Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 202 KBVenue: County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN
Contact: Victoria White or Rianna Hanford
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Robert Evans and Chris Pitt.
Richard Wilson attended as a substitute for Chris Pitt.
Apologies were also received from Yvonne Rees.
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 14 January 2015
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as an accurate record of the 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: No Declarations of Interest were received. |
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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 (Friday 13 March 2015). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (Thursday 12 March 2015). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Additional documents: Minutes: No questions or petitions were received.
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
There are no responses to report. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no responses to report.
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UPDATE FROM THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses: Russell Pearson, Chief Fire Officer Helyn Clack, Cabinet Member for Community Services Kay Hammond, Cabinet Associate for Fire and Police Services
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Chief Fire Officer informed the Committee that the Safe Drive Stay Alive programme was very successful, since its establishment, road traffic collisions (RTC) involving youths had dropped significantly. The Fire Service was also completing home fire safety visits, mostly for vulnerable people. There were currently over 150 volunteers working for the service and that number was growing, which supports workforce reforms. The Committee was informed that the service had noted that many of the assumptions in the DCDC Strategic Trends Programme were gradually coming true, for example the growth of terrorism and the impacts of climate change. It was noted that the SCC Corporate Strategy was influencing what Surrey Fire and Rescue Service was focusing on, the strategic objectives of the service were; workforce reform, income generation, Public Service Transformation Network membership and leadership. 2. The Committee was informed that the service was at this stage on target to achieve the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) targets and was constantly re-profiling to make this even more successful. The workforce reform would not require any forced redundancies, as when whole time fire fighters retire they would not be replaced and the number of on-call fire fighters would be increased where possible. The Chief Fire Officer stated that currently 87% of the Fire Services budget is spent on whole time fire fighters. 3. It was explained to the Committee that in the future the service would consider the proportions of private sector involvement, volunteers and on-call staff while reducing the number of whole time staff through natural wastage. Current income generation is sourced through South East Business Services (SEBS) Limited. The Committee were informed that an increase in income would improve the core offer of the service. 4. In terms of equipment, it was noted that Surrey Fire and Rescue Service owns the best equipment in the country. Fire engines were currently being replaced with better models and a higher aerial ladder height; all appliances hold a defibrillator and someone trained to use it would be staffed on the appliance at every incident. It was expressed that training should not be outsourced and a realistic training facility was proposed which would contain a mock section of M25, high-rise buildings and houses among other scenarios. It was vital that firefighters’ training was kept up to date, especially as there would be fewer staff after the workforce reforms. The service was in the process of buying 27 4X4 Land Rover Defenders and it was expressed that equipment is sourced from Surrey suppliers when possible. 5. The Committee was informed that Salfords and Guildford Fire Stations would be opened in Summer 2015, Woking and Spelthorne Fire Stations would be opened in 2016 and Banstead Fire Station would be opened in 2018. 6. The Committee raised concern over the safety of the on-call set up ... view the full minutes text for item 16/14 |
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MAGNA CARTA PROGRAMME UPDATE
Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses: Susie Kemp, Assistant Chief Executive Peter Milton, Head of Cultural Services Helen Clack, Cabinet Member for Community Services Hew Lock, Artist of the Magna Carta Art Commission Michael Prior, Situations Trust
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The artist of the Magna Carta Art Commission expressed to the Committee his vision for the art work. Once completed this would be a global piece and translated across the world to reflect the international nature of the Magna Carta. The art commission would consist of 12 chairs representing a jury and would include representations of liberty, freedom around the world, struggles for human rights and the right to trial by a jury. The piece would be interactive and visitors would be able to touch and sit on it. It was added that the design takes into account the landscape of the location. This was thoroughly considered by the artist and the National Trust investigated the area of landscape including risks which the artist responded to. 2. The Committee was informed that alongside the work of the art commission and events programme a website was being developed and leaflets would be available on site of the art commission to provide information. On behalf of the partnership, Royal Holloway University London developed an app with information on Magna Carta and to help users explore the Runnymede area as a whole. The Committee expressed that as not everyone would have access to the internet, it was important to ensure the information was easily accessible in all formats. 3. There was a discussion around insuring the art commission and the Committee was informed that the piece would be owned by Surrey County Council with a loan agreement on National Trust land. The National Trust would be responsible for insuring the piece, cleaning it and establishing security. It was added that security would include a range of measures; the Committee suggested using the Runnymede CCTV control centre to monitor the site. The copyright agreement would permit non-commercial photographers to promote the artwork. 4. The Committee was informed that the National Trust has supported the Magna Carta celebrations by giving Surrey County Council £100,000, and the City of London has also provided £85,000 to the project. Thousands of guests had now been invited and a park and ride with staggered arrivals would be organised to mitigate crowd problems. The Committee was informed that an overspend on the event would probably occur and the service was in the process of working with the Police to establish who would be responsible for which security costs. 5. Officers informed the Committee that representations from different places were being involved in the programme of events to ensure a wide range of involvement at all levels.
Recommendations: · To note the content of the report and request a further update at the next Communities Select Committee.
Actions/further information to be provided: · The Committee agreed to look at the detailed budget of the Magna Carta celebrations as a part two item at ... view the full minutes text for item 17/14 |
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CUSTOMER PROMISE - OUR COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING EXCELLENT SERVICE
The Communities Select Committee is invited to:
· consider research and feedback from staff, customers and members on the key drivers behind excellent customer experience · recommend that Cabinet endorses the new Customer Promise and proposed approach to improving resident experience · track progress against the commitment to improve Resident Experience. Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses: Mark Irons, Head of Customer Services
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Head of Customer Services introduced the report and informed the Committee that customers, members and staff felt the most important principles behind excellent customer service was treating people right way, making it easy, keeping people informed and getting it right. 2. The Committee fully supported the Customer Promise but raised concern over the grammatical accuracy of the term ‘treating you right’. It was suggested that the term ‘treating you in the right way’ could be used instead. 3. It was stated to officers that not all Surrey residents have access to online information and documents should be made available through other formats such as libraries.
Recommendations:
· That the Select Committee recommend that Cabinet endorse the new Customer Promise and approach to improving resident experience, on the condition that the wording of ‘treating you right’ is amended. · That the Select Committee track progress against the commitment to improve Resident Experience.
Action/further information to be provided:
None.
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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: Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Committee noted the Recommendations Tracker and Forward Work Programme. 2. It was agreed that a Magna Carta debrief item would be included on the Forward Work Programme for a future Committee.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 10.00am on Monday 18 May 2015. Additional documents: Minutes: The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 11.00am on Monday 18 May 2015.
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