Agenda item

Refresh of the Work Programme 2020/21 for the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources - presented by the Overview and Scrutiny Officer.

Minutes:

The Chairman asked the Overview and Scrutiny Officer, Diane Close to speak to Members in relation to the refresh of the Work Programme 2020/21 for the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee (for copy see file of minutes).

 

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer explained that the report set out the proposed work programme for the Committee for 2020/21 at Appendix 2 and highlighted that the work programme was designed to be flexible in order to accommodate items that may arise throughout the year, and to provide the Committee with the opportunity to respond to any further issues arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  It was added that as meetings were taking place remotely, agendas would be focussed, with the Chair and Vice-Chair agreeing that the work programme should be prioritised to identify which key items would be discussed at Committee and which issues could be dealt with via briefing notes for Members.  She added the briefing would still provide an opportunity for Members to ask questions and receive responses by the relevant service grouping. 

 

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted the work programme for 2020/21 included items as identified by Members when delivering the work programme for 2019/20, together with any new areas that had been identified.  She added the work programme set out agenda items proposed for discussion at Committee and those that would be provided as briefing notes.  It was reiterated that the newly appointed Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth had suggested attending a future meeting to give an overview of the impacts of COVID-19 on the service grouping and to give further details to Members on tourism, culture, leisure and sport.

 

The Chair thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Officer and assured Members that the changes to the work programme were not to take away the opportunity for debate, however, the approach was a practical one in relation to COVID-19 and the use of remote meetings.

 

Councillor M Wilkes referred to page 63 of the agenda pack, a “Town and Village Centres, Way Forward” report and noted that around 3-4 years ago he, and colleagues from the Liberal Democrat Group, had put forward proposals for villages regeneration money, with a year later the Cabinet Member bringing forward a £10 million regeneration fund, which was doubled at the start of 2020 to £20 million.  He noted that a problem was the number of schemes was set at 22, far fewer than councillor M Wilkes had hoped for, and of those only 11 had been scoped and very little of the money had been spent.  While he did not know if the Way Forward report was going to look into that particular issue, Councillor M Wilkes noted that if it was, the proposed date of January 2021 to look at the issue was too far off, given the £10 million was made available in March 2019 had not yet been spent.  He noted that of the 22 schemes put forward so far, one of the key inclusions was the regeneration of many front streets and added one of those schemes was put forward by himself and his colleagues, relating to Framwellgate Moor front street.  Councillor M Wilkes noted that waiting over a year, and with the scheme not having yet been scoped, was putting the Council in a position where it would not be able to help high streets get themselves going again as the country came out of the current crisis.  He reiterated that he felt very strongly that the issue should be brought forward as soon as possible as he felt it was not acceptable that the funds had not been scoped, or spent, over a year and a half after the reserve was set up.

 

Councillor L Maddison referred to Retail Support and Masterplans also being scheduled for January 2021 and noted when she had made enquires as regards those items going to Cabinet in September 2020.  She noted that given the situation within our towns across the County, she felt that discussions on the matter should take place earlier as Members needed to get on top of all the issues linked to regeneration in order to try and revitalise those businesses effected.  She asked if those items could be brought forward on the work programme.

The Chair noted the requests and referred to the work programme document which set out several big issues tabled for the September meeting of the Committee including: the private rented sector and selective licensing: the impact on housing from COVID-19; and the budget outturn.  Councillor R Crute noted that while there was a need to retain some flexibility within the work programmes for the thematic Committees, it was always the case that reports were brought to Committee when they were ready.  Councillor R Crute asked if the Committee was assured of the slots as allocated by Committee Services in the diary and noted some of the agendas appeared somewhat top heavy, with up to five items.  He asked if there was an ability to rebalance the distribution of items across the Committee dates allocated, if required.  The Chair noted that the proposed work programme was such to have the most flexibility early within the programme, to allow time to deal with the issues arising from COVID-19, and also the March meeting would be in the period leading up to purdah and there would be a need to consider issues before that period.  The Chair added that should Members feel an issue should be brought forward then it would be appropriate to check with the service grouping to ascertain if they would be able to bring forward a presentation at that point.   

 

Councillor E Adam referred to the point he had raised in the previous item relating to youth unemployment and education and noted DurhamWorks was scheduled for Committee in February 2021, he did not see reference to what the Committee would be looking at in terms of the monitoring of performance figures in that regard.  He also asked what work DurhamWorks would be undertaking within partners, schools, colleges and training providers, recalling a previous reports that had looked at what the Council could do in terms of working with our schools and colleges had highlighted that there was a need to work in closer partnership.  Councillor E Adam noted there appeared to be a lack of links to encourage children to remain or go back into education and he felt that this would be important in terms of preventing young people becoming NEET.  He asked for more information as regards whether it would be just DurhamWorks at that meeting or would it also include information in terms of youth unemployment.  The Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted there had been an intention to look at statistics more widely, however, in having to deliver a very focussed work programme, the performance reports would contain the information in relation youth unemployment and more generally employment within the County.  She highlighted that while dates were set out within the work programme, some were marked as “to be confirmed”, as the September to December Committee Diary had yet to be finalised.  It was added that once dates were known, further discussions and consultation would take place with the Chair and Vice-Chair and with the Members of the Committee.

 

Councillor J Atkinson noted page 59 of the agenda pack referred to the Skills Advisory Panel of the NELEP and asked if the item was a report on an issue that would be scrutinised.  The Chair noted that there would be an opportunity for Members to put questions on the matter.

 

Councillor D Hall asked as regards the issue of Climate Change and whether there would be a joint meeting or review to look at what could be done outside of the Council with businesses and communities, and whether any “quick wins” could be identified within the support being offered to businesses.  The Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted that as part of the work programme for the Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee there would be work looking at the Climate Emergency Response Plan, funding streams to work with local businesses and the issue of air quality.  Councillor E Adam, Chair of the Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee reassured Members that it was an issue that would be looked at with a full report to come back to that Committee, and with Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members being welcome to attend the appropriate meeting.

 

Councillor M Wilkes suggested that, with only a few items being able to be considered at each Committee meeting due to time constraints, it could be useful on particular issues, such as those mentioned relating to youth unemployment, town and villages regeneration and Masterplans, to set up small working groups, depending upon Officer time and availability, to look at the issues and feedback via report.  He noted this may be preferable to having many items on a Committee agenda so that Members would have the opportunity to look at these areas in detail.

The Chair noted that he, and the Vice-Chair, would have discussions with Scrutiny Officers and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board in terms of taking on board Members’ comments in relation to the work programme.

 

The Principal Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted the situation in terms of Officers working from home and the utilisation of remote meetings.  He provided assurance to Members that, in terms of the corporate diary of meetings agreed earlier in the year, there would be a review of the resources and capacity that has been taken up in terms of remote meetings and also the timeframes and meeting capacity to ensure that as much of the work programme could be delivered within the remainder of the municipal year, taking into account the possibility of reshuffling items to bring forward to Committee if at all possible.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)           That the comments of the Committee on the proposed Work Programme for the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2020/21 be noted.

(ii)          That the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for 2020/21, and the flexibility it offers to respond to emerging issues, be agreed.

 

Supporting documents: