Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28 August 2020

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 August 2020 were signed as a correct record.

Councillors/Staff to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registrable interest or any other interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda, in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

None declared

To answer questions from members of the public – submitted in writing or by electronic mail no later than 5.00pm, 2 working days before the meeting.

None received

To hear representations from members of the public on items which appear on the agenda – submitted in writing or by electronic mail no later than 5.00pm, 2 working days before the meeting.

None received

The Policy Manager (Corporate, Performance and Information) introduced the Quarter 1 performance report for 2020/21 and provided an overview of the report including key projects and activities, corporate KPIs and strategic risks which are based on the interim delivery plan.

Members were informed that most of the activities/projects were performing as expected. The exception as per previous reports being delays with the Arcus project, this is due to resource and technical issues. In terms of KPIs, due to the current pandemic some KPIs have a ‘no fixed target figure’. The KPI for valid and missed bin collections was showing as Red ‘RAG Status’, however officers provided context to this, advising that the bin collection rate for Q1 was 99.90%. The ‘percentage of Council spend (less than £50k) on goods and services with local suppliers’ was also shown as below performance target which has been influenced with the need purchase specialist equipment due to the pandemic.

Members raised questions in relation to vulnerable groups and digital services, the officer explained that although the future model is targeted towards online services, the council acknowledges the need to provide services for all.

Performance Management Reporting was debated, and concerns were raised that the reports provided to the Overview and Scrutiny did not show outcomes and outputs. The Head of Policy, Strategy and Performance explained to the committee that a newly appointed Project Officer would work with the committee to review the Performance Management Framework.

Members then asked questions in relation to the impacts of Covid-19, paying Cumbrian businesses, NNDR and expressed concerns with the increasing costs and delayed implementation of the Arcus project. An update on the Arcus project will be provided to members and officers clarified that following report publication, requests for further information on specific items can be accommodated in advance of committee meetings.

Debate then ensued in relation to cleaner, greener Allerdale, the Reedlands Road project and the financial cost of the Allerdale Waste Services contract.

Members noted the contents of the report.

To consider the approach being followed to develop this strategy

The Policy Manager (Corporate, Performance and Information) presented the report to members to update members on progress and to seek views from the committee on strategy content.

Members were advised of what is meant by resilience and community resilience, specifically how communities adapt both to emergency scenarios and general ongoing situations.

The officer went on to explain the current situation and how the pandemic has further impacted inequality and health outcomes. Positives from the pandemic however were highlighted, in particular the resilience shown within the communities and the support provided to vulnerable groups, and those isolating or shielding.

The initial areas for focus were outlined to members and asked for thoughts, opinions and suggestions. Focus areas are;

• Engaging, involving, collaborating and empowering
• Promoting healthy, active lifestyles
• Addressing community safety issues
• Addressing inequalities and hardship

Debate ensued and members made suggestions which should be acknowledged within the strategy, including tackling loneliness, community empowerment and maximising the use of public open spaces. It was also commented that the Council should be reviewing what it can do to facilitate and influence community resilience.

To consider the recent progress in developing this strategy

The Head of Strategy, Policy and Performance presented the report to members and to provide an update on the development an economic recovery and growth plan for the Council.

Following a procurement exercise, Mott McDonald were commissioned by the Council in March 2020 to;

• Update the baseline economic analysis of the local economy in Allerdale
• Develop a new economic growth plan
• Develop a Workington Town Investment Plan, (to the point of submission)

Members were advised that the report contained the challenges facing the Council, the key themes, assets and opportunities and that since the Covid 19 pandemic, focus has also turned to recovery plans.

Members were advised as community advocates to contribute to the economic growth plan and that the report will be brought back to Overview and Scrutiny early 2021.

The Programme Director for Workington then provided an update on the Workington Town Investment Plan. The proposal will be submitted to government at the end of October 2020. The public engagement to the consultation was positive with over 100 project ideas submitted which was above the national average. In addition to public consultation, in depth interviews were undertaken with key partners and stakeholders. Following consultations, the ‘Town Deal’ board performed a sifting exercise of potential projects using its agreed parameters and within the government intervention framework. This concluded with the identification of six key priority areas which have been presented again for public consultation. This consultation has since received 500 responses, the overwhelming majority of which were positive.

Members were then advised of the next steps including future consultations and the development of detailed business cases.

Questions were asked of the officers in relation to job retention and creation, and debate ensued in relation to the future skills gap in Allerdale.

Debate then ensued in relation to the nuclear sector and future green, sustainable employment.

Members noted the contents of the report.

Updates on the Procurement Group, the Future Waste Group and the Pandemic Response Group.

The Chair provided an overview of the ‘Response to the Pandemic’ Task and that the initial assessment has been undertaken. Cllr Heaslip as Chair of this Task and Finish Group then expressed concerns in relation to the national test and trace regime, and the increased burden local authority Environmental Health Teams.

Members were then advised that the Procurement Task and Finish Group report is close to completion and should be presented at the next meeting of the committee, whilst the future waste task and finish group is in at first draft stage.

Councillor Heaslip as Chair of the task and finish group will attend the next Executive meeting to present the report and recommendations requesting that the Executive ensures the environmental health services provided by the Council are adequately resourced to ensure future resilience in addressing any public or environmental health issues affecting the borough.

Members discussed the Reedlands Road development, officers explained that the development was no longer feasible within the current budget. Following detailed site investigations, it was discovered that additional extensive work would be required as ground conditions were worse than indicated on the initial desktop study.

Members noted the contents of the Forward Plan

Debate ensued in relation to the ‘Development of a new Housing Strategy’ which will be discussed by the committee in early 2021 and the relevance of the new Government White Paper. Officers confirmed to members that an overview of the White Paper will be provided to members in a briefing session.

Affordable housing and second homes were then debated, with members expressing concerns over the amount of holiday homes in the rural areas.

To support officers and to engage members, a series of policy workshops will be arranged.

Members then debated and agreed to set up a Budget Task and Finish Group.

Members noted the contents of the Work Programme 2020/21.