Issue - meetings

That the Committee support the content of the notes and responses from the Member Workshop held on 28 May, as circulated at the meeting, to be presented to Cabinet, together with the comments made by Members during the meeting, to consider for the final content of the Council Plan 2018/19.

            The Corporate Business and Communications Executive Officer commenced the presentation and referred Members to the Council Plan and Targets Review sheets which had been circulated.  This document outlined the suggestions made by Members at the Workshop held on the 29^th May in Part 1 and the targets for excelling, improvement or maintaining within the Council Plan were referred to in Part 2.

            Councillor Richard Jones welcomed the revised version of the strategic approach to regenerating and supporting town centres, as circulated at the meeting but remained concerned around whether the Council had adequate resources to drive through the ambition.  The Corporate Business and Communications Executive Officer explained that the developed approach to regenerate and support town centres would be carried out in partnership with Town Councils.

            Councillor Jones also asked why the performance target for affordable homes had been removed.  In response to the explanation from the Corporate Business and Communications Executive Officer that the target would have been removed as a national performance measure, Councillor Jones suggested that the target be continued as a local measure in 2018/19.  Councillor Patrick Heesom agreed with this suggestion and comments on the concerns around developers finding loopholes in the legislation to provide an adequate number of affordable housing.

            Councillor Heesom also raised concerns around the lack of youth provision across the County and that the vast majority of residents across the county were not able to access the Communities First programme and therefore would not benefit from the services including encouraging access to work etc.  The Interim Chief Officer (Education & Youth) said that these comments had been taken on board.

            Councillor Hilary McGuill referred to the Council Plan Theme, ‘Green Council’, and said that during the Member workshop she had suggested that the Council work with fast food outlets to ask them to introduce a scheme where the registration number of a vehicle was printed on the food packaging in order to reduce litter across the County.  The Corporate Business and Communications Executive Officer suggested that this be added to the Forward Work Programme of the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee to consider available options.

            Councillor McGuill also asked that Carers’ satisfaction continue to be monitored.  

            In response to comments around school admissions, the Interim Chief Officer explained the Council’s School Admission Policy and the appeal process which was open to parents if they had not been initially successful in gaining a place at their first school of choice.

            Councillor Joe Johnson asked if information on the location of the transient Traveller sites could be provided.  He also asked if the Town Centre Investment Plans would be shared equitable across the County.  The Corporate Business and Communications Executive Officer confirmed that the location of the transient Traveller sites was yet to be decided.

            Councillor Paul Johnson suggested that the Heritage Strategy, which included important sites like Greenfield Valley, would be more relevant if it moved to the ‘Ambitious Council’ Council Plan Theme, especially from a tourism and economic opportunity perspective.

            In response  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13