Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors R Sweeting and A Lee. 

A copy of the Register of Interest for each Selby District Councillor is available for inspection at www.selby.gov.uk.

Councillors should declare to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest in any item of business on this agenda which is not already entered in their Register of Interests.

Councillors should leave the meeting and take no part in the consideration, discussion or vote on any matter in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Councillors should also declare any other interests.  Having made the declaration, provided the other interest is not a disclosable pecuniary interest, the Councillor may stay in the meeting, speak and vote on that item of business.

If in doubt, Councillors are advised to seek advice from the Monitoring Officer.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee held on 24 November 2022.

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2022.

RESOLVED:

To approve the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 24 November 2022.

There was no Chairs address.

To consider and comment on the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust - Barlow Common Annual Report 2022 and the Wildlife Habitat Protection Trust - Hambleton Hough Annual Report 2022.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting David Powell from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) and Martin and Craig Blakey from the Wildlife Habitat Protection Trust (WHPT). Members were asked to consider the content of the 2021-22 annual reports and make any recommendations.

The Committee noted that Barlow Common had been leased out to the YWT since 1 March 2013 on a 99-year peppercorn agreement, and as part of the lease requirements YWT had to provide a site-specific, ten-year Management Plan, which was due for renewal in 2023.  The YWT reports annually to the Council on their activity.

Mr Powell advised Members that he had taken over the management of Barlow Common in April 2022, since that time he had been writing the new ten-year Management Plan, which would come into force from April 2023. Members heard that the new Plan had a more holistic approach to the management at the site in terms of the scrub control which aimed to support and boost some of the species that had been found to be present at Barlow Common.

Members noted that the site benefitted from a dedicated group of volunteers who had provided 449 hours of volunteer time in the past ten months, with the time focused on refreshing the picnic area tables and benches and path edges, litter picking, and repairs and widening to the footpaths across the site.

Members were informed that over the course of the next ten years the aim of the YWT was to positively manage the area of established and emerging woodland on the site, maintain the areas of integral open space as semi-natural, managed grassland and wildflower meadows, to create a mosaic effect; and maintain and enhance the open water habitats of the site, expanding them where possible. 

In relation to the pond at the south end of Barlow Common, Members heard that this pond had been restored as it had a length of boardwalk along it, therefore it was important for educational purposes.  Prior to the Covid pandemic local school children had attended the site; the YWT were working to promote and encourage the re-introduction of school visits. 

Finally, the YWT were exploring different funding options to help make better, sustainable use of the visitor centre building, which was in a very good condition, for example, to use as a café to offer refreshments from.

The Chair stated that he visited Barlow Common regularly and he felt that the site had improved noticeably, there was very little litter present, and that there was quite a lot of wildlife to be observed.  The Chair also requested that Mr Powell contact Members when promoting school trips as the Council may be able to help with the cost of the transport from the respective school to the site.

In terms of Hambleton Hough, the site had been leased out to the WHPT since 17 September 2012 on a 99-year peppercorn agreement lease; the WHPT also provided the Council with an annual report.  An initial ten-year Woodland  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

To consider and note the annual reports for the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board and North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Independent Scrutineers Annual Reports 2021-2022.

The Committee received the report of the Partnerships Manager which asked Members to note the content of the Annual Report for the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board (NYSAB), and the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) Independent Scrutineers Annual Report 2021-2022.

The Committee were reminded that the strategic priorities highlighted in the NYSAB Annual Report in 2020-2021 had been re-connecting communities, best practice, working together and adapting and responding.  Looking forward to 2021-23, the NYSAB had agreed to reinforce the message that keeping people safe in our communities during a pandemic was everyone’s business, with a particular look at some of the impacts felt from Covid-19.

Members noted that other priorities for the NYSAB included homelessness, preparing for the introduction of the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS), changes in the Integrated Care Systems (ICS), the Local Government Re-organisation (LGR); and creating a culture of shared learning in an open manner to enable partner agencies to continue to work together to keep adults in North Yorkshire safe from harm, abuse and neglect.

In respect of the NYSCP Annual Report, the Committee heard that in 2021 the Partnership had launched the NYSCP “Being Young in North Yorkshire” (BYINY) Strategy 2021-2024. The strategy set out the vision which had been shaped by the feedback from children and young people living in North Yorkshire, and had four key themes; a safe life, a happy family life, a healthy life: and achieving in life.

The Committee were informed that the priorities moving forward were focussed on the development of the NYSCP website to support the broader focus on the BYINY priorities, access to the information, and seeking to develop the way feedback from frontline practice shaped the work of the group.

Members noted that Selby District Council were a member of the Selby Local Safeguarding Partnership (LSP), a review of the priorities across the multi-agency partnership had taken place and it had been agreed that the local priorities for further development would be domestic abuse and both child and adult exploitation, predominantly around online safety. 

It was highlighted that work was ongoing through the LSP around what issues should be reported, and how and to whom safeguarding concerns should be reported; and also, on communications and information sharing, getting messages out into the communities and being as visible as possible.

Members asked a number of questions in relation to the signposting and cascading of safeguarding information, people’s ability to know where to go for assistance, the role of the General Practitioner (GP) in safeguarding, and whether Council officers took referrals from GP practices. 

The Officer confirmed that GP’s and other practitioners reported safeguarding issues directly to North Yorkshire County Council in the same way as the Council, however Council officers did work closely with local GP’s to have an awareness of community issues.  It was further confirmed that this was part of the work currently being investigated by the LSP as to how partner organisations could support the individual and consider their wellbeing, to ensure that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

The Director of Public Health, Louise Wallace will introduce her Annual Report 2021-22: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Committee are asked to note the content of the report and consider the recommendations.

