Agenda and minutes

Councillor Ibison was elected as the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2022/23.

Councillor Le Marinel was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2022/23.

To receive any declarations of interest from any councillor on any item on this agenda.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 25 April 2022.

It was agreed that the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on Monday 25 April 2022 were a correct record.

The Chief Executive, Garry Payne, will attend the meeting to present the Covid-19 response action plan and will respond to comments and questions from members of the committee.

The complete set of minutes from the Wyre Covid-19 Task Force can be viewed here.

These minutes highlight the extensive work that has been undertaken.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor David Henderson, and the Chief Executive, Garry Payne, provided the committee with the council’s Covid-19 response action plan and the complete set of minutes from the Wyre Covid-19 Task Force.

Garry Payne introduced the item and explained that an updated version of the action plan would be shared with Elected Members once available. He added the minutes of the Wyre Covid-19 Task Force, attached as a link in the agenda, demonstrated the extensive work of Wyre Council officers when tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in Wyre. He also explained that he chaired the Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) responsible for communications and updated members that the forum identified the LRF as an example of best practice for communications during the pandemic.

In response to a question regarding the level of Covid-19 measures at present, Garry Payne updated Elected Members that the frequency of meetings of the Wyre Covid-19 Task Force and the Lancashire Resilience Forum had reduced in line with the data on Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations. In response to a further question, Garry Payne assured Elected Members that council service delivery was not reduced during the pandemic. 

Following a question about the Poulton-le-Fylde Partnership Board, Garry Payne explained that an update would be included in the latest version of the action plan, which would be shared with Elected Members when available.

In regards to a question posed about business reopening data, Garry Payne and Marianne Hesketh highlighted the success of the business grants provided throughout the pandemic for local businesses in Wyre. A further question was asked about Covid-19 business grant fraud, Garry Payne explained that currently, he was not aware of any known fraud in relation to business grants sent to Wyre businesses by the council.

Councillor Sir Robert Atkins suggested for the council to identify a number of small businesses across the borough that were successful during and emerging out of the pandemic and to produce some publicity for these businesses as good news stories. There was a suggestion that this could be built in the Wyred Up project.  

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Henderson, expressed his thanks to Garry Payne and the staff at Wyre Council for their hard work and dedication throughout the pandemic.   

A question was then asked regarding council tax support. Garry Payne explained payment plan options for those residents struggling to pay their council tax.

Councillor Longton requested further information on the status of the household support fund. It was agreed that following the meeting the relevant officer would provide a written response.

It was suggested, once completed, that the work of the Lancashire Resilience Forum and the Wyre Covid-19 Task Force regarding lessons learned from the pandemic would be brought to a future meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. This was supported by Elected Members.

Elected Members noted the update.

The Chairman thanked the Leader and the Chief Executive for their attendance and contributions. 

The Corporate Director Communities, Marianne Hesketh, has submitted an interim update report of the recommendations of the Tourism Recovery Task Group. She will also attend the meeting to answer additional questions from members.

The Corporate Director Communities, Marianne Hesketh, introduced an interim update report of the recommendations of the Tourism Recovery Task Group.

Elected Members made comments and asked questions received regarding the following points:

-       Garstang Canal and Garstang Regeneration Framework

-       Encouraging coach trips to additional areas in Wyre such as Cleveleys and Garstang

-       Garstang Information Centre

-       The coach company familiarisation trip

-       New Discover Wyre website go-live date

-       Members Lounge renovations

-       Outdoor events planned for 2023

-       Relationship with Blackpool hotels

-       Coach parking issues

Following discussions, the Chairman requested a written response regarding the demand and timescales for Members Lounge renovations. This was supported by Elected Members.

The committee noted the report.

The Chairman thanked Marianne Hesketh for her attendance.

The Corporate Director Communities, Marianne Hesketh, has submitted a report, the 4th Quarter Performance Statement 2021/22, January – March 2022.

The Corporate Director Communities submitted a report on the Fourth Quarter Performance Statement 2021/22 (January – March 2022). Marianne Hesketh attended the meeting and answered questions from Elected Members.

Following discussions, the committee agreed that an updated report on the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone be prepared and brought to a future meeting.

The Chairman asked questions and received responses regarding the Wyre Community Lottery and fibre connection in Wyre.

Additional comments were made regarding electric charging points and the Turning Tides Partnership and single-use plastic cigarette butts in Wyre’s waters.

Following discussions, the update was noted.

The Democratic Services Officer, Marianne Unwin, submitted the State of Wyre Report 2021 for members to consider.

The full report can be viewed here.

The State of Wyre report was submitted to Elected Members for their consideration.

Marianne Unwin, Democratic Services Officer, provided the committee with a short summary of some key points arising from the report.

It was questioned if the committee were able to view the Census 2021 results for Wyre once they were made available. It was agreed for Democratic Services to investigate.

The Corporate Director Resources, Clare James, has submitted a report updating the committee about the delivery of the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2022/23. Marianne Unwin, Democratic Services Officer, will introduce the report and respond to questions and comments from councillors.

The Corporate Director Resources, Clare James, submitted a report to update the committee about the delivery of the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2022/23.

The Democratic Services Officer, Marianne Unwin, introduced the report to the committee.

Owing to the delay in the scoping document for a task group on Tourism Strategy, the Chairman suggested for the committee to wait until the July meeting for an update and if there were to be further delays for Elected Members to start thinking of some short topics for review.

Elected Members noted the report.