Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Critchley, Gardiner (substituted for by Councillor Edgar), Parry and Wylie (substituted for by Councillor Saunders).

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2019.

RESOVLED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 October 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were received.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the Agenda

No declarations of a party whip were received.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: in order for officers to undertake and background research, it would be helpful if members of the public notified the Scrutiny Officer listed at the foot of the Agenda at least one working day before the meeting with brief details of the matter to be covered.

The Chairman invited members of the public present to speak to the committee. Ms Debbie Jamison came forward and spoke to the committee in respect of Minute No. 46 (Everybody Sport and Recreation Annual Report 2018/19).

Ms Jamison, who informed members that she was the resident leading on sports and leisure matters in the Knutsford Neighbourhood Plan, invited the committee to ask the officers representing Everybody Sport and Recreation to present information about its on-site user group meetings, and what consultation was planned to be undertaken on the Five-Town Plan.

RESOLVED –

The committee thanked Ms Jamison for her statement.

To consider an update on performance.

Consideration was given to a report submitted by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) that provided an overview of the performance of the 999 emergency ambulance service for the Cheshire East locality against national standards.

Members asked questions and put comments in respect of;

·         how NWAS had managed the pressure arising from the challenging financial climate, and which service areas had been reduced or affected as a result of this;

·         the role and importance of Core Responders during emergency situations; and

·         how the slower response times experienced in the more rural areas of the borough could be improved.

RESOLVED –

That the update be noted.

To consider the 2018/19 annual report of Everybody Sport and Recreation.

The committee considered the annual performance report of Everybody Sport and Recreation (ESAR) for 2018/19, which provided details of its strategic and financial aims, and overall performance, from the previous municipal year.

In response to Ms Jamison’s statement during Minute No. 44, the committee were advised of how, when and with whom ESAR would consult on its current and future work.

The committee put further questions and comments in relation to;

·         how more people could be encouraged and motivated to uptake outdoor exercise;

·         how information and data on levels of deprivation in the borough supports and informs the work and strategies of ESAR;

·         how ESAR supports and encourages those on lower incomes to access its services;

·         how many of the borough’s cared-for children take up and engage in ESAR services; and

·         how many sites have ‘green gym’ equipment and trim trails.

RESOLVED –

1          That the annual report be noted.

2          That further information be provided to the committee in response to its comments and questions on the take-up of services by cared-for children, and which sites have ‘green gym’ equipment.

Report to follow as a supplementary agenda item.

The committee considered the proposals within the Pre-Budget 2020/21 Consultation relating to its remit, with a view to providing its feedback and comments to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 9 January 2020.

Members asked questions and put comments in respect of;

·         the need to provide more background information on the costings and rationale of the Care4CE (item 35) budget proposal;

·         concern that funding for the 0-19 Healthy Child Programme should not be reduced and that frontline provision should be increased to support the early intervention and prevention work that could benefit the wider connected services; and

·         that the overall direction of how funding was planned to be reduced in certain service areas – proposal nos. 34, 37 and 41 were specifically referenced – may not benefit the overall public health picture in Cheshire East.

The committee also expressed concern regarding proposal no. 58 (Community Budgets funded from New Homes Bonus) and commented that this proposal would impact on the plans and proposals being presently produced by local businesses and town and parish councils across Cheshire East.

RESOLVED –

1          That the comments and feedback raised by the committee be collated alongside those of the other overview and scrutiny committees, to be presented to Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 January 2020.

2          That the council inform local town and parish councils about proposal no. 58 (Community Budgets funded from New Homes Bonus) as soon as possible, to ensure that they are made aware of the potential implications of this in 2020/21.

To consider update on the progress of the new contract that was awarded for the provision of assistive technology.

Consideration was given to an update report on the progress of the new contract for the assistive technology service.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         whether the same provision for over-85s applied with the new commission; and

·         how many users had been surveyed and how many had responded to the survey.

RESOLVED –

1          That the update be noted.

2          That a written response be provided outside of the meeting to the question asking how many users were surveyed and how many had responded to the survey.

Councillors Clowes and Edgar left the meeting.

To review the council’s Forward Plan.

Consideration was given to the council’s forward plan of key decisions through to 31 January 2020.

RESOLVED –

That the forward plan be noted.

To review the committee’s current work programme.

The committee reviewed its work programme and noted the upcoming items scheduled to be presented at its next meeting on 5 December 2019.

RESOLVED –

That the work programme be noted.