Agenda and minutes

Venue: Rennes Room, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter. View directions

Contact: Sharon Sissons, Democratic Services Officer  Tel: 01392 265115 or email  sharon.sissons@exeter.gov.uk

Note: Entry to the Civic Centre can be gained through the rear entrance, located at the back of the Customer Service Centre, Paris Street. 

Items
No. Item

40.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 564 KB

To approve and sign the minutes of the Strategic Scrutiny Committee held on 19 January 2023. 

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2023 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.

 

41.

Declaration of Interest

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item.  Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

 

 

 

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

 

42.

Questions from Members of the Public Under Standing Order No.19

Details of questions should be notified to the Corporate Manager Democratic and Civic Support via the committee.services@exeter.gov.uk email by 10.00am at least three working days prior to the meeting. For this meeting any questions must be submitted by 10.00am on Monday 13 March 2023.

 

For details about how to speak at Committee, please click the following link -  https://exeter.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors-and-meetings/public-speaking-at-meetings/overview/

 

 

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order No.19, the following question had been submitted by a member of the public, Mr Cleasby and was circulated in advance to Members of the Committee. Councillor Wood, Portfolio Holder Climate Change attended the meeting and gave the following response as set out in italics below:-

 

Will the Council please set out how it sees the future role of Exeter City Futures?

Answer

The two secondments to Exeter City Futures of the Chief Executive & Growth Director and Director for City Transformation have come to an end.  As a result, it was the right time to reflect on the work undertaken by the City Council to support the Net Zero Exeter 2030 Plan. A review was being undertaken on the City Council’s involvement in, and the future of Exeter City Futures in overseeing the Net Zero Exeter 2030 Plan. Once the review has concluded, a report would be brought to the Executive.  The work continued to reduce the City Council’s carbon emissions, which was the subject of a report on the agenda of this meeting.

 

Supplementary Question and Answer.

 

Mr Cleasby sought further information on the timetable for the conclusion of the review.

 

The Portfolio Holder Climate Change stated that it was anticipated the initial work would come forward soon.

 

 

43.

Questions from Members of the Council Under Standing Order No.20

To receive questions from Members of the Council to the relevant Portfolio Holders for this Scrutiny Committee. The Portfolio Holders reporting to this Scrutiny Committee are:-

 

Councillor Bialyk -       Leader

Councillor Morse -      Portfolio Holder City Development and Planning

Councillor Parkhouse Portfolio Holder Leisure & Physical Activity

Councillor Wood -       Portfolio Holder Climate Change

Councillor Wright -      Portfolio Holder Arts, Culture, and Corporate Services

 

Advance questions from Members relating to the Portfolio Holders above should be notified to the Corporate Manager Democratic and Civic Support.

 

 

 

Minutes:

In accordance with Standing Order No.20, the following questions were submitted by Councillor D. Moore in relation to the Portfolios of Councillor Parkhouse and the Leader. The questions were circulated to Members of the Committee. The responses of the Portfolio Holders were set out in italics below:-

Question from Councillor D Moore to the Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Physical Activity (Councillor Parkhouse)

 

Question

 

Why, when we are all supposed to be more inclusive of everyone in society, do I as a disabled person, have to travel outside Exeter to other towns and cities if I want to attend a "Disabled Only" swimming session?"

 

In support of the question, Councillor Moore advised that she had asked the question on behalf of a resident who had visited St Sidwell’s Point. She was aware that the resident had met with the Manager to discuss his experience “that there were a large number of disabled people in and around Exeter who would like to swim in the city pools but who would feel anxious, overwhelmed and even fearful of attending a public swim simply because the environment could be very busy and noisy at times. Additionally, people feel very conspicuous when they have to use a hoist or enter and exit the pool with assistance. The whole experience can very often trigger feelings of overwhelming anxiety, whereas in a "Disabled Only" swimming session the environment is much calmer, quieter and people don't feel judged or threatened when they are swimming with like-minded people.”

 

Answer

St Sidwell’s Point has been designed from the beginning to be fully inclusive and not segregate users at certain times, based on ability. The facilities included fully accessible changing places and rooms, toilets and wheelchair lifts and steps into the pool, were all part of the many ways where the facility had gone above and beyond.

