Agenda item

To consider a report by the Director for Digital and Resources, copy attached as item 6

The committee had a report before it attached as item 6, a copy of which had been circulated to all members, a copy of which is attached to a signed copy of these minutes. The report before members provided the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an overview of progress on the delivery of the commitments set our in ‘Platforms for our Places’ for the period January to June 2019.

The Chief Executive was present to answer questions from the Committee and provided an introduction to the report.

A member asked the following question. Future Focuses : Workforce Strategy. Whilst it is a welcome development that work is underway for Workforce Strategy to equip us for the challenges of the future;  Can you please confirm that: Priority will be given to ensuring a full staffing compliment; That staff are placed at the most appropriate locations to ensure the best service delivery and the least inconvenience to staff and public. The Chief Executive told the committee offered reassurance that he had never sought a policy of blanket freezes on recruitment and that there were other ways to make the books balance. With regards to the workforce strategy it was related that the future was about how the Councils could be more flexible and making sure that staff had the right skills. The accommodation strategy had been under review recently, a result of which was that the contact centre moved into the same building as other customer services staff. Generally, The intention was that working be flexible and that staff work from where they needed to.

A member asked the following question:  In terms of current projects, 67% appear to be on track and 25% considered as potential risks. Of the 25% of projects considered potential risks, which projects are considered to be most concerning and what is being done to address these? The committee was told that the report before them represented the period of time ending June 2019 and some of the ‘amber’ commitments had turned green since. Some major projects had been slower because of the need to await input or action by other partners or agencies.

A member asked the following question   I agree that one of the challenges as mentioned on page 26 Platform for Places is a series of interventions to ensure an evolving town centre, ie a year round programme of events and activities - yet 4.4 is focused on new activities mainly for Worthing. Shoreham does indeed have an award winning market, what other new beach to town/tourism incentive projects are planned for Shoreham, post the Streets Ahead conference. Members were told that retail models were not as they once were. The strategy put, was to focus on a range of issues to promote Town Centres. Dark fibre would provide a number of opportunities including the potential for tech companies coming in and taking up shop space for offices. Town Centres needed to be more ‘sticky’ as people needed to stay once they visited. Members were told that the ropetackle was an example of something that was helping shoreham to thrive.  There was an events agenda and exciting new venues such as Boxpark. Shoreham was becoming an interesting place to come and stay. 

A member asked the following question: Assuming a successful pilot of Housing First, to what extent is it envisaged that this will be scalable given the constraints in the town on properties and land? The committee was told that the scheme was locally in its infancy. It was thought to be reasonably successful, data and evidence needed to be collected to measure its efficacy. The challenge was the availability of housing units and money to provide services.

A member asked how the problem of rent arrears was being alleviated. The committee was told that Adur Homes faced major challenges. A 1% reduction over a number of years in rent meant that it would take eight years to where the authorities started from. The last couple of months had seen the authority focus its attention on the matter and as a result there had been a significant reduction in the amount. The committee was told that the council sat down with residents who were in arrears to set a suitable payment plan. There was an overall strategy of intervention and the councils sought to tackle issues early to avoid problems later down the line. 

A member asked how existing residents and communities could benefit from the development of brownfield sites such as those earmarked in the Joint Area Action Plan. Members were told that along with housing came infrastructure benefits such as new housing, roads and community facilities.

A member asked about planning for Brexit and was told that the Councils had been undertaking contingency planning for the previous twelve months.

A member asked about the change to fortnightly bin collections and how the change was being managed. The committee was told that the process would be kept under review but the significant change had been well planned and carried out.

The committee asked questions about both theatres and the use of social enterprise.

Resolved: that the report be noted and that the committee receive a further update at its meeting in January