MINUTES

OF THE MEETING OF THE

Community Services Policy AND Scrutiny Panel

Wednesday 10th September 2003

HELD AT THE TOWN HALL, WESTON-SUPER-MARE, SOMERSET.

Meeting Commenced: 6.00 p.m. Meeting Concluded: 8.25 p.m.

PRESENT: Councillors Andy Cole (Chairman), Ian Bates (Vice-Chairman), Ian Baker, Bob Bateman, Audrey Telling, Clive Webb, Andy Wright

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillor Greta Lewis

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Councillors George Morris, Nat Tucker and Ruth Brozaitis, Nailsea Swimming Pool Interest Group

COM 3

Public Discussion

Councillor Morris addressed the Panel regarding off-shore activities along the coast of North Somerset and particularly Clevedon. He advised that designated areas need to be clearly defined for all off-shore activities to ensure the safety of users.

COM 4

Declarations of Interest by Members

Councillor Baker declared a Code of Conduct interest, as his wife is an employee of the Library Service, referring to Item 8.4 Performance Monitoring.

COM 5

Minutes of the Meeting held on 23rd July 2003 (Agenda Item 4.1)

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

COM 6

Confirmation of the Panel’s Start Time (Agenda Item 6)

CONCLUDED: that the preferred start time for this Panel would be at 2.30 p.m.

COM 7

Presentation – Nailsea Swimming Pool Interest Group (Agenda Item 8.1)

Nat Tucker, the Chairman of the above Steering Group and Ruth Brozaitis, Swimming Instructor, gave a presentation on swimming facilities in North Somerset including Nailsea. The report was distributed with the agenda. Ruth Brozaitis highlighted a serious shortage of facilities to teach young people to swim in North Somerset and she demonstrated a considerable public need.

The following issues were raised:

· The community section of North Somerset is involved with the project to assist with funding.

· The North Somerset Community Development Officer should be contacted to assist with grant applications.

· Section 3 in the report identified contacts for swimming pools outside of North Somerset.

· Capital funding via the lottery is now very restricted funding only one main capital scheme per year in the South West.

· The Sport for England Matrix facilities planning model has been used to assess the need for a facility. This model has since been discredited as it shows North Somerset as having all the facilities it needs.

· Section 106 Agreements were discussed as being a possible funding source although the Deposit Local Plan up to 2011 highlights areas in Weston-super-Mare and Portishead for new housing.

· North Somerset Council Planning would assist with the planning application.

The Chairman thanked Nat Tucker and Ruth Brozaitis for their informative presentation.

CONCLUDED: that North Somerset officers were currently working on a Swimming Pool Strategy and this report would be noted for possible inclusion. This Panel would receive continued progress updates from officers and would receive a report on this Strategy at the next Panel meeting. The Leisure Management Contracts with letting and management details would be submitted to this Panel.

COM 8

Best Value Review of Partnership and Challenge Workshop – Chief Executive Officer Representative (Agenda Item 8.3) Background Information on Voluntary and Community Sector “Compact” Contracts (Agenda 7.1)

The Chief Executive Officer`s representative submitted a report and a short presentation on Best Value Review of Partnership Working to provide background information for a guided discussion session with the Panel. A copy of the presentation would remain in the Minute Book.

CONCLUDED: that members of the Panel noted the content of the report; Best Value Review of Partnerships and Challenge and identified the weaknesses in the way North Somerset worked with partnerships, the strength of current arrangements and proposed improvements. Due to time constraints the Panel agreed that the Chairman should view the Improvement Plan prior to its submission to the Executive. Members noted the report content of Voluntary and Community Sector Local Compacts.

COM 9

Report on Young People’s Leisure Time Linked to Increasing Community Safety and a Reduction of Crime (Agenda item 8.2)

A report was submitted by the Youth and Community Manager offering details on the key issues and background to the leisure time needs of young people in North Somerset, as requested at the last Panel Meeting.

CONCLUDED: that a representative from the Development and Environment Directorate would attend the next Panel meeting and give a presentation on Young People’s Leisure Time for members to investigate the topic further. Sally Tabrett would be invited to benefit from her knowledge of skate parks.

COM 10

Performance Monitoring Report (Agenda Item 8.4)

The Chief Executive Officer’s representative had submitted a report on the performance management framework including details of the progress made in respect of the Council’s Key Corporate Performance Indicators (KCPIs) relevant to this Panel. The Chief Executive Officer’s representative suggested that the Panel may wish to identify areas where further investigation was necessary and build it into their work plan.

Performance Areas discussed

(a) The local authority does have an input into reducing crime as crime can be designed out in new housing developments.

(b) The Council can influence grant aid for older properties.

(c) This Panel will have the opportunity to look at care of the elderly in the community. It is within the Housing Health and Social Care remit.

(d) The Organisational Effectiveness Policy and Scrutiny Panel overviews all Panels, and Councillors receive all papers.

CONCLUDED: the Panel noted the results of the first quarter monitoring report.

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Chairman

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