To elect a Chairman for the forthcoming municipal year

1.1       RESOLVED:

That Councillor Hunt be elected chairman of the Environment and Services Scrutiny Committee for the forthcoming municipal year

2.1       There were no apologies for absence

To appoint a Vice Chairman for the forthcoming municipal year

3.1       RESOLVED:

The Councillor K Roberts be appointed Vice Chairman of the Environment and Services Scrutiny Committee for the forthcoming municipal year

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

4.1       None were made

To consider the Minutes of the Environment and Services Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 14 March 2016

5.1      The Chairman pointed out that he was described as Leader rather than Chairman in the list of those present.  It was agreed that this should be amended.

5.2       RESOLVED:

That subject to the above the minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Services Scrutiny Committee held on the 14 March 2016 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman

To receive any public questions or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  The deadline for this meeting is 5.00pm on 8 June 2016

6.1    The following question was received from Mr Bernard Wills - Chair of Quarry Swimming & Fitness Forum

Why is a decision on the location of the Future Swimming Provision in Shrewsbury being made in July based on inaccurate and incomplete information, some of which has been produced by Strategic Leisure consultants who are still working on this? After all this time and money, would it not be a better use of public time and money to wait until all the information, including that being carried out by the BID and the Quarry Swimming & Fitness Forum has been finished in 3 months’ time ?

Response: -

The report to Cabinet on the 13^th July will reference both the previous publically available information and recent updated information that answers the queries raised during the consultation. It will set out a recommendation based on all of this information and in the context of the council’s aim to create affordable and sustainable swimming provision that best supports future participation. Before making a final decision and in the context of this information and recommendation, the Council will be providing up to 12 months to organisations and groups to develop alternative proposals for future swimming provision

6.2       Mr Wills asked what support could the Council give to those groups which were looking at alternative proposals.  The Director of Commissioning stated that the Council had worked to date with all stakeholders and that this work would continue over the next 12 months

To receive any questions of which members of the Council have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 5.00pm on 8 June 2016

7.1       Councillor Bannerman made the following points: -

·                The costs included in the survey for the rebuilding of a pool on the Quarry site included the building of an underground car park which none of the other proposals included which meant that direct comparison of costs could not be made.

·                A town centre site was the preference of the majority of respondents to the survey

·                The report on the economic impact of relocating the swimming pool away from the town centre  had not been received yet

He asked why the final decision was being made in July.  The Director of Commissioning advised that the report was being taken in July to reflect the original decision made by Cabinet and the 2 years of work that had been undertaken since then. The  Cabinet report would include a recommendation that other organisations would have up to twelve months to make alternative proposals to keep the pool at the Quarry site and that these would be considered carefully against the key criteria set.

Report is to follow

8.1       The meeting received the report of the Director of Commissioning which provided a brief outline of what STAR (Shropshire Towns and Rural) Housing provide for the Council, the work they do and the arrangements for monitoring of STAR Housing by the Council

8.2       The Managing Director of STAR Housing gave a presentation, (copy attached to signed minutes). She advised Members that since it was set up in 2013 the following had been achieved: -

ž  100% Decent Homes Standard

ž  Building 68 new homes for sale and rent

ž  Improved successful resolution of anti-social behaviour from 73% to 93%

ž  Improved rent collection from 98.1% to 99.3%

ž  Improved satisfaction with sheltered housing from 84% to 90%

            The Managing Director advised members that progress was monitored through quarterly reports and that performance indicator were agreed with Shropshire Council and that currently 14 of the 15 indicators were within agreed tolerances.

8.3       The Managing Director then set out the challenges that were ahead and the objectives for the forthcoming year.

8.4       The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing, Regulatory Services and Environment advised Members that an options appraisal on the future management of the Councils housing stock would be taking place and that the Scrutiny Committee would be involved as part of this process.  He thanked the Managing Director and her team for all the work that they do.

8.5       Members expressed concern about the effects of government reforms especially the “pay to stay” and right to buy reforms.  In response to a question the Managing Director explained that the figure of £30,000 income for “pay to say” was set nationally and was total household income.  She added that having to ascertain the information changed the relationship with tenants.  A Member asked how the changes had been communicated to tenants.  The Managing Director advised that the changes had been discussed at Area Tenants Panels and that more information would be given once details of the implementation of the changes had been received.

8.6       A Member asked for more details about the “Pop Ups” that were held.  The Managing Director informed Members that about 40 pop ups were planned this year and that details were circulated to tenants locally.  She added that various officers attended and that information was available and tenants could raise and queries and problems that they had.

8.7       The Chairman suggested that it may be useful to set up a task and finish group to look at the options appraisal and that he would discuss the matter with the Portfolio Holder and the Managing Director.

8.8       The Chairman thanked the Managing Director for her presentation and for answering questions.

8.9       RESOLVED: -

            That the report be noted

This report provides an update on work carried out on the development of future swimming provision within Shrewsbury since the report provided to Scrutiny on 30^th November 2015.

9.1      The meeting received the report of the Director of Commissioning which provided an update on work carried out on the development of future swimming provision within Shrewsbury since the report provided to Scrutiny on 30^th November 2015.

9.2      The Director of Commissioning reminded members that a number of site options were consulted on in 2015 – and that detailed analysis of the 1,900 responses from the consultation and comments made by a number of stakeholders including Shrewsbury Town Council, the Quarry Swimming & Fitness Forum, the Shrewsbury Business Improvement District and the Shropshire Disability Network had been carried out.   He advised Members that leisure experts, Strategic Leisure Ltd., were carrying out detailed work in response to comments made during the consultation to help inform a recommendation to Cabinet for a preferred location and facility mix for swimming provision in Shrewsbury on the 13th July 2016, and that further detailed investigation work would be carried out to determine which option best met the Council’s vision and that two considerations will be paramount:

·         Which options are the most affordable and sustainable? 

·         Which options best meet the Council’s vision and strategy for swimming provision? 

9.3      A Member asked whether a further report would be taken to Cabinet following the further detailed work that was to be carried out.  The Director of Commissioning confirmed that a further report would be taken to Cabinet setting out the detailed proposals.

9.4      A Councillor asked whether the new pool would be able to stage regional swimming events as he had been advised that recently an event had had to be held in Wolverhampton as there was no suitable venue in Shropshire. The Director of Commissioning confirmed that the ASA had been involved in developing the specifications for the new pool and that it would be able to host events.

This report provides an update on work being carried out to update existing Public Open Space (POS) Sport & Recreation information which was collected in 2009 and to review future needs across the county, based on projected population growth for the period to 2036.

10.1    Members received the report of the Outdoor Partnerships Manager which updated them on work being carried out to update existing Public Open Space (POS) Sport & Recreation information which was collected in 2009 and to review future needs across the county, based on projected population growth for the period to 2036 which would enable the Council and local communities to identify and prioritise needs and the most appropriate mechanism for delivery.

10.2    Members were advised that a consultant had been appointed to carry out a survey of the existing provision and to identify future needs.

10.3    A Member made reference to policy MD2 which placed a requirement for open space to be provided in all developments and asked whether this was affected by the issues around the 5 year land supply.  Members were advised that open space was an important factor in determining whether a development was considered to be sustainable.

10.4    Members expressed concern regarding the impact of the removal of CIL obligation from self-build properties on the levels of CIL funding available to Councils.

10.5    RESOLVED:

            That Members note the work being carried out

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Monday 11 July at 2.00pm

71.1    Members were reminded that the next scheduled meeting would be held on Monday 11 July 2016 at 2.00pm