The leisure team have listened to charities along the way for both the design of the building and facilitation of users.

Where there are other disabilities every effort was made to work to individual circumstances where practically possible. The staff have worked with users, who may feel anxious or had special requirements to adapt the service. The Centre Manager has worked with families on a one to one basis.

 

Supplementary Question and Answer

 

Councillor Moore asked if the service would be willing to work with the residents to improve their confidence whilst at St Sidwell’s Point.

 

The Portfolio Holder referred to the competing use of the facilities, but the team would follow up the request.

 

Question from Councillor D Moore –to the Leader of thr Council (Councillor Bialyk)

 

Question

 

Please can the Portfolio Holder provide and update on the repair of the Riverside Leisure Centre roof?

 

Answer

Elected Members have approved a £2 million capital repairs budget for leisure from April. Immediate repairs and priorities will be worked through by officers, including an updated condition survey and coordination from the Corporate Property Unit. Work on the roof of the Isca Centre would commence as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

44.

Portfolio Holder Report pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Councillor Josie Parkhouse (Portfolio Holder Leisure Services & Physical Activity) to present a report on her portfolio.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Parkhouse reported on the Leisure & Physical Activity areas of her Portfolio and detailed the issues relating to achieving the Council’s published priorities, major ongoing programmes of work, issues impacting delivery, financial performance, budget requirements and potential changes being considered.

 

The Portfolio Holder reported on the following key areas which included:-

 

·      the decision to bring leisure operations in house which had offered a strategic and joined up approach linking with the Council’s Live and Move Strategy to deliver activity across the city.

·      the teams were working to address pockets of inactivity in the city.

·      the teams were working with Devon Wildlife Trust to improve accessibility and signage in both the Valley Parks and the 13 Mile Green Circle.

·      the updated Playing Pitch Strategy would protect those green areas of the city. Consultation with over 100 local sports clubs had enabled mapping of pitches to identify current and future use.

·      energy price rises had impacted on the leisure sector overall, and whilst not such an issue for St Sidwell’s Point (SSP), there would be an impact on the other five sites in the city.

·      the national shortage of swimming instructors and lifeguards was exacerbated in Exeter as many staff were university students who left the city during the busier holiday periods.

·      every effort was being made to ensure the changes in staffing levels had minimal impact on the customer experience with the high quality service was maintained and managed within budget.

·      a concessionary offer similar to the former X Card may be considered.

·      the Council’s Net Zero team had submitted an application to the Decarbonisation Fund in respect of the Riverside Leisure Centre and the Isca Centre, and were awaiting the outcome of the bid.

·      well being programmes such as ‘This Girl Can’ had offered free sessions at the Wonford Leisure Centre for women and girls living in Wonford; a NHS Staff well-being programme tailored to the shift patterns of the workforce was immediately oversubscribed, and a new 12 week well-being programme will be open to the wider population to encourage more activity.

 

The Portfolio Holder responded to the following questions from Members:-

 

·      the crèche had a significant cost implication, despite there being no similar provision in the city and all options were considered.

The Director advised that the original modelling for the crèche was based on the expectation of a maximum of 2,000 sessions, but even at capacity, the running cost of £45 a session was unsustainable.

·      a request would be made to the Service Lead Active and Healthy People to contact ward councillors for St David’s around increasing activity levels in areas of deprivation to discuss initiatives.

·      following discussions with the Director, the technology used at a small data centre at Exmouth pool would be discussed at a meeting with the Net Zero team.

·      Northbrook Pool was a fantastic asset, but managing the opening hours with limited staffing capacity posed some challenges. A trial of different opening hours would take place at the end of March, and the May  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

45.

St. Sidwell's Point Project Contractual Arrangements pdf icon PDF 325 KB

To consider the report of the Director Culture, Leisure and Tourism.

 

Minutes:

The Director Culture, Leisure and Tourism presented the report, which followed a request from Councillor M. Mitchell and colleagues in the Progressive Group who sought further information on the contractual arrangements of the construction of St Sidwell’s Point (SSP) in terms of any lessons to be learnt from managing such a large scale project.

