Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2024 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To consider any matter referred to the Committee for a decision in relation to the call in of a decision.

There were no call-ins to be considered.

There were no call-ins to be considered.

A verbal update on Markets will be provided at the meeting from the Head of Planning and Economic Development.

Cabinet

3 October 2023

Cabinet received the findings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Working Group’s review into Markets. 

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee Working Group reviewed this topic with the purpose of discovering the effectiveness of the team and to review whether footfall in town centres had improved. 

Cabinet thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the work undertaken during the review.

RESOLVED that:

1.       To produce an annual market service business plan looking at the performance of the markets, event planning, and revenue forecasts to ensure the market is resourced and supported.

2.       Explore options of evening markets to increase footfall with the night time economy and to link in with events within the Borough.

3.       Research the opportunity of holding quarterly stallholder/stakeholder group meetings for feedback, improvements and sharing ideas. To ensure communication between Stallholders and the Market Officer are improved.

4.       To improve advertisements of markets across the Borough including using the Council website, social media and market trader websites. To promote days and times of the markets and list stall details.

5.       Provide the opportunity of a stall for free to Charities, to be booked through the Markets Officer each week.

6.       Explore opportunities of promoting Markets in the North of Borough as events rather than weekly markets. This could include themed markets such as vegan, locally produced food, and craft stalls.

7.       Explore the opportunities presented through the redevelopment of Victoria Street Car Park, Stapleford Town Deal project, for mixed use opportunities. Ensuring links to, and opportunities for, market developments in the Town Centre and explore other opportunities of further creative spaces across the Borough.

8.       Increase the market layout within Beeston Square to include other areas of land that Broxtowe own, to create visibility from Public transport and provide additional income to the Council where possible.

9.       To consider whether the Council should increase the permit charge of hiring Beeston Square to the Beeston Farmers Market or to explore options of bringing the Saturday market in house and generate additional income into the Council.

10.     To consider the possibility of using empty building within town centres into pop up shops/restaurants and creative spaces as an indoor market concept.

Reasons

This is in accordance with the Council’s corporate values of continuous improvement and delivering value for money

Members noted the update provided on the Spotlight Review on Markets and  welcomed the presentation and further update at the November meeting. 

The Committee noted the update provided on the Spotlight Review on Markets and welcomed a further update and presentation at the November meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Members discussed the issues they found with markets and the impacts of town centres locations, stall holders already committed to other markets and challenges the town centres were facing with footfall. Benefits of holding one off events and street food events were recognised as alternatives to regular weekly markets.

A verbal update will be provided at the meeting from the Leader of the Council with the recommendations of the scrutiny topics made at the Cabinet meeting held on 3 September 2024.

Cabinet

3 September 2024

Members considered the report that was submitted bythe Overview and Scrutiny Committee and stated that the recommendations were worthy of wider consideration. It was suggested that the Deputy Leader chair a working group to give consideration to the recommendations. Furthermore, the remit would include contextual issues of items such as the future of Kimberley Depot, the adequacy of disabled facilities across the estate, including toilet provision, while ensuring that there was consultation with the unions.

     RESOLVED that:

1.     The Deputy Leader chair a working group to consider the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in addition to subjects including the adequacy of toilet facilities in Council buildings, the future of Kimberley Depot and a selection of personnel issues.

2.     The Overview and Scrutiny Committee be requested to consider the topic of the Democratic Arrangements at the East Midlands Combined Counties Authority at a future meeting before reporting its findings to Cabinet.

Reasons

1.     The appointment of a working group will provide the flexibility necessary to undertake further review into the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

2.     To enable a review into the Democratic Arrangements at the East Midlands Combined Counties Authority.

It was further recommended at the meeting that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be requested to consider the topic of fines in relation to Environmental Enforcement.

RESOLVED to set up a Task and Finish Group to scope the topic of Environmental Enforcement fines. 

