Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Grant and Porter.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

Councillor Dr Moore declared for the avoidance of doubt, that in respect of Item 13: Scrutiny Commission Work Programmes, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Scoping Document, her company worked with children with mental health problems. Councillor Dr Moore added that this was not within Leicester City.

The Chair stated that he was very pleased that Leicester had been named as one of the best cities in the United Kingdom. The survey had been carried out by Price Waterhouse Cooper and took into account several factors, including the cost of transport, housing, the environment and work life balance. The Chair added that this was a tremendous accolade.

The City Mayor responded that the news provided an opportunity to reflect that in the past, Leicester had not always been very good at recognising what a special place it was. However, there was a growing self confidence in how people felt about the city and also perhaps how others viewed Leicester. The achievement of Leicester City Football Club helped, but Leicester also had 20 centuries of history, the burial of a historic king and a diverse community all of which contributed towards making Leicester a remarkable place to live. Councillor Cleaver added that attendees at the Forum for Older People had praised the economic growth of the city and were especially pleased with the new Haymarket Bus Station.

The Chair asked that if possible, the news that Leicester had been named as one of the best cities in United Kingdom be added to the Leicester City Council website.

The minutes of the meeting of the Overview Select Committee held on 24 March 2016 and the Special Meeting held 22 June 2016 been circulated and the Committee will be asked to confirm them as correct records.

AGREED:

that the minutes of the meeting of the Overview Select Committee held 24 March 2016 and the Special Meeting of the Overview Select Committee held 22June 2016 be confirmed as correct records.

The Chair queried progress on actions agreed at previous meetings:

Meeting held 24 March 2016

·      For the word ‘indicative’ to be added in respect of the Health and Wellbeing budget as detailed in the Revenue Budget Monitoring Report Period 9, 2015/16.

The Director of Finance responded that this had been actioned.

The meeting held 22 June 2016

·      For information on the Healthy Nursery Scheme to be sent to the Chair of the Children, Young People and Schools Scrutiny Commission and for some anonymised case studies of Looked after Children to be sent to Members.

The Director of Finance responded that a number of actions had been agreed at the previous meeting; she was still collating the responses. These would be sent out when all the responses had been received.

·      For an informal meeting to be held between the City Mayor and Scrutiny Chairs to discuss how the Scrutiny procedure could be improved.

The City Mayor responded that this meeting did take place and a second meeting would be held in October.

Members are asked to note the Committee’s Terms of Reference as attached in Appendix A.

AGREED:

that the Scrutiny Committees’ Terms of Reference be noted.

Members are asked to note the membership of the Committee as detailed on the front of the agenda.

AGREED:

                   that the membership of the Overview Select Committee be noted.

Members are asked to note the dates of meetings of the Overview Select Committee as detailed below. All meetings to commence at 5.30pm,

Thursday 15 September 2016

Thursday 2 November 2016

Tuesday 13 December 2016

Thursday 2 February 2017

Thursday 6 April 2017

AGREED:

that the dates of meetings of the Overview Select Committee be noted.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any questions, representations or statements of case received.   

There were no questions, representations or statements of case.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any petitions received.

There were no petitions.

The Monitoring Officer submits a report that updates Members on the monitoring of outstanding petitions. The Committee is asked to note the current outstanding petitions and agree to remove those petitions marked ‘Petitions Process Complete’ from the report.

Members considered the Tracking of Petitions Monitoring Report. In response to a question, the Senior Democratic Support Officer reported that there were two petitions with a current status of ‘Red’ as follows:

Petition 05/04/2016 requesting the Council to force Alderman Richard Hallam School to create a dedicated parents’ drop off zone on their land. Progress was being made with the Officers’ response and it was anticipated that the petition process would be completed by the next meeting of the Overview Select Committee.

Petition 11/04/2016 requesting the Council to move the youth provision at Barley Croft Primary School to the Ur Choice Young People’s base at Unit 7, Home Farm Square. It was anticipated that the petition process in respect of this would also be completed by the next meeting of the Overview Select Committee.

Councillor Dempster commented that a large number of the petitions submitted related to highways issues across the city and she expressed concern regarding the Service’s capacity to respond. Thanks were extended to Officers in Highways for the work they were doing. Councillor Dempster commented that an exercise was taking place to map issues across the city and that a consultation relating to parking issues was also taking place. A strategy was needed with a clear action plan, because a considerable amount of Officers’ time was being taken up in dealing with highway related petitions.

The City Mayor explained that a formal consultation document would be out soon to look at a whole range of parking issues across the city, but in parallel with that, there was also work taking place to look at parking problems outside schools, some of which were significant. Officers were looking at every school across the city to obtain information about the number of pupils who arrived by car and the types of parking issues, to try and ascertain an order of priority. There was a need to understand where parking problems were the most prevalent or dangerous. The City Mayor added that he would check whether the work on schools was part of the formal consultation.

Afrin Saiyed, youth representative, commented that there could also be significant parking problems in residential areas near to colleges, and questioned whether the consultation would only focus on schools or whether colleges would also be included. To add to the problem, some students who were bringing their own car to college, drove round the area for some time looking for a place to park.  The City Mayor thanked Afrin for the question and responded that he was not sure, but if colleges were not included in the consultation he would ask whether this would be possible. He added that the most dangerous problems tended to be outside primary schools due to parents bringing children to school and some irresponsible parking, but it was clear that there were also issues also outside colleges; although of a different nature. 

AGREED:

1)  that the report be noted; and

2)  that those petitions marked ‘Petition process complete’, namely:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The City Mayor will answer questions raised by members of the Overview Select Committee on issues not covered elsewhere on the agenda.

The Chair invited Members to raise questions for the City Mayor.

Healthier Lifestyles and Gardening

Councillor Cleaver asked the City Mayor whether it would be possible for the Council to run a campaign to promote activities, such as gardening, to encourage healthier lifestyles. Councillor Cleaver referred to initiatives in Eyres Monsell where there was a growing project at the back of the Community Centre. She added that activities such as gardening held many benefits, including helping people with mental health issues and depression and also resulted in families and communities working together. Councillor Cleaver also asked whether the Leicester Mercury could be encouraged to promote gardening and similar activities which led to a healthier lifestyle.

The City Mayor agreed with Councillor Cleaver and stated that there were some very good initiatives in Eyres Monsell. There were many benefits from the traditional allotment movement and there was also a new approach, similar to that in Eyres Monsell, with less formal arrangements. This enabled people to grow their own produce without committing themselves to take on an allotment. The City Mayor added that the Council should do its best to facilitate other local communities to also support that initiative.

Afrin Saiyed commented that gardening should be promoted in schools. Councillor Dempster suggested that either Afrin or officers might like to contact Brooksby Agricultural College as they may have some students there who would be interested in doing some work in schools.

Outdoor Gyms

The Chair stated that Asian communities suffered disproportionately from high blood pressure and diabetes. Certain communities missed out In the last round of installations of outdoor gyms, and the Chair questioned when the next round of outdoor gyms would be considered and to what extent the council could contribute towards people’s health and wellbeing in those communities.

The City Mayor responded that there was a programme in place for new outdoor gyms and he could check and inform Commission Members on its progress. It could be seen that the existing outdoor gyms were very well used and tended to be used by people who would not normally join an indoor gym as outdoor gyms were much more accessible.

Councillor Cutkelvin stated that there were ten outdoor gyms in the city and she believed that the choice of their location was based on public health figures. At their ward meeting there had been discussions as to whether funding was available to extend the programme and she would be interested in usage figures and how usage differed in different areas of the city. Councillor Cutkelvin believed that their success was largely due to the natural footfall in the area and whether people were already engaging in some form of physical activity and suitably attired. In addition, a visual barrier, such as trees, provided some privacy for users of the equipment. Concerns were expressed that if some of those elements were not incorporated when considering a location, the outdoor gym would not be successful.

Councillor Dempster reported that an outdoor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

a)    To receive and endorse the following Scoping Document:-

               I.        Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission). (Appendix C1)

              II.        Incorporating Social Value into the Council’s Procurement Process (Economic Development, Transport and Tourism Scrutiny Commission). (Appendix C2)

            III.        End of Life Social Care (Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission). (Appendix C3)

b)    To receive and endorse the following reports of reviews carried out by a Scrutiny Commissions:-

               I.        A Review of Bus Lane Policy and its operation in Leicester.  (Economic Development, Transport and Tourism Scrutiny Commission). (Appendix C4)

              II.        The Impact of Gambling on Vulnerable Communities (Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission). (Appendix C5)

            III.        Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust – Quality Monitoring following the CQC Inspection (Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission). (Appendix C6)

At the invitation of the Chair, the following scoping documents were presented by the Scrutiny Commission Chairs.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) (Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission).

