To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7 September 2010 (previously circulated).

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7 September 2010 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive from Members any declarations and the nature thereof in relation to:-

(a)    personal interests in any agenda item

(b)    personal and prejudicial interests in any agenda item

(c)     any political whip in relation to any agenda item.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

In accordance with the Public Participation Procedure, as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution, ePetitions relating to the following issues were received by the Committee:

a)         the proposed cessation of the mobile library service;

b)         the proposed closure of Houghton Regis Leisure Centre.

The meeting noted that the ePetitions would not close for signing until 6 December and 9 December 2010 respectively.

The Committee was aware of the need to have regard to the content of these ePetitions during its deliberations on the proposals contained within the corporate budget strategy report (minute 10/44 refers).  The Committee was advised that, in relation to Houghton Regis Leisure Centre, there were two paper petitions circulating for signing and Members were asked to also take this into account when considering the corporate budget strategy report.

RESOLVED

1          that the ePetition requesting that the Council ‘keep Houghton Regis Leisure Centre open until such time as a new facility is provided in the town’ be received and taken into consideration during discussion of item 10, the Corporate Budget Strategy – Savings Proposals;

2          that the ePetition requesting that the Council ‘reconsider the proposed removal of the Mobile Library Service’ be received and taken into consideration during discussion of item 10, the Corporate Budget Strategy – Savings Proposals.

RECOMMENDED to the Executive

that the Executive receive the ePetitions relating to Houghton Regis Leisure Centre and the Mobile Library Service at its meeting at which the Council’s budget proposals for 2011/12 are considered.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.

No questions, statements or deputations from members of the public were received in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

To consider any decision of the Executive referred to the Committee for review in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

No decisions of the Executive had been called-in to be reviewed in accordance with the Call-In Procedure as set out in Part D2 of the Constitution.

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

No items were referred to the Committee for consideration at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

To receive a presentation on the outcome of public consultation on the draft Public Transport Strategy and Community Transport Strategy.

The Committee received a presentation by a representative of the TAS Partnership Ltd entitled “Local Bus and Community Transport Support”.  A copy of the presentation is attached at Appendix A to these minutes.

Following the presentation full discussion took place on a number of related issues including the ability of volunteers to participate in service provision, the use of taxis to replace bus services in areas of low demand, the extent of local authority influence on public transport provision within a deregulated environment, concessionary bus fares, the need to observe equality and fairness, the validity of the public consultation and the accuracy of the bus use data.

Following comments by Members the Public Transport Manager advised the meeting that because public consultation would not close until the following day he was unable at this point to make proposals regarding specific routes.  Instead any recommendations regarding the future of service provision would be submitted to the Executive on 7 December.   The Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities and Healthier Lifestyles stressed that Members’ views on the general strategic direction regarding the delivery of the proposed savings in local bus and community transport were sought at this time but that Members would have the opportunity to comment the future of individual services at the Executive meeting.

RESOLVED

1          that the Executive be advised that the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee endorses the strategic approach outlined in the presentation to the Committee regarding the delivery of the proposed savings of £545,000 in local bus and community transport including the proposed investment in longer term measures too achieve savings;

2          that the Executive also be advised that Members of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee reserve the right to comment on the detailed proposals for reductions in local bus and community transport services when they are presented to the Executive.

(Note: The Committee adjourned at 11.30 a.m. for a short break and reconvened at 11.41 a.m.)

To assess savings proposals for financial robustness and to consider the viability of the specific proposals for the Sustainable Communities Directorate.

The Committee considered a report by the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and People which provided Members with the opportunity to assess all savings proposals for financial robustness and to consider the viability and suitability of the specific proposals relating to the Sustainable Communities Directorate.  Members also had before them two additional documents.  The first was the report of the Portfolio Holder to the Executive on 2 November 2010 setting out a number of outline savings proposals (at Appendices A and B to the report) affecting all four Directorates and the Office of the Chief Executive.  The second was a revised Appendix B(v) which had been amended to reflect the decisions taken by the Executive.

The Committee made the following specific comments and recommendations regarding the Sustainable Communities Directorate in the order set out below:

a)         P6 Reduction in Small Grants/Commissions

The Committee queried whether there were other fiscally neutral proposals that had been considered to maintain the Marston Vale Trust and whether the Council could match the £10k funding proposed to be contributed by Bedford Borough Council.

RECOMMENDED to the Executive

that the Executive adopt the proposal to reduce Central Bedfordshire Council’s £25k contribution towards the core resource costs of the Trust. Having adopted the proposal the Executive should seek to provide fiscally neutral support to the Marston Vale Trust.

b)         EG, S&R1 Reduce External Enterprise and Marketing Activity

The Committee queried whether the full £200k budget could be saved in relation to external enterprise and marketing activity. Members were informed that the  £100k in funding which would remain after the proposed savings was essential to help support the creation of an additional 27,000 new jobs in Central Bedfordshire.

RECOMMENDED to the Executive

that the Executive adopt the proposal to reduce external enterprise and marketing activity in order to achieve £100k savings.

c)         EG, S&R2 Stop Grant to Luton Gateway Local Delivery Vehicle (LDV)

The Committee asked how Central Bedfordshire Council would continue to promote economic regeneration in the absence of the Luton Gateway and discussed the other available levers to promote economic growth.

RECOMMENDED to the Executive

that the Executive adopt the proposal to cease the grant to Luton Gateway Local Delivery Vehicle in order to achieve £50k savings.

d)         EG, S&R3 Town and Parish Planning Support Activity Stopped

The Committee was told that there were very few Town and Parish Plans still to be produced.  Members discussed the plans currently under development for Houghton Regis and Sandy and were informed that if savings proposals were implemented the support to develop these would cease on 1 April 2011.  Town and Parish Plans were not statutory documents and where they were considered to be necessary the local Town or Parish Council would be expected to develop these from their own resources.

RECOMMENDED to the Executive

that the Executive adopt the proposal to stop town and parish planning support activity in order to achieve £45k savings.

e)         EG, S&R4 Mobile Library Service to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

To consider a report summarising the content of the Central Bedfordshire Access to Key Services Strategy which will form part of the third Local Transport Plan (LTP3) for Central Bedfordshire.

The Committee considered a report by the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development which summarised the content of the Central Bedfordshire Access to Services Strategy: Baseline Report which would form part of the third Local Transport Plan (LTP3) for Central Bedfordshire.  A copy of the draft Strategy was attached as Appendix A to the report.

The meeting noted that the Strategy would contribute towards the creation of sustainable communities and the effective management of needed growth across the Authority as part of the development of Central Bedfordshire as an economic powerhouse.  This would be achieved by providing the capacity to accommodate an increase in travel demand through the creation of more efficient use of transport networks and the provision, promotion and education about alternatives to car travel for journeys to schools.

The Portfolio Holder explained that the Strategy had focussed on access to the following key services:

• Health care
• Food shopping and essential services
• Leisure, culture and tourism

In response to a Member’s comment the Portfolio Officer acknowledged that access to food shopping was essential and required on a far more frequent basis than health care, however the later was far more critical.  Furthermore,

access to food shopping would be met by a commercial driver.

RESOLVED

that the Executive be advised that the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee endorses the vision and objectives of the Access to Services Strategy: Baseline Report, and the proposed priorities and intervention methods contained within it, as part of the wider Local Transport Plan (LTP3).

To consider a report summarising the content of the Central Bedfordshire Sustainable Modes of Travel to Schools and Colleges Strategy which will form part of the third Local Transport Plan (LTP3) for Central Bedfordshire.

The Committee considered a report by the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development which summarised the content of the Central Bedfordshire Sustainable Modes of Travel to Schools and Colleges Strategy (SMoTS) which would form part of the third Local Transport Plan (LTP3) for Central Bedfordshire.  A copy of the draft strategy document was attached at Appendix A to the report.

The meeting noted that the report focused on access to schools and colleges which formed part of the Access to Services element of the LTP.  It provided a strategic approach to the management of issues relating to school and college journey trips across the Authority and provided a framework for the identification of site specific measures through the Local Area Transport Plans which in effect would form the implementation plans for the LTP.

Members referred to various road safety matters within the draft strategy with particular reference to ensuring its effective implementation.

RESOLVED

1          that the Executive be advised that the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee endorses the objectives, methods of intervention and proposed policies of the Sustainable Modes of Travel to Schools and Colleges Strategy (SMoTS) as part of the wider Local Transport Plan (LTP3) subject to resolutions 2 and 3 below;

2          that the Sustainable Modes of Travel to Schools and Colleges Strategy (SMoTS) include urban street design as a means of promoting safer routes to schools;

3          that the Sustainable Modes of Travel to Schools and Colleges Strategy (SMoTS) be amended on page 67 (Speed Limit Review) of the document to indicate that Central Bedfordshire Council will promote 20mph speed limits at schools where it is appropriate and will look for these to be incorporated in the highways capital programme.

To consider the Quarter One performance for the Sustainable Communities Directorate.

The Committee considered a report by the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development, the Portfolio Holder and Assistant Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities and Healthier Lifestyles and the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Skills and Regeneration which highlighted the Quarter 1 performance for the Sustainable Communities Directorate.

NOTED

the report.

To consider and agree the work programmes for the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Development Strategy Task Force and note the latest Executive Forward Plan.

The Committee considered a report by the Overview and Scrutiny Officer which asked the meeting to consider the Committee’s current work programme for the 2010-2011 municipal year and beyond and sought any comments and amendments.  In addition the Committee was asked to consider the Executive Forward Plan and an indicative work programme for the Development Strategy Task Force for the same period.

RESOLVED

that the work programmes for both the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Development Strategy task Force be approved.

NOTED

the Executive Forward Plan.