Apologies from absence were received from Councillors Cecilia Motley and Dave Tremellen.

Councillor Ed Potter substituted for Councillor Cecilia Motley

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.

There were no declarations of pecuniary interest.

To consider the Minutes of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 31^st January 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2018 had been circulated.

Councillor Winwood pointed out that he had given his apologies for absence but that they had been omitted from the minutes.

RESOLVED:

That subject to the above the minutes of the meeting of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee held on 31 January 2018 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

A Member asked whether there were any exempt minutes as part of the meeting had been held in private session.  The meeting was advised that it had been agreed that the minute relating to the private session could be included in the public minutes and so no exempt minutes would be published.

To receive any questions or statements from the public of which members of the public have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 2.00pm on Tuesday 27^th March 2018.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive any questions of which members of the Council have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 2pm on Tuesday 27^th March 2018.

There were no questions from Members.

The decision of the Cabinet made on 28^th February 2018 with regard to the ‘Local Commissioning of Youth Activities – Proposals for changes to the funding of targeted geographical provision’, as detailed in the attached Call In Notice, has been called in by Councillor David Vasmer and supported by Councillors Pam Moseley, Vivienne Parry, Alan Mosley, Harry Taylor, Andy Boddington, Nigel Hartin, Ioan Jones, Hannah Fraser, Jane MacKenzie, Tracey Huffer and Richard Huffer.  The report considered by Cabinet is also attached.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider the decision taken by Cabinet on 28^th February 2018.

The meeting was advised that the Liberal Democrat Group supported by Members of the Labour Group had called in the decision taken by Cabinet on 28^th February with regard to Local Commissioning of Youth Activities.

The Locality Commissioning Manager advised the meeting that the current budget for youth activities was £234,950 and that there had been no proposed reduction in the budget contained in the 2018/19 Financial Strategy and that therefore any additional transition or mitigation funding agreed in addition to the core funding allocations could be met within the proposed budget.  Members were informed that funding for some of LJC areas would reduce slightly, for others it had increased slightly – including for the Ludlow area.  There were two areas, Oswestry and Shrewsbury, that would see significant reductions in funding and that in Oswestry the Town Council had agreed to meet the shortfall in funding.  The Locality Commissioning Manager reminded the meeting that transitional support was available to mitigate the impact of budget reductions.  

A Member commented that Shrewsbury Town Council had only been notified of the cut in the youth funding budget after it had set its budget. 

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People reminded Members that there was the opportunity for transitional funding to mitigate the effect of the cuts and that the Town Council needed a dialogue with Officers to see what was available.

Several Members commented that there was money identified in the Financial Strategy that was not being utilised and asked that some of this be used to reverse the cut in the funding for Shrewsbury.

Several Members commented that Shrewsbury Town Council should meet with officers to explore the opportunity for any transitional funding that may be available.

After further discussion it was

RESOLVED:

That the decision of cabinet be upheld and that officers meet with representatives of Shrewsbury Town Council to discuss the provision of transitional funding.

The decision of the Cabinet made on 17^th January 2018 with regard to the New Parking Strategy has been called in by the Liberal Democrat Group, as detailed in the attached Call In Notice.  The report considered by Cabinet is also attached.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider the decision taken by Cabinet on 17^th January 2017.

The Director of Place and Enterprise advised the meeting that the Call in of the Parking Strategy had originally been considered by the Place Overview Committee but that it had been pointed out that all Call In requests should be dealt with by the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee which was the reason why the matter was before the Committee.

Members received a short presentation which explained the matrix methodology and the scoring methods which underpinned the proposals and highlighted the main proposals within the Strategy.

The Parking Enforcement Supervisor explained that the parking strategy attempted to address long standing issues of parking problems in Shropshire and attempted to change customer behaviour in order to ensure that the parking provided was being used as intended.

A Member expressed concern that the changes proposed in Ludlow would have an adverse effect on the local economy.  The Parking Enforcement Supervisor stated that it was anticipated that the increase in charges would encourage people working in Ludlow to go to the cheaper long stay carparks leaving more room for visitors and shoppers in the short stay carparks.  A Member commented that there were other ways of changing behaviour

A Member expressed concerns regarding the increase in charges for car parking in Wem especially as charges had only recently been introduced which had resulted in  more on street parking

A Member expressed concern about the revision of the ‘pop and shop’ scheme where the time a vehicle was allowed to park without charge was to be reduced from 15 minutes to 5 minutes.  The Parking Enforcement Supervisor explained that in practice the scheme was not changing as recent Government legislation had given drivers a period of 10 minutes grace after their parking time had expired and that this in effect was giving drivers the 15 minutes free parking allowed under the scheme plus an additional 10 minutes free parking allowed under the law.  Reducing the ‘pop and shop’ scheme to 5 minutes still gave drivers the additional 10 minutes allowed under the law.  He advised Members that additional signage would be provided to drivers to explain that they were still entitled to 15 minutes free parking.

A Member expressed concern regarding the increase in the cost of the Tradesman Waiver and commented that some trades, may find the increased charges prohibitive. 

The Chair of the Place Overview Committee reminded Members that regular reviews of car parking would be carried out by the Committee

RESOLVED:

That the Car Parking Strategy be endorsed

To consider the final Report from the Rapid Action Group on Refuges for Victims of Domestic Abuse.

Members received the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Officer which presented the report of the Rapid Action Group on Refuges for Victims of Domestic Abuse.

The Chair reminded the meeting that the Rapid Action Group had arisen following a motion to Council and advised Members that the Group has focussed their work on the funding available for refuges and support services for victims of domestic abuse, and the impact of changes to funding for all supported housing.

The Chair advised Members that the work done had contributed to the response that the Council had made to the consultation and that a response had been received from Government.

The Chair thanked all those who had contributed to the work of the Group

A Member queried whether CAMHS would have capacity for the additional work.  The meeting was advised that a review of CAMHS was currently being undertaken.

RESOLVED:

That the report of the Rapid Action Group on Refuges for Victims of Domestic Abuse be noted and the following recommendations be agreed

·                     That the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee explore opportunities for CAMHS to offer acute support to children who were staying in domestic abuse refuges.

·                     That Shropshire Council request that the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee explore opportunities for working more closely with Telford and Wrekin Council to deliver domestic abuse support services.

·                     That Shropshire Council respond to the government’s consultation on housing costs for short-term supported accommodation, asking that the Government postpones these proposals until such time as there is more certainty about the proposed domestic abuse legislation.

To receive a verbal update from the Head of Human Resources and Development on the progress of the Digital Transformation Programme.

The Head of Human Resources and Development gave an update on progress with the Digital Transformation Programme in which she advised members on progress of the various work streams.

The Head of Human Resources and Development stated that there was an issue around staff capacity and that a programme of recruitment was being undertaken.

The Chair thanked the Head of Human Resources and Development for her update.

To consider the future work programme of the Committee

The Chair advised the meeting that she had agreed to a request that a Rapid Action Task & Finish Group be established to look at the highways work recently carried out in Shrewsbury.

The Chair advised Members that an additional meeting would be held to receive the report of the CIL Task & Finish Group

The Committee is scheduled to next meet at 2.00pm on Wednesday 16^th May 2018.

Members were reminded that the next scheduled meeting of the Performance management Scrutiny Committee would be held on Wednesday 16 May 2018 at 2.00pm