Agenda and minutes

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

There were none.

To note the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee’s Terms of Reference as detailed in part 3b of the Council’s Constitution.

The Committee resolved to note the Terms of Reference.

To receive a verbal introduction into the working of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Team so that the Committee has a better understanding of the activities the team is engaged with.

The Deputy Chief Executive and the Deputy Group Head Community Wellbeing provided a verbal update on the different Teams within Community Wellbeing and their remit.

The Committee resolved  to note the Introduction to Community Wellbeing and Housing.

To receive a verbal introduction to the work of the Family Support Team.

The Deputy Chief Executive provided a verbal update on the remit of the Family Support Team.

The Committee resolved to note the Introduction to the Family Support Team.

To receive a verbal update on the Borough’s Community Centres

The Deputy Group Head Community Wellbeing gave an update on the current situation regarding the Borough’s Community Centres.

The Committee were advised that it was planned, subject to COVID-19 regulations, that there would be a soft relaunch of the Community Centres on 19 July 2021 with some level of social distancing and additional COVID safety measures in place.

The Committee resolved to note the Community Centres update.

To receive a verbal update on the Borough’s Leisure Centres and to note the Leisure Centre Operator Procurement and Update on Financial Support for Leisure Centres Report.

The Chair advised the Committee that this item contained exempt information and that Item 13, Exclusion of Public and Press, should have appeared prior to this item on the agenda. The Chair asked if the Committee were in agreement that this item be moved to a private session after Item 13 to enable the remainder of the public agenda items to be discussed first.

The Committee resolved to move this item to the end of the agenda and to move the exclusion of Press and Public for this item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

The Leisure Facilities and Project Manager updated the Committee on the progress of the proposed new Staines Leisure Centre. The Committee were advised that the Planning Committee had agreed the Planning Application on 23 June 2021.

She informed the Committee that the Leisure Centre would be the first in the country that would be fully Passivhaus compliant and the Committee agreed that potential operators would need to be aware of the costs involved.

The Committee agreed that they wanted the chosen operator to adhere to the Council’s Equality Standards and that they would also ensure that they  considered the needs of all Borough residents.

The Committee were advised that the current Leisure Centre Operator had received financial assistance from the Council during the pandemic and that further assistance may be requested.

The Committee resolved to note the Leisure Centre Update.

To receive a verbal update on the Home Improvement Agency.

 The Deputy Group Head Community Wellbeing gave an update on the current situation regarding the Home Improvement Agency.

The Committee were advised that the Home Improvement Agency was responsible for supporting older and disabled residents, as well as those on low incomes, to allow them to maintain, adapt and improve their homes to allow them to remain in them for as long as possible. This service is currently administered by A2 Dominion Housing Association but it was planned for this service to be  brought back in-house from October 2021.

The Committee resolved to note the Home Improvement Agency Update.

To receive a verbal update on the Health & Wellbeing Strategy.

The Deputy Group Head, Community Wellbeing advised the Committee that work was in progress to update the Health and Wellbeing Strategy to include work that was currently being undertaken in conjunction with our partners in health. A further update will be brought before the Committee in September 2021.

The Committee resolved to note the Health & Wellbeing Strategy Update.

To approve the proposed procurement of a cleaning contract for White House and Harper House for the duration of 3 years with an option to extend for a further two 12-month periods.

The Committee considered a report to agree the Procurement of a Cleaning Contract for White House and Harper House.

The Committee wanted to ensure that the Contractor maintained a high level cleaning regime and to employ staff on a rate above the living wage. The Committee also wanted to ensure that any contract embedded quality inclusion within it and that they were in line with the Council’s own polices.

The Committee resolved to approve the proposed procurement of a cleaning contract for White House and Harper House for the duration of 3 years with an option to extend for a further two 12-month periods.

To agree and approve Option A to increase the eligibility age of the senior concessions pricing from 60 to 66 years, in line with the current state pension age.

The Leisure Facilities and Project Manager presented the report which sought approval of a Minor Contract Variation Proposal for the current Leisure Centre Operator to increase the eligible age of the senior concession from 60 to 66 years in line with the current state pension age.

The Committee were advised that Sport and Leisure Management had amended their booking system for all Leisure Centres that they currently operate and had increased the eligible age of the senior concession price from 60 to 66 years across all of their sites. Existing members would continue to receive their concessions and this change would only affect new members.

The Committee felt that the potential savings would not outweigh the adverse effect on the elderly residents who may have limited income and an increase in costs could exclude them from using the Leisure Centre. It was felt that post COVID the elderly residents would benefit from being able to use the Leisure Centre not only for exercise but also to socialise and therefore maintain good mental health.

The Committee agreed that changing the eligible age for senior concession would have an adverse effect on the elderly residents within the Staines Borough.

The Committee resolved to not approve Sport and Leisure Management’s proposal to move the eligible age of the senior concession price from 60 to 66 years.

To consider the Forward Plan for committee business.

The Committee resolved to note the Community Wellbeing and Housing Forward Plan

To move the exclusion of the Press/Public for item 7, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006

The Committee had resolved to move Item 7 to the end of the meeting in order to discuss it in a private session and to exclude the Press and Public..