The Committee welcomed North Yorkshire’s Director of Public Health, Louise Wallace to the meeting.

The Director of Public Health presented her report which asked the Committee to consider and note the content of the 2021-22 Director of Public Health Annual Report: lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members were informed that the 2021-22 report focused on the broader experiences of what individuals and communities across North Yorkshire had lived through during the Covid-19 pandemic, the wider impacts felt by communities; and the lessons to be learned from these for the future.

The Committee noted that a large amount of rich qualitative feedback and creative work had been gathered, with contributions coming from a number of different sources over the North Yorkshire area, these had been woven into the report.  Many of the messages had been heartfelt and helped to provide learning and priorities for the future.   

The Director of Public Health praised among others the care workers within care settings who had put into practice the changing guidance on health protection methods to ensure the vulnerable people in their care were kept safe, while still delivering day on day care.

Members noted that communications and cascading the messages out to the public had played a key part, and that the mantra had been hands, face, space.

The Committee heard that the vaccination programme had also played a critical part in moving forward and allowing the freedoms that the public enjoyed today, and that it was not only about protecting communities but also about improving health, the quality of life and having a healthy life expectancy.

And finally, Members were asked to be mindful of indoor air quality and ventilation, and to remember that having windows open to let fresh air circulate was effective and really did make a difference.

Members acknowledged that the pandemic had brought out the best qualities in people and that the local community had come together to support each other during the pandemic.  It was remarked that local authorities had worked incredibly hard to ensure peoples safety; and that the role that Public Health played had been highlighted with the general public. 

The Committee thanked the Director of Public Health for attending the meeting.

RESOLVED:

To note the update and information from the Director of   Public Health for North Yorkshire

To receive an update on leisure services provision in the District.

The Head of Commissioning, Contracts and Procurement gave the quarterly update on the provision of leisure services,mainly covering the period April to December 2022.

The Committee were informed that there had been a positive trend in terms of gym membership and attendance at the leisure centre but that the year on year performance figures did indicate utilisation of the facilities still remained below pre pandemic levels.  The figures were attributed to a number of factors to include levels of inflation, utility costs, and households with less disposable money to spend on leisure activities, which all impacted on the service.

Members heard that the leisure centre had suffered a small number of critical maintenance issues in the final quarter of 2022 that included a severe water leak under the children’s swimming pool which required closure whilst repairs were undertaken. In addition, the boilers had failed requiring closure of the main swimming pool whilst repairs where undertaken, and the all-weather pitch was closed in December 2022 due to flooding.

The Committee noted that discussions with the senior management at Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles (IHL) were ongoing to assess and agree the level of Covid 19 subsidy required from the Council for the financial year 2023-2024, to maintain leisure provision within the Selby District. 

The Officer explained that the decline in attendance combined with increases in energy costs had impacted the financial position of leisure services, and informed Members that the estimate for utility costs was predicted to increase by a further £400k in 2023-2024.

Members appreciated the difficulties being felt, the Chair stated that the issue of low attendance figures was County wide, and not just at leisure facilities but also at theatres and other facilities where people were in close proximity to other users; customer confidence remained low due to the pandemic and would need to be rebuilt.

The Committee had noted that staff recruitment and retention remained an issue in Selby, and in the leisure sector as a whole, and queried if there was anything that the Council could do to try and help IHL with recruitment.

It was confirmed that the current contract with IHL would expire in August 2024, at which time the North Yorkshire Council would procure a strategic review of leisure facilities for the whole of the North Yorkshire area; this would inform the future of all leisure facilities.

RESOLVED:

The Committee noted the update.

The Committee are asked to consider the content of the Quarter 2 report and make any comments on the Council’s corporate performance

The Committee received the report of the Head of Business Development and Improvement which asked Members to consider and comment on the performance information presented to them for Quarter 2, 2022-23.

Members noted that the report provided a progress update on delivery of the Council Plan 2020-2030, as measured by a combination of: progress against priority projects/high level actions; and performance against KPIs.

Officers summarised progress in Quarter 2, with 61% of KPIs reported showing improvement over the longer term, and 78% of KPIs reported were on target.

A query was raised in relation to the Council’s housing revenue account and the additional funding requirements which had been presented to full Council at the meeting held on Tuesday 17 January 2023, the Member commented that they had not been present at Council but that they had heard a news bulletin run by Radio York earlier in the afternoon of the meeting.  The Member was concerned that the reporting by Radio York was inaccurate, a view that was supported by the Committee. The officer agreed to liaise with the Communications team and raise the matter with Radio York and, if relevant, seek a correction.

RESOLVED:

The Committee considered and noted the content of the report.

To consider the report of the Chief Finance Officer which sets out Financial Results and Budget Exceptions Report for Quarter 2.

Due to there being no officer in attendance at the meeting, the Chair requested that the item be deferred to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the item be deferred to Scrutiny Committee on the 16 February 2023.

To consider the report of the Chief Finance Officer which reviews the Council’s borrowing and investment activity (Treasury Management) for Q2 and presents performance against the Prudential Indicators.

Due to there being no officer in attendance at the meeting, the Chair requested that the item be deferred to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the item be deferred to Scrutiny Committee on the 16 February 2023.

To consider the Committee’s work programme.

The Committee considered the 2022-23 work programme as presented in the agenda.

Members were reminded that the next date in the Committee Calendar for Scrutiny Committee was Thursday 16 February 2023, however this was being held provisionally and it was queried if the date should be taken out of the calendar.

The Committee agreed that the provisional meeting on the 16 February 2023 be confirmed in the Committee calendar.

RESOLVED:

i.                 Members noted the Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2022-23.

ii.               Members requested that the Democratic Services Officer confirm the provisional date of 16 February 2023 for the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in the Committee Calendar