Members noted the update from the Leader of the Council of the decision from the recommendations presented to 3 September 2024 Cabinet meeting from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. A task and finish group would be arranged shortly and be chaired by the Deputy Leader. This group would meet twice a year. The Leader further discussed the issues with the democratic arrangements with the East Midlands Combined County Authority and requested to the Committee they consider the issues as a scrutiny topic. The Chief Executive had proposed to update all Members of the arrangements at a date to be confirmed and the Committee decided to hold the request until further information was made available.

The Leader felt that the current fines issued for fly tipping offences were very small considering the environmental impact and resources required to clean up and prosecute. He wanted the Committee to consider writing to the Secretary of State for Environment to look at the current environmental legislation and increase the penalties issued. The Committee unanimously agreed to add the item to the work programme and look at scoping the topic within a Task and Finish Group. It was proposed that Councillor E Winfield would be Chair and Vice Chair Councillor S Webb. Councillor A W G A Stockwell would also support the group.

          RESOLVED to set up a Task and Finish Group to scope the topic of Environmental Enforcement fines. 

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee are asked to consider the following reference from Licensing and Appeals Committee to add to its work programme.

Licensing and Appeals Committee

10 September 2024

Members were advised of the response to the consultation on the Council’s draft revised Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles for 2025-2027. The Committee noted a number of comments that had been received following the consultation and agreed the recommendations from GamCare within Appendix 1 be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee RECOMMENDS that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider the recommendations within Appendix 1 from GamCare at a future meeting.

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

This item was deferred until the next meeting due to the Chair of Licensing sending their apologies.

A verbal update will be provided at the meeting of the recent work of the Scrutiny Working Group.

An update was provided to the Committee from the Chair of the Equality, Inclusivity and Diversity Working Group. Members of the group had visited 5 parks in the Borough and the Portfolio for Environment and Climate Change was also in attendance. The group considered paths, gates, seating and play equipment as part of the review. The report will be presented to the Committee at the next meeting.

To inform the Committee of items on the Cabinet’s work programme, from which items for scrutiny may be identified.

Noted

Members noted the Cabinet Work Programme.

Committee is asked to approve its Work Programme, including identifying topics for scrutiny, that will help to achieve the Council’s key priorities and associated objectives.

RESOLVED that:

1.     the work programme be approved with Council Agenda’s and Environmental Enforcement Fines being added and to remove Disabled Facilities Grants, Homes for Life, and Resident Engagement Review.

2.     to delegate to the Chair and Vice Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to timetable the work programme going forward.

3.     The Chief Executive to be requested to give a presentation to all Members of the Council of the East Midlands Combined County Authority Governance Arrangements before a decision is made to add the request from the Leader of the Council to the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme.

The Committee reviewed the current work programme and agreed that some of the items on the plan were no longer relevant for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider. Members agreed for the Disabled Facilities Grants, Homes for Life and Resident Engagement Review to be removed.

Members agreed for Councillor T Marsh suggestion to add Committee Agenda’s to the work programme to review the content and size of the agenda’s, impact on resources and to conduct an evaluation from Members. A Task and Finish Group would be Chaired by Councillor T Marsh and Vice Chair, Councillor R D MacRae.

Councillor E Winfield expressed an interest on the Child Poverty topic, that was already committed on the work programme.  It was recommended that delegation to the Chair and Vice Chairs to timetable the work programme of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee going forward with consideration of resource provided by the Democratic team to the Committee. 

RESOLVED that:

1.     the work programme be approved with Committee Agenda’s and Environmental Enforcement Fines be added and to remove Disabled Facilities Grants, Homes for Life, and Resident Engagement Review.

2.     to delegate to the Chair and Vice Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to timetable the work programme going forward.

3.     The Chief Executive give a presentation to all Members of the Council of the East Midlands Combined County Authority Governance Arrangements before a decision is made to add the request from the Leader of the Council to the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme.