23 09 2004

 

 

 

An apology for inability to attend the meeting was received on behalf of Councillor Mrs Champion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 August 2004 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Committee considered the progress of the working groups undertaking scrutiny on the following issues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The action plan and progress showing areas of investigation and action to be taken by the Anti-Social Behaviour Working Group had been circulated with the agenda.

 

 

 

Members were informed that a meeting had taken place between Housing Officers and representatives from resident and housing associations. The formation of a Housing Anti-Social Behaviour Forum had been discussed and it had been agreed that the notes from these meetings would be passed to the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Working Group for information.

 

 

 

The Working Group had discussed the roles of the new Safety Community Wardens in the Borough and expressed a desire to monitor their progress. It was felt that this was an appropriate role for the Working Group.

 

 

 

It was reported that the Members of the Working Group wished for the future of the Anti-Social Behaviour Working Group to extend beyond the originally agreed period. It was felt that the Working Group could become a properly structured meeting, in a similar vein to Audit Sub-Committee, with its own Terms of Reference and powers, looking at anti-social behaviour issues in all areas of the Council. Members were informed that it may be necessary for this to be taken to Council to approve and it was recommended the Committee agree to the continuation of the Working Group who could, at its next meeting, finalise their vision for the future of the Anti-Social Behaviour Working Group.

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That the Anti-Social Behaviour Working Group provide a progress report to the November cycle and decides at its next meeting the future of the Working Group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The action plan and progress showing areas of investigation and action to be taken by the Travellers in Gosport Working Group had been circulated with the agenda.

 

 

 

Members were informed that at their latest meeting the Working Group had discussed the possibility and appropriateness of a designated traveller site in Gosport. It was felt that there was little room for such a site, and feared that providing such a site could result in it acting as a magnet for more travellers in the Borough. It was reported that two potential sites were being looked at in depth by the Working Group, as was the possibility of sharing a site with a neighbouring authority, and that details on these would be presented to the Committee at its next meeting.

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That the Travellers in Gosport Working Group presents a report to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was reported that the Government required the Council to have made and published its decision by 31 March 2005 on whether it was possible for the Council to delimit the number of Hackney Carriages in Gosport. An Unmet Demands Survey would be the best way for the Council to make and justify its decision, but  the survey would only be absolutely necessary if it was decided to continue limiting Hackney Carriages. It was reported that such a survey was estimated to cost between £8,000 and £10,000 and would take approximately 12 weeks to complete. It was reported that council’s were being encouraged to delimit, making the survey unnecessary in principle. However, if the decision to delimit was made by scrutiny without the survey, there was a risk that when passed to the Policy and Organisation Board they could request a survey to be done before making their decision. In which case there would not be sufficient time left to conduct the survey before the 31 March 2005 deadline.

 

 

 

Members were informed that the Working Group had met recently and arranged to consult with Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licences Holders. It was also planned to consider holding a public meeting, following due advertisement, asking the public to air their views on whether there was unmet demand for taxis in Gosport. It was also reported that the possibility of holding an Unmet Demand Survey was being investigated, as this would aid the Council greatly on making a decision on this matter.

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That the Delimitation of Hackney Carriages Working Group present a report to the next Committee meeting on the consultation process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Committee received the report of the Environmental Health (Commercial) Service Plan Working Group, which outlined the background and methodology of the scrutiny process.

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That –

 

 

 

a.

 

 

 

 

b.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Committee considered its work programme and revised it as follows:

 

 

 

 

To investigate the problems arising from incursions in Gosport

By the November cycle

Councillors Mrs Champion, Langdon and Train

To consider the protocols, policies and enforcement to deal with anti-social behaviour.

On going

Councillors Carr, Philpott and Redrup

To consider a review of the policy

Concluded

Councillors Farr, Foster and Mrs Salter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To investigate the delimitation of Hackney Carriages in Gosport

By the November cycle

Councillors Allen, Carr and Redrup

To be involved in a review of contract procurement

To be determined in consultation with the Chairman

Councillor Train

 

 

The meeting commenced at 6.00pm and concluded at 6.42pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN