Agenda and minutes

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 16^th October 2014 as a true and correct record.

The Committee agreed that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 16th October 2014 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To consider the Executive and Cabinet Member decisions taken since the last meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee considered the decisions taken since the last meeting of the Scrutiny Committee by the Executive and Cabinet Members.

A question was raised in relation to decision number EX/50/2014 ‘Central Business District – Four Star Hotel Development’, as to what was the estimated date for the start of construction. Councillor Blackburn responded that the date was dependent upon site clearance factors but would hopefully be during Autumn 2015.

The Committee agreed to note the Executive and Cabinet Member Decisions.

To consider the content of the Council’s Forward Plan, issue number 10/2014.

The Committee considered the items contained within the Forward Plan, issue number 10/2014.

The Committee agreed to note the Forward Plan items.

The Committee to receive current performance information against the following Council priorities; 3, 5, 6 and 9.

Mr A. Cavill, Director of Place, presented a report to the Committee that detailed current performance information against the following Council priorities;

Priority 3 – Expand and promote our tourism, arts, heritage and cultural offer.

Priority 5 – Attract sustainable investment and create quality jobs.

Priority 6 – Encourage responsible entrepreneurship for the benefit of our communities.

Referring to priority 3, Mr Cavill highlighted the Creative People and Places Programme for Blackpool and Wyre. Funded through a £3m award from the Arts Council for 3 years, the programme had now been in place for 12 months. During this period, a range of key arts and cultural programmes had been initiated, the details of which were outlined to the Committee.

The Committee was informed that the Museum for Blackpool Project had been successful in its Round 1 grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The project was now at the development stage which would be completed by the end of 2015, at which point the Round 2 application for funding to the HLF would be submitted.

On the subject of developing Blackpool’s library services, Mr Cavill spoke of the various initiatives in place that were aimed to increase the basic online skills of people, small businesses and charities by 25% over a 12 month period. Events such as Get on Line Week and the creation of the Digital Charter for Go-On Blackpool were helping to increase the numbers of Blackpool residents to get online for the first time.

Mr Cavill concluded his Priority 3 presentation by outlining some of the Blackpool visitor statistics for the recent months. Overall numbers had increased by more than 200,000 during the summer and the number of overnight stays had gone up by 30%. Much of that growth had been derived from people who had attended a specific event in the resort.

Moving onto Priority 5, the Committee was informed that the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership had secured £233.9m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund to support economic growth, of which £50m had been allocated to projects in Blackpool. The benefits would be widespread and be based around infrastructure improvements, transport and housing renewal.

Members were informed that a key element of both the Lancashire Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) and the Lancashire Growth Plan was the requirement to produce a local Growth Accelerator strategy for the Fylde coast area. The strategy was focussed on change and creating and growing economic opportunities for local communities in the greatest need. Amongst the priorities identified for Blackpool were the development of the energy sector, the development of the town centre as a sub-regional centre (including the Central Station site) and the development of junction 4 of the M55 and the airport approaches.

In relation to Priority 6, the Committee was updated regarding progress of the Get Started Service. This was a scheme that provided advice and guidance to new start businesses and in the previous 6 months, 42 individuals had been assisted to start their own business via  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a report which updates on progress on implementing the multi-agency Child Poverty Framework and related issues and activity.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on progress on implementing the multi-agency Child Poverty Framework and related issues and activity. The report was introduced by Mrs R. Henshaw, Corporate Development Officer.

The Committee raised the following questions, to which Mrs Henshaw agreed to obtain the answers and report back as soon as possible:

•          What is the definition of ‘teenage pregnancy’?

•          Comparison with other authorities – why do they perform better than ourselves?

•          In relation to paragraph 5.1.1 of the report, third bullet point – (worsened ranking) – what is being done about this?

•          Regarding the recruitment of Directors for Better Start, how many directors are being recruited? Also, how is the £45m of lottery money being spent?

The Committee agreed to note the content of the report

Background papers: None.

To consider progress updates on the appointed Scrutiny Panels including verbal updates from Lead Members.

The Committee considered a progress report on the appointed Scrutiny Panels.

Councillor Galley, Lead Member for the Community Safety Scrutiny Panel presented an update report, outlining a very successful meeting of the Panel that took place on 28th October. He referred to the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act which would give additional and much needed powers to the Council and Police to deal with anti-social behaviour issues.

Councillor Mrs Henderson MBE, Lead Member for Adult Social Care spoke regarding Member’s visits to care homes and encouraged more members to take part in the visits. Councillors Benson and D Coleman agreed to join the group of members who accompanied officers on pre-arranged visits to care homes.

Councillor Mrs Callow, Lead Member for Tourism and Leisure, Highways, Transport and Equality and Diversity, mentioned that the date for the Scrutiny Panel meeting with representatives from Blackpool Zoo, that was originally scheduled to take place on 13th November, would now be re-arranged.

In relation to the Education Scrutiny Panel, the Committee requested that the Scrutiny Manager contacted other non-executive members of the Council, who were not members of the Scrutiny Committee, to enquire as to whether they would like to join the Panel.

The Committee agreed to note the report.

Background Papers: None.

To consider the Scrutiny Workplan, together with any suggestions that Members may wish to make for scrutiny review topics.

The Committee considered its Workplan for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

The Committee agreed to note the Workplan.

Background papers: None.

To note the date of the next meeting as Thursday 22^nd January 2015, at 6.00pm.

The Committee agreed to note the date of the next meeting as Thursday 22nd January 2014, at 6.00pm.