work Programme  for 2017/18

Appendix B – Progress against Success Criteria for 2017/18

Appendix C – Progress against Success Criteria for 2017/18 – Panel Breakdown

The Scrutiny Board considered the Scrutiny Work Programme 2017/18 and the Panel’s performance since the last meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED that:

(a)          the Scrutiny Work Programme 2017/18 be approved subject to the addition of a review into motorhome parking charges being included  in the programme; and

(b)          the Panels’ performance be noted.’