To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors JM Bartlett, JFJohnson, MT McEvilly and SD Williams. Apologies were also received from the statutory consultees; Mr P Burbidge, Mrs A Fisher and Mr P Sell.

To receive details of members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

Councillor BC Baker substituted for Councillor JF Johnson, Councillor EL Holton for Councillor SD Williams, Councillor FM Norman for Councillor JM Bartlett and Councillor GJ Powell for Councillor MT McEvilly.

To receive any declarations of interest by members.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2016.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2016 be approved as a correct record.

To consider suggestions from the public on issues the committee could scrutinise in the future.

(There will be no discussion of the issue at the time when the matter is raised.  Consideration will be given to whether it should form part of the committee’s work programme when compared with other competing priorities.)

There were none.

To note questions received from the public and the items to which they relate.

(Questions are welcomed for consideration at a scrutiny committee meeting subject to the question being directly relevant to an item listed on the agenda below.  If you have a question you would like to ask then please submit it no later than 5.00 pm on Thursday 22 September 2016 to tbrown@herefordshire.gov.uk)

There were none.

To seek the committee’s views on the model for future operation of customer services and libraries across the county considering the budget pressures of the local authority.

The Committee’s views were sought on the model for future operation of customer services and libraries across the county considering the budget pressures on the local authority.

The Assistant Director communities gave a presentation.  The presentation slides had been circulated with the agenda papers.

Clare Llewellyn West, Chair of Joint Action for Herefordshire Libraries (JAHL), also gave a presentation.  A document produced by JAHL had been circulated to the Committee as a supplement.  She made the following principal points:

·        Libraries supported the four main objectives of the Council.  Their positive effect included savings in mental health provision, avoiding damage to literacy of children and young adults; increased footfall for local retailers, benefits to small businesses in terms of research via the library and internet access.  National and international research showed that a healthy library service contributed to prosperity and quality of life.

·        Libraries were excellent value for money and also the Council’s presence in each community, providing the access point to most Council services and being a key factor in the county’s economy.

·        To meet the required savings the choice was to cut expenditure or increase income. There was little left to cut without fatally damaging the service.

·        Income could be increased indirectly by continuing to develop libraries as multi service hubs. Libraries were safe and welcoming places, and provided access to Council & government services which were increasingly online.  More directly there were opportunities for hiring out space/meeting areas, running events, and merchandising.

·        The Group did not believe that there could be a cost free library service, but did believe it represented a genuine investment in the future of the county.

·        The Group’s work had led it to the following conclusions:

o  volunteer libraries can work – but only when the community has the capacity to take on the role, and the volunteers are fully trained and continuously supported by professionals. Increasing the number of libraries run by volunteers, may reduce the number of library assistants but the size of the core library team would need to increase.

o  investment in the fabric of the library, as achieved in Ledbury, leads to an increase in library use.

o  partnerships work when there is a synergy between the traditional role of the library and the partner services.

o  library culture can have a positive and beneficial effect on other services, the move of the Ross jobcentre to the library being an example.

o  exploring new opportunities and investing in both premises and, most importantly, in professional staff would bring real benefits and enable the Library Service to have a key role in the future prosperity and well-being of Herefordshire.  A new library in Hereford would need to be supported by a county network to serve the dispersed and often geographically disadvantaged population.

·        The council’s role was to make savings whilst mitigating the impact on the community. An intelligent and strategic approach to libraries and customer services as an investment, fulfilled that role.

In summary, JAHL asked the Committee to recommend that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

To seek the committee’s views on the draft Economic Master Plan for the period 2017-2031 and consider whether to make any recommendations to inform cabinet’s consideration of the master plan.

The Committee’s views were sought on the draft Economic Master Plan for 2017-2031 and it was invited to consider whether to make any recommendations to inform cabinet’s consideration of the plan.

The cabinet member – economy and corporate services introduced the report.  He commented that the draft plan represented the start of a conversation.  The projects within it would be regularly refreshed.  He sought ongoing engagement and intended to submit further reports to the Committee.

The economic development manager gave a presentation.  The presentation slides had been circulated with the agenda papers.

The following is a summary of the principal points identified for consideration:

·        The plan should strive to address the major constraints that were inhibiting plans for growth and seek to make the county more marketable, mindful of what it was within the council’s own powers to influence and effect.

·        It was important to be clear who the audience for the document was.

·        It was suggested the document should include a section on the history and geography of the county, and why the county was a good place to live and work, and set out the opportunities and attractions for people who were thinking of moving to the county, set out the objectives and ambitions so that people could judge whether they wished to be associated with them.

·        Clear timelines were needed.  It was suggested that the plan should be in chunks recognising that changes would inevitably take place over the life of the plan and ensuring that it remained adaptable.

·        Pitch documents were a good idea, possibly split into geographical or industry sectors and so targeting potential investors.

·        The case studies provided were helpful.

·        Account should be taken of the links with planning policy and the need to identify where policy could be improved.

·        The importance of tourism to the County’s growth and sustainability needed to be recognised.  Maintaining the county’s roads was important to the tourist industry.

·        Promoting the County as a setting for film and tv locations would be advantageous.

·        The possibility of businesses using underused council property should be explored.

·        The Church Commissioners should be approached about scope for public use of their property

·        Communication and marketing were key.

·        The Plan needed to consider the needs of the whole County.  At the moment it was dominated by projects within the city.

·        Regard should be had to the horticultural sector within the county.

·        The tensions between preserving the county and growth and development needed to be recognised.

·        There should be a focus on celebrating what was unique in the county and protecting that.  An audit of the county’s strengths had been proposed at the Committee’s meeting in July but nothing appeared to have happened as a result.

·        The photograph on the front cover should be replaced with a more distinctive image relating to the county.

·        An implementation plan was needed.

·        Having identified needs in the county there could be an opportunity to explore ways of meeting these needs, adopting a market led approach.

·        Consideration should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To consider the committee’s work programme.

The Committee considered its work programme and related scrutiny activities.

The Chairman highlighted a number of revisions to the work programme set out at paragraph 5 of the report.  He also mentioned that a seminar with the Police and Crime commissioner and the chief constable was to be held on morning of 21 November.

In discussing the proposed task and finish group on devolution a number of amendments were suggested to the scoping statement: the addition of neighbouring authorities as witnesses, the addition of the Chief Executive as a consultee, the addition of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s strategy to the research required, amendment of the section on publicity requirements, and revision of the timetable.

The Chairman also proposed that, following the recent nutrient management seminar, the cabinet member – infrastructure be asked to ensure that the Nutrient Management Board submit a monitoring report to Members on an annual basis, with consideration also given to a further seminar.

In addition a proposal was made that Welsh Water should be invited to attend the Committee in the New Year to comment on its infrastructure plans and how these would support the council’s growth plans, also provide an update on the effectiveness of measures to reduce phosphate levels in the county’s rivers and the operation of sewage treatment plants in the County.

RESOLVED:

That:     (a)     the draft work programme as set out at appendix 1 to the report be approved, with the addition of  an invitation to Welsh Water to attend the Committee in the New Year;

              (b)     a task and finish group on devolution be established to undertake the work outlined in the scoping statement (Appendix 2 to the report, as amended, and the membership be confirmed as Councillors JM Bartlett (tbc),WLS Bowen (Chairman), ACR Chappell. RJ Phillips, and GJ Powell; and

              (c)     the cabinet member – infrastructure be asked to ensure that the Nutrient Management Board submits a monitoring report to Members on an annual basis, with consideration also given to a further seminar.

The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday 14 November 2015 from 9.30 am.

Monday 14 November 2015 from 9.30am.