Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Groves and N Mannion.

To give consideration to the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2019

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 January 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 any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered. 

No members of the public present expressed an interest in speaking.

To give consideration to the performance scorecard for quarter 3.

Consideration was given to the performance data for services within the council’s Place directorate for quarter 3 of 2018/19. Particular focus was given to any areas of poor or worsened performance.

RESOLVED –

1          That, in light of continued poor performance, the relevant officers be asked to submit a report focused on the food safety issues that had caused the low performance markers, as well as an improvement plan for how the performance would be improved.

2          That the committee request that the relevant officers submit information or data that details the injuries experienced by individuals involved in the reported vehicle damage statistics.

To give consideration to a presentation on extra controls in the private rented sector.

Consideration was given to a presentation on extra controls within the private rented sector. It provided members with a background to the legislative changes that took effect on 1 October 2018 that extended the mandatory licensing of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), and the challenges to the council in relation to this.

The committee asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         how many HMOs there were in Cheshire East;

·         what quantifiable improvements the two new officer posts had delivered to the overall service;

·         what checks were carried out on landlords that downgrade their properties, and how frequently repeat checks were undertaken; and

·         how difficult it was for officers to identify HMOs, particularly in crowded areas, in order that the necessary actions be taken to ensure local amenity and wellbeing of the area be protected.

RESOLVED –

1                     That the committee endorses the recommendation to give further consideration to an Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights in respect of HMOs through the collation of evidence in relation to specific, identified areas, and

2                     That the committee recommends that the two processes of gathering evidence for selective licensing and the introduction of an Article 4 Designation, be carried out at the same time.

The meeting adjourned for a short break.

To give consideration to the annual update for 2019.

To fulfil its statutory duty to scrutinise flood risk management arrangements, the committee considered an update on flood risk management, which provided detail on the work undertaken in 2018/19 and the next steps in 2019/20.

The committee asked questions in relation to:

·         whether the council maintained a list of drains on particular streets that had been referred to the council due to frequent flooding after heavy rainfall events, and

·         whether there was a link between new build housing developments and drainage flooding issues.

RESOLVED –

That the update be noted.

To give consideration to a presentation on the Local Transport Plan – To follow

The committee gave consideration to an update on the council’s statutory requirement to produce a Local Transport Plan that identifies its proposals, priorities and aspirations for local transport.

Members were advised that the council needed to develop a new Local Transport Plan to ensure that it aligned to the council’s refreshed corporate objectives and principles.

RESOLVED –

That, following public consultation, the Local Transport Plan be reported back to the committee on 17 June 2019, along with the consultation feedback.

To give consideration to the areas of the forward plan which fall within the remit of the Committee.

Consideration was given to the areas of the forward plan which fell within the remit of the committee.

RESOLVED –

1             That the committee adds the Site Allocation and Development Policy to its work programme, to be considered on 17 June 2019, or as soon as is practicably possible.

2             That the forward plan item ‘CE 18/19-49: Crewe Hub Station’ be added to the committee’s work programme for its meeting on 17 June 2019, or otherwise as soon as is practicably possible.

To give consideration to the work programme

The committee reviewed its work programme.

RESOLVED –

1          That, in addition to the planned briefing note on ‘Taxi Licensing / TSS Vehicle Standards’, the committee request that a formal report be submitted for committee consideration.

2          That the additional work programme items, agreed by the committee in this meeting, be added to the work programme for consideration by teh committee as soon as is practicably possible.