Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Jon Hubbard, who was substituted by Councillor Ian Thorn.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 24 May 2016 and 21 June 2016.

Resolved:

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 2016.

That subject to amending the first use of ‘landfill’ to ‘HRCs’ in paragraph 9 of Minute 63, to approve and sign as a true and correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2016.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no announcements.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item.  Please contact the officer named above for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named above no later than 5pm on Tuesday 28 June in order to be guaranteed of a written response. The final deadline is 5pm on Thursday 30 June 2016.  Please contact the officer named on the first page of this agenda for further advice.  Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

Statements on Minute 72 were taken under that item.

To receive updates from the Chairmen and/or Vice-Chairmen of the Select Committees in respect of the topics under scrutiny in their areas, including any recommendations for endorsement by the Management Committee.

The Management Committee is asked to endorse the reports of the Chairmen of the Select Committee and the updated work programme.

Details were provided on meetings between Select Committee Chairman and the Executive to discuss future topics for scrutiny involvement such as further work on customer care feedback and projects involving utility companies. It was also intended to provide a legacy report on scrutiny achievements for the new council term in 2017, and proposed new feedback structures for project board representatives to provide greater scrutiny depth and assistance, as well as input into the Councillor Induction process for the new council term, particularly to ensure emphasis on area board roles.

Updates were also received on the activities of the Select Committees, including but not limited to the following:

Environment Select Committee

Details were provided on recent activities on topics as shown in the agenda, with further work on Waste Contracts, planning enforcement and fleet maintenance suggested.

Health Select Committee

Details were provided on recent activities on topics as shown in the agenda, with further work on air quality, the single view of the customer project, and performance of the 111 call service and effectiveness of the Older Person champions suggested. Concerns had also been raised on consultation regarding the adult care charging policy being considered by Cabinet, and it was proposed the Committee investigate upon its implementation to assess any impact. It was also stated some areas had discussed appointment of Carer champions similar to Older Persons champions, and whether this could be a model for other areas.

Children’s Select Committee

Details were provided on recent activities on topics as shown in the agenda, with further work on increased academisation, including a special briefing on 21 June which focused on the government white paper: Educational Excellence Everywhere

Resolved:

To note the updates from the Select Committees.

To receive any available verbal or written updates on the following Management Committee Task Groups:

·         Military-Civilian Integration Partnership Task Group

·         Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Task Group

·         Financial Planning Task Group

Financial Planning Task Group

The task group met on 9 June and considered the Revenue and Capital budget outturn reports for 2015/16, plus the Performance update from Q4 2015/16 reported as part of the corporate performance framework

In considering the Revenue budget report, the task group noted the overspends on children’s placements and SEND Transport and will monitor these as two of the biggest areas of challenge. It also noted the work undertaken to improve the accuracy of how adult social care activity is tagged, charged and therefore forecast.

In considering the latest performance report, the task group noted the increase in fly-tipping and also that the Waste Service Changes Task Group will bring its final report to Environment Select in late August. The task group also welcomed the current performance report format as clear, accessible and succinct.

The task group chairman has now met with all of the select committee chairmen and vice-chairs to discuss the budget priorities in each area. The task group will consider the results of these at its next meeting and incorporate key areas in its forward work programme where appropriate.

The written update from the Financial Planning Task Group was noted.

In respect of the Military Civilian Integration Partnership Task Group it was stated that due to a change in the lead army officer for the region, there had been delays, but the intention was to speak to the police and the army on further issues and report for the end of 2016 which would determine what work, if any, would be needed for the next council.

In respect of the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Task Group, its next meeting was to be 6 July 2016.

Following the referral of a motion on Hydrocarbon Extraction to the Committee by Full Council on 23 February 2016, considered at the meeting of the Committee on 1 March 2016, a presentation was received on 24 May 2016 from Alistair Cunningham, Associate Director, Economic Development and Planning. This provided a summary of work being undertaken to prepare a briefing to Members of the Council on Hydrocarbon Extraction, national policies and the council’s responsibilities.

