Agenda item

Please see for noting a link to the schedule of future business proposed for the Council which can be viewed on the Council website. This online 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 draft work plan of future scrutiny items.

Should Members wish to raise issues in respect of future business please notify Liz Smith, Democratic Services Officer in advance of the meeting.

The Chair proposed that this item be heard next rather than in the order it appeared in the agenda.

The Chair reminded Members that following discussion at the last meeting the item “Performance and service provided to customers and stakeholders of Stagecoach Southwest in Exeter” had been passed to the Scrutiny Programme Board to determine at which committee it is best heard.

The Chair explained that there were two proformas to be scoped with ASB in city centre being the first and she invited Councillor Mitchell, as proposer to come to the table as he had submitted a request under Standing Order No. 44 to attend and speak on the item.

Councillor Mitchell in presenting the request stated that the item was as outlined on the proforma and that he would suggest that the committee look at causations, how it presents itself in Exeter, was there anything unique to the city and look at possible solutions.

The Chair stated that similar to the previous theme of safety of women at night she would suggest that the whole committee address this topic so as not to exclude anyone.

A Member suggested that it may be useful to invite the Portfolio Holder, Councillor Wright in order to better understand the situation.

The Scrutiny Programme Board could also discuss invitees, and July was considered a good time to schedule this item as this would coincide with almost a year of the community safety team which would be extended and linked to Devon and Cornwall hotspot policing.

The Chair clarified that the issue to be considered on a proforma would look at the city centre, but a wider area could be considered at a later date.

The Strategic Director People and Communities made the following comments in support of scoping the item:

·         the Strategic Director for Place would be the relevant officer;

·         she cautioned against correlating street attachment and rough sleeping with ASB;

·         there was a library of international evidence about cause and effect, reports of which could be made available to help identify what would be expected from partners;

·         she could provide information about the organisation who commissions drug and alcohol services.

Councillor Moore suggested that witnesses were ask the following:

·         What were the key things they offer which are unique;

·         What they thought the Council could do better or stop doing to impact ASB and work better in partnership with them. 

The Chair suggested that a small number of key witnesses were asked to give a short, written report and present on ASB in the city centre, it’s causes and possible solutions, in the first instance, to include Police, InExeter, the university, drug/alcohol services.

Following a vote the scoping of the item on ASB in the city centre was AGREED unanimously.

The Head of Service – City Centre and Net Zero suggested that the InExeter boundary be used as this was well-defined.

In scoping the item on Key People Activity across the Council the Strategic Director for People and Communities made the following points:

·         Last year the Chief Executive had commissioned a review of HR;

·         Information had been taken from the review to create an HR Improvement Plan which it would be helpful for scrutiny to look at;

·         The timeframe set out was a welcome opportunity to set out what the review had detailed, the actions taken and things which remained outstanding;

·         The new Head of Service had been in post for one month so the time frame given would give time for delivery of the Improvement Plan to be pushed forward;

·         Use of temporary staff had not been part of the review but could look to share information in relation to whether this had made things easier or produced budget savings.

Following a vote the scoping of the item on Key People Activity Across the Council was AGREED unanimously.

The Chair proposed seconded by Councillor Rees that the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee approve the Work Plan as submitted with Portfolio holder report for July removed and tenants Passivhaus item moved to September. Following a vote, the recommendation was CARRIED unanimously.