Agenda and minutes

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 Monday 21 November 2022.

The minutes for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on Monday 16 January 2023 were approved as a correct record.

The Corporate Director Communities, Marianne Hesketh, has submitted a report on the draft Business Plan for 2019 – 2023, which has been updated for 2023.

The Leader of the Council, Council Michael Vincent, and the Chief Executive, Garry Payne, will attend the meeting to present the report and respond to comments and questions from members of the committee.

The Corporate Director Communities, Marianne Hesketh, submitted a report on the Business Plan updated for 2023.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Michael Vincent, and the Chief Executive, Garry Payne attended the meeting to present the report and responded to questions from committee members.

Councillor Michael Vincent explained to members that the Business Plan had been refreshed and reformatted. The format for the updated plan had changed to fit on a single page for ease of reading. He highlighted that several success measures, for example regarding tree planting and health, had been updated and improved.

He updated members that as this update was for 2023, there would be a further updated Business Plan for the consideration of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee following the May 2023 Local Government Elections.

Following a question regarding the value for money of the leisure centres in Wyre, Councillor Michael Vincent expressed the value that access to municipal leisure centres had on residents’ health and wellbeing, however, he explained the cost of the increased subsidies especially owing to the current cost of energy.

Further questions were asked regarding the renewable heating of leisure centres and swimming pools, Councillor Michael Vincent reassured members that the on-going KKP Leisure Review would provide the council with realistic and affordable methods to protect the leisure centre's future. When available, the review would come before the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

Members made additional comments and asked questions regarding:

• Measures for the reduction in education, skills and training, employment, income and health deprivation in Lower Layer Super Output Areas in Wyre
• An updated housing needs survey
• Energy efficiency standards in Wyre
• Measures for tree coverage across Wyre

After further discussions, the committee made the following proposals for the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to consider regarding the updated Business Plan:

• That the following action "maximise commercial opportunities and deliver efficiencies" under the heading growth and prosperity be split and displayed as two separate bullet points.
• That the action regarding promoting the responsible use of Wyre's great outdoors under the environment and climate heading should also be reflected under the growth and prosperity heading.

Overall, members noted and welcomed the refreshed version of the Business Plan for 2023.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Michael Vincent and Garry Payne for their attendance and contributions.

A report has been submitted which reviews the council’s in house Covid-19 response.

The Chief Executive, Garry Payne, will attend the meeting to answer comments and questions by members of the committee.

The Chief Executive, Garry Payne submitted a report which reviewed the council’s internal Covid-19 response. He attended the meeting and introduced the report and its contents.

Garry Payne explained that he had recently completed a response for module one of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Members asked questions regarding:

• Test and trace service
• Staff pressure and stress
• Management of communications from Senior Officers
• Costs to the council

Garry added that Wyre Council had been identified by the Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) as an example of best practice for communications during the pandemic. He added that a number of employees were reassigned and were involved in the council's prompt Covid-19 response. The council also received funding to be used to assist with the response to Covid-19, for example facilitating mobile vaccination clinics, particularly in areas with lower rates of vaccination uptake.

In response to questions regarding the report's next steps, Garry suggested that this internal review report be shared with the Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF), which the committee supported.

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 Committee Work Programme 2022/23.

The Democratic Services Officer, Marianne Unwin, introduced the report. She provided a verbal update on the outcome of the recommendations of the Tackling Youth Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Task Group submitted to the meeting of Cabinet held on Wednesday 11 January 2023. She also provided a progress update of the first meeting of the Promotion of Self-Care and Social Prescribing in Wyre Task Group held on 12 January 2023.

The Chairman reminded members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that they were invited to attend the annual Work Programme prioritisation workshop before the creation of the 2023/2024 Work Programme. The session would be held on Tuesday 7 February 2023 at 2 pm in the Member’s Lounge. 

Members agreed that the report be noted.