Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 20 February 2024 are attached to be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The minutes of 20 February 2024 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Proposed by Cllr Butler; Seconded by Cllr Smith.

Unanimously agreed by those at the February meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence from Members*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they will be absent.

Apologies had been received from Councillors Dorn, Engström, and Thomas.

Cllr Forster was attending as substitute for Cllr Dorn.

Cllr Davies arrived at 19.05.

To declare disclosable, pecuniary and any other interests*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.

No declarations made.

No announcements.

Anyone wishing to make a statement to the Committee should contact Committee Services at least two clear working days prior to the meeting. Further information can be found online.

None.

Members to receive a short presentation from core grant recipients outlining the impact the core grant has had on their organisation - Hampshire Inclusion.

Members received a short presentation from Marie Greenhalgh, Innovation and Development Manager of Inclusion Education, a core grant recipient, outlining the impact the core grant has had on their organisation.

 Members heard:

·       Bespoke and individualised education was provided for young people with both SEND and mental health needs empowering them to reach their full potential

·       The need for these services has increased in recent years and they are much in demand

·       The Inclusion School in Basingstoke has 35 places currently and receives over 500 referrals. It was rated Good by Ofsted

·       The Inclusion College in Hook is a specialised provision and was launched in September 2021, currently has 70 students

·       New projects include EB8, a project which supports young people with mental health, neurodiversity and learning needs into the workplace and

·       Iris Project, a 6-week suicide prevention project

·       Highlighted case study of a young man who had achieved great success through attending the setting.

Councillor Forster declared an interest as a Hampshire County Councillor with responsibility for Education and a Trustee of Sacha’s Project. Then highlighted a newly launched Hampshire County Council (HCC) Youth SEND Forum to enable young people’s voices to be heard.

Members discussed:

·       Space requirements for the premises

·       Where most referrals come from and how are they funded?  It was advised that predominantly from HCC as pupils need to have an EHCP to attend, however additional fundraising and grants provide support to enable full access for young people and to enhance their experience. The college funding has 30 agreed study programme places where top up funding comes from Education and Skills Funding Agency and other places for young people with different needs funded by the Local Authority.

·       Best wishes to be passed to the young person who was mentioned in the presentation.

Members thanked Ms Greenhalgh for her interesting presentation and for the work of the organisation.

Cllr Bailey arrived at 19.19.

This report is to review the governance arrangements associated with the management of Hart Housing Property Management Company Limited (trading as Butterwood Homes).

Recommendation

The Committee expresses its views on the following issues:

A. That the independent layperson be replaced by a director appointed from the Council’s Finance team

B. The Portfolio Holder be invited to attend scrutiny meetings between the company and the Scrutiny Panel.

C. Unless otherwise agreed upon between the company and the Scrutiny Panel, only a single annual meeting is needed.

D. The terms of reference for the Scrutiny Panel meeting with the company as set out in para 9 of the report, are noted.

The Chief Executive, introduced the report to review the governance arrangements associated with the management of managing Hart Housing Property Management Company Limited (trading as Butterwood Homes). He advised that the Scrutiny Panel had been operating well and these recommendations would support the company, which is operating in a slightly different context than originally envisioned. These changes would support a more flexible structure and provide additional resource at a lower level, to improve financial data available.

 Members discussed:

•       whether the new Director would be appointed with the same conditions

•       whether the recharge would be recalculated

•       welcomed the involvement of the Portfolio Holder

•       clarified there would be one more meeting of the Butterwood Homes Scrutiny Panel before moving to the one meeting a year schedule.

The Committee agreed the report including the recommendation to be passed to Cabinet.

Decision

The Committee supported the proposals and agree the following:

A. That the independent layperson be replaced by a director appointed from the Council’s Finance team

B. The Portfolio Holder be invited to attend scrutiny meetings between the company and the Scrutiny Panel.

C. Unless otherwise agreed upon between the company and the Scrutiny Panel, only a single annual meeting is needed.

D. The terms of reference for the Scrutiny Panel meeting with the company as set out in para 9 of the report, were noted.

Overview & Scrutiny is requested to consider the draft Service Plans for 2024/25 and pass comments to Cabinet.

The Executive Director, Corporate Services & S151 Officer introduced the draft Service plans for 2024/25. They set out the key actions necessary to deliver the Corporate Plan. Members were advised that resources were set in the financial context of the approved budget; any changes recommended will need to be considered against resources and the budget.

Progress against targets will be reported at the Service Panels and then reported to Overview and Scrutiny Committee throughout the year.

The Chair advised that Cllr Dorn had sent comments on the plans to be considered.

Place

The Chief Executive introduced the plan, stating that the service had been through substantial changes and that the plan showed additional work that will be undertaken on top of day-to-day operations. He also referred to some of the points raised by Councillor Dorn.

Members queried the Commissioner Review of the Article 4 Directions rating. It was explained that it is operating under old legislation and this needs to be updated. Additionally, it has not been reviewed since some of the Conservation Areas have been updated and so some areas with the same Conservation Area are currently subject to Article 4 and some are not. This created inconsistency and confsion and herefore need to be updated.

A Member advised linking the Article 4 review in with Conservation Area work being undertaken by some Parish Councils. The Chief Executive explained that the legal process associated with reviewing and updating Article 4 Directions was  proscribed and comprehensive that could take several years to complete.

A request for the review of the development control process to be divided into separate workstreams was received. It was clarified that this is a review to identify what needs to be undertaken and so separation is premature. The Service Panel will be given more information once the process begins.

Other queries requests relating to KPI’s submitted by Cllr Dorn,. The Chief Executive advised that he would have difficulty supporting KPI’s being more rigorous than the National Standard. Once the review is complete and any changes have been implemented at that stage, they can be reconsidered. He also highlighted to the Committee that KPIs outcomes were produced quarterly and reflected averages. There was no operational purpose to produce the either monthly or weekly. Members also received confirmation that the statutory KPI’s were requirements that must be reported on to central government.

Members asked the O&S Committee to review the progress on the Local Plan assessment and its completion date. O&S will be involved in the process, which needs to be completed by March 2025. The impact of a potential change of government on this process was discussed.It was explained that this is a review of whether you need to complete a review of the Local Plan, not a full review of the whole plan itself (i.e. this was a light touch review to assess if a major review of the whole plan was necessary). 

A Member asked if the new KPI relating to planning appeals was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 126.

To consider the Cabinet Work Programme.

The Cabinet work programme was noted.

To consider and amend the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme.

The Overview and Scrutiny work programme was noted.