24 03 2005

 

Apologies for inability to attend the meeting were received on behalf of Councillors Langdon and Redrup.

 

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

RESOLVED: That, subject to typographical amendments, the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 27 January 2005 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

 

 

 

The Borough Solicitor reported that no requests had been received for any matters to be scrutinised.

 

 

The Committee received a briefing note advising Members of the action taken following concerns expressed by the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee, at their meeting on 8 December 2004, in relation to the introduction of car parking charges and the impact and effect that the charges might be having on traders and town centre residents in Gosport.

 

The Director of Development and Environment submitted a report for information advising Members of the work currently being undertaken by officers to collate information in respect of the forthcoming review of car parking charging.  Examples of information being collated included foot-fall surveys, vacant shop survey, traffic matters, car park usage and market income.

 

At their meeting on 21 February 2005, the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee had expressed their views about the type and extent of information being collated and made number of suggested issues that this Committee might wish to consider as part of the scrutiny process.  An extract of the draft minute of the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee was tabled for information and the Committee agreed that this should be taken into account when they considered the method by which Members wished to undertake their scrutiny.

 

Car parking charges had been introduced in Gosport from 15 November 2004 and the Committee considered that it would be prudent to defer commencing scrutiny of the impact of the introduction of charges until they had been in force for at least six months.  It was acknowledged that officers would be gathering information and monitoring the situation during this time and Members concurred with the view of the Chairman that scrutiny of the scheme would benefit from commencing early in the new Municipal Year.

 

RESOLVED:  That

 

(a)  the information provided by officers to date, following the introduction of car parking charges, be noted;

 

(b)  a meeting of the Committee be scheduled for 2 June 2005 at 6.00pm, when consideration will be given to the method by which Members wished to undertake scrutiny of car parking charges.

 

 

Councillor Philpott submitted a report informing the Committee of the one-day conference that he had attended, together with Councillors Carr and Redrup, on 19 February 2005.  The event was held in London and hosted by the Home Office.

 

The aim of the event was to assist councillors in decision-making when dealing with anti-social behaviour issues.  Speakers gave an overview of government policy and highlighted some examples of people who had made a difference in their communities and the areas in which local government could be responsible for helping to combat nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

 

A series of workshops enabled councillors to discuss and debate issues in more detail. 

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

 

 

Councillor Train reported on a conference hosted by Corby District Council on 3 March 2005 that he had attended, together with Councillor Redrup.

 

There were several speakers contributing to the conference, including an external partner from the Corby business community, councillors and Philip Hope MP for Corby.  The conference provided plenty of opportunities for networking with elected members from other 4th Option local authorities.

 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Topic

Detail

Status

 

Anti Social Behaviour

(Councillors Carr, Philpott and Redrup)

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

On going

-Sub Committee established

 

Delimitation of hackney carriages

(Councillors Allen, Carr and Redrup)

To investigate the delimitation of hackney carriages in Gosport

Scrutiny completed

Recommendation to be considered by Council 6 April 2005

 

Contract Procurement

To be involved in a review of contract procurement

To be referred to the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration

 

 

 

 

 

 

With regard to anti-social behaviour, Councillor Philpott referred to the draft Gosport Crime and Disorder Strategy being recommended for approval by Council on 6 April, which would be used as a working document by the Council and its partners.

 

In view of changing legislation and a constantly evolving process for dealing with anti-social behaviour, it would be necessary to formulate plans to explore proposals to progress the enhancement of the environment and heighten awareness of combating anti-social behaviour in the community.

 

The Borough Solicitor would be considering whether the formal constitution of the Anti-Social Behaviour Sub Committee needed to be approved at the Adjourned Annual Council meeting in May 2005.  In the meantime, It was agreed that members of the sub-committee should meet to consider how they wished to take forward their role.

 

With regard to Contract Procurement, the Committee considered that this matter should be referred to the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee as approach to scrutiny of the strategy was within that Committee’s remit.

 

 

Website – The Chairman suggested that development of an Overview and Scrutiny website would be a way of engaging the community in matters that the public considered should be scrutinised.

 

 

The meeting commenced at 6.00pm and concluded at 6.35pm

 

 

CHAIRMAN