 

Councillor M. Mitchell attended the meeting under Standing Order 44 and thanked officers for the excellent and detailed report, and wished to put the request for consideration in context. Following the experiences of the project, he proposed a Member Task and Finish Group to consider how as a local authority such large capital programmes could be managed effectively. He said that as Members they were mindful of ensuring accountability and matters of governance and he suggested a Task and Finish Group may offer the opportunity to consider a wide range of issues, including the structure of business plans, variability of costs, ensuring value for money, and managing any delays in the timetable.

 

The Director introduced Justin Pickford, who project managed and provided technical expertise throughout the entire period. He had worked with an exceptional external team working to a budgeted and resourced process.  He noted the comments made and suggested that when the Wonford Health and Wellbeing Centre came forward, he would welcome any opportunity to incorporate the learning from SSP into that project.

 

Members made the following comments:-

 

·      that such projects should be left to the appointed project manager.

·      although being mindful of Member and officer time and commitments to convene a Task and Finish Group, the Member welcomed the opportunity to scrutinise the project.

·      a Task and Finish Group would offer further guidance for any future projects.

·      that some aspects of discussion of the management of future projects could be picked up in the work of the Exeter Development Fund Task and Finish Group.

 

Councillor M. Mitchell proposed a Task and Finish Group, which was seconded by Councillor Read and following a vote, the proposal was lost.

 

The Leader welcomed the report and reflected on the timetable, having chaired the cross party Leisure Complex and Programme Board, which oversaw the evolution of the project and which reported such to the Executive and Council.

 

Justin Pickford set out the key issues of the project as detailed in the report. He had worked on the scheme since its inception, with the appropriate level of professional support and specialist skills having been engaged, using standard industry recognised documentation to ensure there was no misunderstanding around the duties, roles and responsibilities. He highlighted four extraordinary changes within the contract which had been subsequently addressed:-

 

·      the Section 278 highways works were far more extensive than originally anticipated, with resultant costs being higher than envisaged;

·      the original building cladding material, although compliant with all building regulation was changed following the Grenfell fire;

·      the Operator fit out works costs exceeded the allocated budget following the decision to bring the operator back in-house; and

·      the effects of Covid 19 on the timetable,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

46.

Live and Move Programme Update pdf icon PDF 1003 KB

To consider the report of the Director Culture, Leisure and Tourism

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Service Lead Active and Healthy People presented the report which provided an update for Members on work undertaken and planned under the Live and Move Strategy, across Exeter and Cranbrook, with the aim of increasing health inequality and physical activity. The report also provided an opportunity to highlight the Council’s programme of work around physical activity and well-being in local communities as well as an update on the Sport England delivery pilot. The Strategy targeted 12 locations across the city, supporting those communities that suffer from the poorest health outcomes and the highest level of inactivity across the city. The three specific outcomes were to:-

 

·      increase everyday physical activity

·      increase walking and cycling use,  and

·      physical activity to improve community connectivity.

 

The team were about to oversee an Active Lives survey for 2023 which Sport England used to obtain a tangible benchmark. A review of the 2022 survey had already helped identify the levels of physical activity of residents in the priority locations. The Service Lead Active and Healthy People would share the survey results, but he wished to highlight three significant things that they noted from last year’s survey:-

 

·      Exeter had a stronger bounce back from Covid, with good levels of physical activity, testament to the investment made with local partners such as Exeter City Community Trust.

·      the narrowing of the gender gap in terms of more women and girls being physically active in Exeter than the national average. Campaigns such as ‘This Girl Can’ had helped to raise activity levels. 

·      investment in a local charity had resulted in an increase physical activity rates in the city’s culturally diverse communities using the Wonford Sports Centre.

 

Other areas of note included:-

 

·      field work for the next Active Lives survey would be launched shortly.

·      the Council will be invited to submit an application to secure a long term place partnership with Sport England later this year. Their investment and support would enable the Strategy to extend beyond the 2025 date to continue until 2030. 

·      a report to create a Wonford Community Wellbeing Hub with a proposed design and future management model would be presented to a future Executive and Council meeting.

