Agenda and minutes
PDF 61 KBVenue: Committee Room C, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN. View directions
Contact: Jisa Prasannan or Huma Younis
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Alan Young. Richard Walsh substituted for Alan Young.
Due to a prior appointment Robert Evans arrived late.
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 26 SEPTEMBER 2013
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of 26 September 2013 were agreed by members of the Committee as an accurate record of that meeting.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Additional documents: Minutes: There were none.
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (15 November 2013). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (14 November 2013). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Additional documents: Minutes: There were none.
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
The committee did not refer any items to the Cabinet at its September meeting. There are no responses to report. Additional documents: Minutes: No issues had been referred to the Cabinet at the last meeting, so there were no responses to report.
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RECOMMENDATION TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Committee is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: The recommendations tracker and forward work programme were noted.
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Purpose of the report: Policy Development and Review
To provide the Committee with 2013-14 half year outcomes-based performance information for Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) infrastructure organisations in Surrey co-commissioned by the County Council, Districts and Boroughs and Clinical Commissioning Groups; and to also update on the County Council’s funding intentions for VCFS infrastructure organisations for 2014/15.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Helyn Clack, Cabinet Member for Community Services Mary Burguieres, Policy and Strategic Partnership Lead Manager
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Policy and Strategic Partnership Lead Manager introduced the report to members of the committee, and stated that this was the first time the service had received timely performance information about Councils for Voluntary Service (CVS) and Surrey Community Action. Having this type of information would help the service understand the needs of the local community better and would also ensure better outcomes for residents.
2. A Member of the Committee asked what checks were being done on volunteers before they could start volunteering. The Policy and Strategic Partnership Lead Manager explained that in most cases volunteers would require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The need for a DBS would be dictated by the voluntary organisation.
3. Another Member went onto ask what costs were involved with DBS checks and if there was anything the County Council could do to support these costs. The Policy and Strategic Partnership Lead Manager explained that in some cases bigger voluntary infrastructure organisations may have in-house DBS checking facilities, however smaller ones without this service may find it harder to cover the costs for DBS checking. The Cabinet Member for Community Services stated that the County Council gave money to support the infrastructure of voluntary bureaux. The cost of DBS checks was part of the infrastructure support offered by the County Council. It was noted that costs for DBS checks should be included as part of the VCFS infrastructure organisation’s business plan. The Cabinet Member for Community Services expressed her support for the new outcomes-based framework which would show how priorities were being met and how taxpayers’ money was being used.
4. Members of the Committee raised concerns over the fact that funding was only proposed for one year, whereas in the past it had been granted on a 3-year basis. . The Policy and Strategic Partnership Lead Manager stated that the service aspired to return to 3-year funding arrangements and the introduction of a new outcomes-based performance management framework for VCFS infrastructure was a positive step in ensuring this could be achieved. The Cabinet Member for Community Services went on to comment that the County Council had met with the Chairman of Surrey Compact to discuss issues around volunteering pressures. To progress to funding on a 3-year basis the County Council would require the necessary information and evidence on outcomes from voluntary infrastructure organisations.
5. Members of the Committee asked whether there were any issues around getting the required specific information from voluntary infrastructure organisations. The Policy and Strategic Partnership Lead Manager explained that CVSs and Volunteer Bureaux gathered information which was then collated by colleagues from the service. Colleagues from the service would then visit the bureaux and look at the systems in place. The service has been disciplined with the information it used and did not ask for any information that was ... view the full minutes text for item 7/13 |
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SURREY FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE UPDATE: 2013-16 ACTION PLAN REVIEW
Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Policy Development and Review
The second action plan in support of Public Safety Plan implementation has been in place since April 2013. This report provides an overview of progress to date on the items contained within this plan (including changes to fire engine deployment in the Borough of Spelthorne).
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: Helyn Clack, Cabinet Member for Community Services Russell Pearson, Head of Fire and Rescue, Chief Fire Officer, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Rob Jamieson, Asset Strategy Partner Projects Officer Eddie Roberts, Area Manager East Area Command Julia McDonald, Policy Officer
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The report was introduced by the Head of Fire and Rescue who explained that the Public Safety Plan (PSP) had been extended to cover 2011 - 2020. The service had felt the plan required some updating due to a range of factors including population growth. So far there had been positive results in the journey to achieve the 12 PSP outcomes.
2. A Member of the Committee asked when the work to replace Guildford fire station would commence. The Head of Fire and Rescue explained that work had been delayed due to the discovery of archaeologically significant items but that had commenced on 11 November 2013.
3. The Member went on to ask if a location for a new fire station in the Elmbridge area had been identified. The Head of Fire and Rescue explained that proposals for a new fire station in Elmbridge would progress during 2014 alongside the public consultation. The chosen location for the fire station would depend on other fire related work going on in the County. The Asset Strategy Partner Projects Officer explained that it was difficult to find a suitable location for a fire station in Hersham which had good access out of the town.
4. The Head of Fire and Rescue explained that the Sir Ken Knight report could possibly affect the PSP, in which case a further update would be required next year. Mr Robert Evans joined the meeting at 11.44
5. A Member of the Committee stated that his understanding of the discussion at one of the public meetings for the Spelthorne consultation was that an interim consultation report would be made widely available. The Policy Officer stated that the intention had been to make it clear at the meeting that the report would be produced for the Portfolio Holder and Cabinet Associate for project progression purposes rather than for publication to a wider audience, and that any further sharing of the report would be at the discretion of those Members. The Policy Officer said that she would send through the consultation report with confirmation from the Chairman of the Committee
6. Members of the Committee asked if there had been anyone in favour of the Spelthorne proposal. The Head of Fire and Rescue commented that there had been negative public reaction to the proposal; however, a for the proposal had to be put forward as part of the plan. The Area Manager East Area Command stated that a feedback meeting for the Spelthorne proposal had been organised with stakeholders for Wednesday 27 November, 10-11am in County Hall.
7. Members of the Committee raised concerns around the Spelthorne consultation report going to Cabinet before it could be scrutinised by ... view the full minutes text for item 8/13 |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be an extraordinary meeting with the Environment and Transport Select Committee on 28 November 2013 at 2pm. Additional documents: Minutes: The next meeting will be held on 28 November 2013.
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