Democracy in Crawley

How decisions are made and who represents you

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtually - Microsoft Teams. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  Email: democratic.services@crawley.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Disclosures of Interest and Whipping Declarations

In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, Councillors of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to declare interests where appropriate.

 

Councillors must also declare if they are subject to their party group whip in relation to any items under consideration.

 

Minutes:

No disclosures or whipping of interests were made.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 328 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 9 March 2020.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 9 March 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

 

3.

Public Question Time

To consider any written questions that were submitted in advance and accepted in-line with the Constitution.  These will be read to the Committee and be followed by a response. The questioner will receive an emailed copy of the response given at the meeting. There will be no supplementary questions.

 

Minutes:

No questions from the public were received. 

 

4.

Appointments and Establishment of Scrutiny Panels (Continuation of Membership)

Appointments and Establishment of Scrutiny Panels.

 

The Commission is asked to note the continuation of membership.

 

Climate Change Scrutiny Panel -

Councillors R S Fiveash, J Hart, K L Jaggard, T Lunnon and A Pendlington, with Councillor K L Jaggard as Chair.

 

West Sussex Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (HASC) -

Councillor McAleney

 

West Sussex Joint Scrutiny Steering Group (JSSG) –

Councillor Rana

 

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the Commission noted and approved the continuation of following memberships and appointments:

 

Climate Change Scrutiny Panel

Councillors R S Fiveash, J Hart, K L Jaggard, T Lunnon and A Pendlington, with Councillor K L Jaggard as Chair.

 

West Sussex Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (HASC)

Councillor McAleney

 

West Sussex Joint Scrutiny Steering Group (JSSG)

Councillor Rana

 

5.

Council-owned Neighbourhood Parades - Introductory Report pdf icon PDF 803 KB

To consider report FIN/499 of the Head of Corporate Finance.

Minutes:

Following the submission of a Scrutiny Suggestion Form by Councillor Lanzer, the report updated Councillors on the number, nature and examination of the various roles of council-owned neighbourhood parades and explored how effectively these were currently being discharged, together with what improvements might be made for the future. 

 

The current neighbourhood parade policy (Property Strategy) was adopted in May 2004 when it was decided to adopt a more commercial approach. There was an opportunity to examine its effectiveness over a considerable period of time and the influence that it has had on meeting the range of objectives associated with the neighbourhood parades.

 

The first Overview and Scrutiny Commission (OSC) meeting was identified as the meeting to receive a detailed report (FIN/499) outlining the requirements from the scrutiny suggestion and to reconfirm whether there was value and a further need for the Scrutiny Panel.

 

During the discussion with the Head of Corporate Finance and Asset Manager, Members thanked the officers for a detailed and interesting report, which covered the areas addressed within the scrutiny suggestion form’s aim, objective and scope. During the discussion the following comments were made which may be beneficial for a Panel to address further should one be established:

·       It was noted that the Council had an important role in the parades to support community assets.

·       There was a good range of shops within the parades and this needed to be maintained. 

·       The increased population and lifestyle choices have an impact on the change of use, such as there were more food takeaways and beauty therapists on the parades than had been previously.

·       It was acknowledged there were challenges, both in the past and particularly now with Covid19.  It would be interesting to establish whether patterns of use had changed during the pandemic and whether this was pattern was likely to remain.  It was remarked that during this time more people had been shopping locally and the role these local shops play needed to remain, particularly given the impact on the carbon footprint.

·       Consultation would be important should a Panel proceed although it was noted this would be difficult given the current situation.  It would be valuable to find out what residents want from the parades and also include letting agents and some tenants.

·       It was acknowledged that a landlord can, acting reasonably, decline to agree that a lease be assigned (sold on) to an assignee.  However the basic principle was that the assignee must put the Council as landlord in no worse position than the Council would be with the existing tenant.

·       The regeneration works had resulted in much improvement to the parades and the cost had been borne by the Council.

·       It was queried whether miscellaneous units should be included into appendix A and whether this could be accommodated by a Panel if established when looking at any rent analysis.

·       It was noted that some retail units had flats over, where the Council required that the flat was taken on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Scrutiny Workshop

To discuss arrangements for the OSC Review Workshop.

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Workshop was provisionally proposed for Wednesday 17 June 2020. However with scrutiny panels already in place and given the current situation it was agreed to cancel the workshop.

7.

Forward Plan - and Provisional List of Reports for the Commission's following Meetings

To consider any requests for future items. Those highlighted items have been referred to the Commission.

 

Cabinet 24 June 2020                                   OSC 22 June 2020

 

 

Item

Date Included

PFD

 

Treasury Management Outturn 2019 – 2020

25 March 2020

Yes

 

Financial Outturn 2019-2020 (Quarter 4)

25 March 2020

 

 

EV Charging Infrastructure Network

13 May 2020

 

 

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan

13 May 2020

 

 

Forward Programme of Key Procurements 

27 May 2020

 

 

Appointment of Supplier for the implementation and support of a new Fully Integrated Housing and Asset Management Database System –

Part B

30 April 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Cabinet 9 Sept 2020 – PROVISIONAL         OSC 7 Sept 2020

 

 

Item

Date Included

PFD

 

 

 

 

 

 Cabinet 30 Sept 2020                                     OSC 28 Sept 2020

 

 

Item

Date included

PFD

 

Budget Strategy 2021/22 – 2025/26

25 March 2020

Yes

 

Crawley Arts and Culture Proposition

25 March 2020

 

 

 

Cabinet 4 Nov 2020 – PROVISIONAL           OSC 2 Nov 2020

 

 

Item

Date Included

PFD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Cabinet 25 Nov 2020                                      OSC 23 Nov 2020

 

 

Item

Date Included

PFD

 

Treasury Management Mid-Year Review 2020-2021

25 March 2020

Yes

 

2020/2021 Budget Monitoring - Quarter 2 (Q1&Q2)

25 March 2020

 

 

Budget Strategy Mid-Year Review

25 March 2020

 

 

 Cabinet 13 Jan 2021 – PROVISIONAL         OSC 11 Jan 2021

 

 

Item

Date Included

PFD

 

 

 

 

 

 Cabinet 3 Feb 2021                                        OSC 1 Feb 2021

 

 

Item

Date Included

PFD

 

2021/2022 Budget and Council Tax

25 March 2020

Yes

 

Treasury Management Strategy 2021-2022

25 March 2020

Yes

 

2020/2021 Budget Monitoring - Quarter 3

25 March 2020

 

 

Irrecoverable Debts 2020/21 (Over £50,000)

25 March 2020

 

 

 Cabinet 10 March 2021                                  OSC 8 March 2021

 

 

Item

Date Included

PFD

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Commission confirmed the following reports:

 

22 June 2020

·         Treasury Management Outturn 2019 – 2020

·         Financial Outturn 2019-2020 (Quarter 4)

·         Forward Programme of Key Procurements

·         Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan

·         EV Charging and Infrastructure Network

 

 

(Should OSC Members wish to refer any future items, please email democratic.services@crawley.gov.uk)