·      work was due to take place in Newtown on a low traffic neighbourhood project with local consultation on a design for the public realm and walking and cycling infrastructure as well as creating a new outdoor community space. 

·      a new 12 week well-being and social prescribing programme working with the NHS, for more vulnerable residents to have opportunity to connect and access the facilities with a broader programme than just relating to physical long term conditions.

·      consultation by Devon County Council relating to the local walking and cycling offer to increase those activities through relatively low cost infrastructure projects. 

·      work on the Green Circle had improved signage, and access with a digital app to track the route, as well as looking at ways to improving ownership of local sections.

The Service Lead Active and Healthy People responded to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

47.

Exeter Plan: Outline Draft consultation: Initial reporting pdf icon PDF 803 KB

To consider the report of the Director City Development.

Minutes:

The Director introduced the report and referred to the extensive and inclusive public consultation in respect of the draft Local Plan. He thanked the Assistant Service Lead (Local Plan) and his team for their hard work in preparing for the consultation and their presence at a series of roadshows held throughout the city. The responses and level of engagement have created a good level of baseline data and the team were already preparing to commence the next consultation in October. 

The Assistant Service Lead (Local Plan) provided an overview of the consultation carried out on the outline draft Exeter plan last autumn. A report would be presented to the Executive next month summarising the consultation which looked at 28 policies and sites. The team had made a significant effort over the 12 weeks extended consultation period. There had been a higher profile and digital presence, with a new engagement platform, 15 exhibitions as well as direct engagement with students from the University of Exeter and Exeter College as well as a number of community groups, press releases, banners, posters, digital screens, and an advertising campaign on Council vehicles being used.

 

There had been good levels of engagement with 1,500 individual respondents having provided more than 3,400 individual responses on a policy, site or issue; 700 comments were received as a result of a quick survey and more than 15,000 hits were made on the City Council’s web site. More than 1,000 people attended the exhibitions providing an opportunity for the team to engage with the community in some depth.

The key issues drawn from the consultation included:-

·      Tackling climate change;

·      Supporting development that would reduce the need to travel, and

·      Providing good quality homes.

In general terms, over 50% of comments made were positive with clear support for brownfield development over green field sites as an overarching strategy. There was also support for other policies including the protection of valley parks, improvement of digital communication, particularly in relation to new development, and ensuring green infrastructure. There was no correlation between the scale of the 29 sites proposed and the number of responses.

Further detail on policy on a site by site basis would be published in the full consultation document, but the consultation undertaken had offered a good basis to move forward for the next draft of the Exeter Plan and future engagement.

 

The Assistant Service Lead (Local Plan) responded to the following Members’ comments:-

 

·      apart from the top three issues raised during the consultation, specific detail and statistics from the consultation would be included in the forthcoming report to the Executive.

·      the quick survey on the development strategy resulted in a range of comments on a site by site basis which could explain why there was, in some cases, considerable local activity on particular sites and the team would take such comments on board.

 

Members welcomed the report with many comments including:-

 

·      an appreciation of the effort made to engage with the public at a number of levels and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

48.

Working Towards Net Zero - Exeter City Council's Corporate Carbon Reduction Plan pdf icon PDF 321 KB

To consider the report of the Director Net Zero and City Management.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Service Lead Net Zero and Business presented an update on the work of the Net Zero Team, and delivery of the City Council’s Carbon Reduction Plan.  The updated Plan included a mix of measures set out in the Council’s Corporate Carbon Footprint Report produced in 2022, and actions in progress across all services to achieve a Net Zero Council. A summary of recent projects successfully delivered was also included within the report. The team were currently developing a separate methodology for the action plan to show low, medium and high priorities, which would give an emphasis of what action was needed to be undertaken as an immediate priority.

 

It should be acknowledged that delivery of the premise of Net Zero by 2030 for the City Council remained challenging. The Net Zero team continued to look at ways to create capacity, and they anticipated carrying out an exercise involving further research on the resources needed to deliver that for the City Council 

 

The report highlighted some of the major projects of the team which included:-

 

·      the completion of the Water Lane Smart Grid Project ;

·      two members of staff have been delivering Carbon Literacy training across the City Council. This was an ongoing project, and the Council had already achieved bronze status with further plans to work towards a silver accreditation.

·      a range of activity continued to reduce the Council’s carbon emissions with the information and data available on a dedicated page on the City Council’s web site .

·      a review of the environmental accreditation scheme, Green Accord, included  a relaunch at a Chamber of Commerce event at the beginning of April.

 

The Service Lead Net Zero and Business responded to the following Member’s comments and questions:-

 

·      she thanked the Member for comments on the attributes of an aerobic digestion plant and whilst there was no proposal to develop a facility, such as the one in the East Devon District Council area, it was not to say that such a facility could not be built in the future.

·      an officer Task and Finish Group relating to procurement has been established to see how data relating to contracts could be collected. She would ask the Net Zero Project Manager to offer a more detailed response in relation to Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and whether the connected and partnership companies were covered.

·      the team were working to establish a costed plan for delivering Net Zero and she anticipated further detail would be available at the next meeting of the Strategic Scrutiny Committee in June.

 

The Portfolio Holder Climate Change welcomed the detailed report including the various projects and activity being carried out by the Net Zero team. He responded to a Member’s question on sourcing information and data and referred to the Council’s web site as referenced earlier in the meeting and a suggestion of a more visual aid, a virtual thermometer to chart the Council’s progress in this regard.

 

Strategic Scrutiny Committee noted the following:-

 

(1)    an acknowledgment that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

49.

Progress Report Shared Prosperity Fund - Update 2 pdf icon PDF 227 KB

To consider the report of the Director Net Zero and City Management.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Service Lead Net Zero and Business presented the report, and provided a second update on the Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) through from the Department for Levelling Up Housing & Communities (DLUHC).The City Council finally received confirmation of the Exeter Investment Plan in January 2023, with the Year One allocation made earlier this month, in March. To help facilitate this work, a Project Manager would be appointed on a temporary basis for two years to deliver various activities including the Exeter’s Investment Fund.

 

Projects of note from the 2022/23 Investment Plan included a Design out Crime project, with the replacement of old analogue CCTV cameras in the city centre and the City Council’s car parks, and the introduction of body worn cameras for the Council’s enforcement teams; and a feasibility study in relation to the formation of the Exeter Passivehaus Training Academy would be commissioned early April.

 

The Service Lead Net Zero and Business referred to the revised Exeter Investment Plan attached to the report at Appendix 1 and highlighted a number of projects for 2023/24, commencing in April.

 

The following responses were given to Members’ questions:-

 

·      an activity in Year 2, would develop an Innovation Hub located within the city, working with the University of Exeter to undertake research specifically around climate change and Net Zero.

·      the completion of carbon impact assessment on projects, was more of a policy requirement of the City Council rather than UKSPF.

 

The Portfolio Holder Climate Change also responded to a Member’s comment on the lower level of funding through the UKSPF as opposed to the European Union (EU).  He cited the example of the grant given to build the £3.5 million solar farm and battery storage facility at Water Lane, which was part European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funded.

 

Strategic Scrutiny Committee noted the following:-

 

(1)   progress to deliver the Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in Exeter which had been limited;

(2)   slight adjustment of the interventions, to address delays in delivery; and

(3)   the Service Lead for Net Zero and Business would provide an update to Strategic Scrutiny Committee every six months on the delivery and management of UKSPF, the next update being at the meeting on 21 September 2023.

50.

Forward Plan of Business and Forward Work Plan pdf icon PDF 189 KB

 

Please see for noting a link to the schedule of future business proposed for the Council which can be viewed on the Council's web site. This on-line document is a source for Members to raise issues at Scrutiny on forthcoming Executive agenda items:-

https://exeter.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors-and-meetings/forward-plan-of-executive-decisions/

 

Also attached is a work plan for scrutiny items.

 

Should Members wish to raise issues in respect of future business please notify Sharon Sissons in advance of the meeting.

 

Minutes:

The Chair advised that the Scrutiny Programme Board would be considering the work plan of future business for Scrutiny.

 

Members noted the Forward Plan and draft Scrutiny Work Plan.