A written briefing on hydrocarbon extraction is to follow and will be circulated to all councillors. The briefing paper includes technical explanation of the process and national policy, review of local planning policies and decision making in relation to the planning process. 

In light of all the information received, members are asked to consider whether further scrutiny input on Hydrocarbon Extraction in Wiltshire is appropriate at this time.

At Council on 23 February 2016 a motion was received on hydrocarbon extraction following the granting of Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences (PEDL) in the county. The motion was referred to the Committee for its meeting on 1 March 2016, where it was requested officers undertake an investigation into hydrocarbon extraction, to include technical explanations, local and national policies and what functions are devolved to local authorities.

An initial presentation was received from Alistair Cunningham, Associate Director, Economic Development and Planning, on 24 May 2016, as well as seeking further direction from the Committee and the public in attendance on issues to be included within the briefing paper to be prepared following the officer investigation.

Councillor Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Operational Property and Waste and Georgina Clampitt-Dix, Head of Spatial Planning, presented the briefing paper to the Committee.

The Chairman opened the item by reminding all present that the Committee was not a decision making body, and the briefing paper and discussion of it was not a debate on the merits of hydrocarbon extraction, but an explanation of the background, processes that needed to be followed, the role of the council as local planning authority and other bodies, as well as a review of the council’s planning policies in the context of national policies.

The Committee thanked the officers for the extensive briefing that had been provided and welcomed the thorough explanation of the technical processes of hydrocarbon extraction and the council’s role in the process. In response to queries it was stated regulatory organisations such as the Environment Agency would be responsible for assessing many issues such as impact upon the water supply. It was also stated that it was the councils’ view that its existing planning policies on minerals and other  planning matters adequately provided for dealing with any hydrocarbon extraction issues and it was not necessary therefore at the present time for a specific policy on that issue alone.

The likelihood of any extraction taking place within Wiltshire was raised given the geology of the county, and it was reiterated that although PEDL licences have been granted no application has been received to begin exploration.

Public representations were received from Bill Jarvis and Margaret Carvanna from KeepWiltshireFrackFree welcoming the detail of the report, although in light of the concern many held over the risks and potential high cost to the county financially and in health terms, they felt the council’s current policies needed to be reviewed to ensure they were sufficient

A motion was moved by Councillor Alan Hill, seconded by Councillor Bridget Wayman, to note the excellent report from officers, that the report should be circulated to all councillors, and that the committee felt that no further scrutiny action as required at the present time, but that the committee be updated regularly. The motion was approved.

A motion was also moved by Councillor Stephen Oldrieve, seconded by Councillor Glenis Ansell, that a seminar for members be arranged to discuss  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

At its meeting on 24 May 2016 the Committee received a presentation on development of the MyWiltshire system, which enables the public and council officers to remotely report on a range of issues such as reporting potholes and flytipping, among others.

It was resolved to seek expressions of interest from councillors for a Task Group to provide Scutiny input on the continued progression of the system’s development.

The draft terms of reference for the task group will follow for discussion and endorsement.

Following a request from the Environment Select Committee on 27 October 2015, on 5 January 2016 the Management Committee received a presentation on development of the MyWiltshire system, a system which enables the public and officers to remotely report a range of issues to be resolved, and which had primarily been utilised to date on highways matters such as reporting potholes and flytipping. Following an update at its meeting on 24 May 2016, the Committee resolved to seek expressions of interest for a Task Group to review and assist development of the MyWiltshire system, with the details of the terms of reference delegated to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

The Vice-Chairman, Councillor Alan Hill, presented the proposed terms of reference for the Task Group, along with several proposed members, with the intention that the Chairman and himself would appoint any remaining members if needed.

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Councillor Philip Whitehead, emphasised that although most of the existing functions of the system was focused on highways matters, future development of functions could be in many other service areas.

Resolved:

1)    To approve the proposed terms of reference

2)    To appoint  Councillors Bob Jones MBE, Magnus Macdonald, Howard Greenman and Bridget Wayman to the Task Group, with any additional members to be appointed by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

3)    To arrange the first meeting as soon as possible

To confirm the date of the next meeting as 6 September 2016.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 6 September 2016.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.