Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2017 were approved as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

No Cabinet decisions have been called in.

No Cabinet decisions had been called-in.

The attached documents are for background information:

Ø  Overview and Scrutiny Committee Terms of Reference

Ø  Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules

Ø  Review of the work programme 2016-2017

Ø  Current draft work programme for 2017-2018

Ø  Cabinet Forward Plan

The Committee considered the background documents including its Terms of Reference and Procedure Rules and clarified the scope of its powers.

Resolved to note the background documents setting out the role of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To note the provisional capital outturn for 2016/17.

The Committee received a report on the provisional capital outturn 2016/17 and

Resolved to note the report.

To note the provisional revenue outturn for 2016/17.

The Committee received a report on the provisional revenue outturn 2016/17 and

Resolved to note the report.

To note the Treasury Management Strategy annual report.

The Committee received the annual report on the Treasury Management Strategy and

Resolved to note the report.

To note the Project Management Dashboard update.

The Committee discussed the Project Management update and asked that the dashboard be reproduced in clearer language to make it easily understandable for all readers.

The Committee enquired about progress with the Knowle Green redevelopment project and queried the ‘green’ status when no target completion date had been identified. The Chairman asked officers to provide an update on this project at the November Committee meeting.

A member asked for an update on secondary shopping areas with respect to when works would commence at Edinburgh Drive, Staines-upon-Thames. The Vice-Chairman referred to a recent update emailed to all councillors which indicated works were anticipated to start on 24th July 2017. 

The Committee also asked for a more detailed update on The Bugle at the next meeting of the Committee.

Resolved to:

1.    note the Project Management update;

2.    ask officers to reproduce the Project Management Dashboard in clearer language; and

3.    receive more detailed updates on projects relating to The Bugle and the Knowle Green redevelopment at subsequent meetings.

To consider the Committee’s work programme for the forthcoming Municipal year.

During this session, councillors will be invited to consider suitable topics for inclusion on the Committee’s Work Programme.

If councillors already have in mind any particular topic they wish to raise it would assist the Chairman if you could notify him in advance of the meeting, providing a broad outline of the matter.

Councillors will still be able to add further topics at the Committee meeting.

The Committee identified topics of interest/concern for possible inclusion in the work programme for 2017-18 including:

·         Eco Park

·         Regeneration of Ashford town centre

·         Future of governance for Spelthorne

·         Council’s investment strategy

·         Ban overnight parking by large HGVs in laybys

·         Managing Anti-Social Behaviour in Staines-upon-Thames town centre

·         Aquatic housing

·         Impact of 3rd runway and Compton flight path

·         Future of Knowle Green

·         Review of River frontage development In Spelthorne

·         Economic regeneration of Staines-upon-Thames and Ashford and zone 6

·         Process and decision making to appoint new Chief Executive (if decision not already made)

·         Plan to regenerate Laleham Park

·         Corporate risk strategy

The Chairman advised that he and the Vice-Chairman would decide which items were suitable for inclusion in the work programme and would inform the members of the finalised work programme in advance of the next meeting.

The Chairman allowed the following matter to be raised by Councillor Smith-Ainsley on the basis that the matter would be concluded if it were delayed until the next meeting of the Committee.

Surrey County Council consultation on proposals for Community Recycling Centres

Councillor Smith-Ainsley expressed his concerns about Surrey County Council’s proposals for changes to Community Recycling Centres which were currently out to consultation, and his fear that they were likely to result in increased fly tipping in the Borough of Spelthorne.

The Chairman read the following response from the Group Head of Neighbourhood Services to the concern of increased fly tipping as a result of Surrey County Council’s proposals:

“I can confirm that between September 2015 and May 2016 we dealt with 419 fly tips. Changes and charges (at recycling centres) were introduced in September 2016 and from that time until May 2017 we have dealt with 688 fly tips, an increase of 269. Based on this increase in numbers and the potential changes it would be fair to accept that additional restrictions and charges would create a further increase in fly tipping incidents reported and subsequently cleared.  Surrey County Council have put the proposals out for consultation and we would urge residents to respond.”

The Chairman proposed that the Committee convene an extraordinary meeting before the close of the consultation on 7 August, in order to heighten public awareness of the issues, debate the matter and make recommendations to Surrey County Council.

Resolved to hold an Extraordinary Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting before 7 August 2017 to consider Surrey County Council’s proposals on the future of recycling centres and the impact this may have on fly-tipping in the Borough.