Councillor Dempster, current Chair of the Commission introduced the scoping document and explained that this would be a joint review with the Children, Young People and Schools’ Scrutiny Commission. Councillor Dempster stressed that it was essential that every Member who signed up for the Task Group, attended every session. It was also crucial for young people from the Youth Council to be involved, ideally with at least three young people present at every meeting. Members heard that the Task Group meetings would be held in the evening and the first meeting would be in September. Afrin stated that the Youth Council representatives were pleased that they had been invited and all members were interested in participating in the Task Group,

Councillor Dr Moore referred to the review’s potential witnesses and said that it was important that someone from the Educational Psychology Service should be invited to contribute.

Councillor Cutkelvin stated that she welcomed the review and the involvement of Youth Council representatives, adding that there were adults with mental health problems, who had displayed some form of mental health issue before they were 14 years of age, but had not received the proper support.

Sagar Haria, Youth Council Representative asked whether service users would be called as witnesses; he knew of service users who would be happy to come to give their views. Councillor Dempster responded that she hoped to involve them; notices would be displayed to publicise the review.

AGREED:

that the Scoping documents for the Review into CAMHS be agreed.

Incorporating Social Value into the Council’s Procurement Process: (Economic Development, Transport and Tourism Scrutiny Commission).

Councillor Khote, Chair of the Commission, introduced the scoping document stating that one meeting had been held so far. Councillor  Dr Moore added that a positive start had been made to the review.

Members indicated their support for the review.

AGREED:

that the scoping document for a review into Incorporating Social Value into the Council’s Procurement Process be agreed.

End of Life Social Care (Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission)

Councillor Cleaver, Chair of the Commission introduced the scoping document and stated that it was important to raise awareness of the issue and provide information so that people would know more about what help was available. It was important to help people as much as possible as they reached the end of their life.

Councillor Newcombe endorsed the scoping document stating that everything that could be done towards making the end of life easier, needed to be embraced. He suggested that it would be very useful to include representatives from LOROS as witnesses to this review. Councillor Cleaver thanked Councillor Newcombe for the suggestion and confirmed that LOROS would be invited to participate.

Afrin referred to the role of young carers and the City Mayor responded that there was a question to be asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

A work programme for the Overview Select Committee is attached.  The Committee is asked to consider this and make comments and/or amendments as it considers necessary.

The Chair invited Members to consider and comment on the Overview Select Committee Work Programme.

Councillor Cutkelvin reported that the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission would be receiving a paper on the council tax consultation and following on from that, the Commission would report back to the Overview Select Committee.

Councillor Dempster noted that the Budget 2017/18 was on the work programme for February 2017, but queried whether information on the budget would be brought to the Overview Select Committee prior to that. The Director of Finance reported that the quarterly Revenue and Capital Monitoring Reports that were brought to Committee would provide an update on the spending review programme; however the individual Commissions would need to decide how they wanted to receive update reports on the spending reviews that related to their own particular area.

It was agreed for the Revenue and Capital quarterly monitoring reports to be added to the work programme. 

AGREED:

1)    that the Overview Select Committee Work Programme be noted; and

2)    and for the Revenue and Capital Monitoring Reports to be added to the Work Programme.

Members are asked to consider and comment on the Corporate Plan of Key Decisions

The Chair invited Members to consider and comment on the Corporate Plan of Key Decisions.  Councillor Dempster referred to a decision to be taken on the Future Model of Integrated Lifestyle Services, which came under the heading of a healthy and active city. Councillor Dempster commented that this appeared to be a relevant topic for the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission, but she knew nothing about it. This concern spread to other items on the plan as well. 

The City Mayor suggested that some work could be done to make the descriptions on the Corporate Plan were more helpful and informative for Scrutiny Commissions.

During the ensuing discussion, comments were made that the Corporate Plan was not primarily designed for scrutiny; the plan was a legal requirement to publish information about forthcoming key decisions. The City Mayor added that some thought would be given as to how this could be made more appropriate for scrutiny and he suggested that this could be discussed at his next meeting with Scrutiny Chairs.

AGREED:

that the Corporate Plan of Key Decisions along with the concerns of the Committee regarding the need for more information for Scrutiny be noted.

The meeting closed at 7.20pm