Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B Ayres and N Daubney.

To approve the minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 17 July 2017.

RESOLVED:  The minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 17 July 2017 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on any item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposed to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.  Any Member attending the meeting under Standing Order 34 will only be permitted to speak on those items which have been previously notified to the Chairman.

Councillor Bambridge attended for Item 7.

Councillor Fraser attended for Item 9.

There was no Chairman’s correspondence.

The Panel will receive a presentation from the Housing Services Operations Manager.

The Panel received a presentation from the Housing Services Operations Manager and the Senior Housing Standards Officer, a copy of which is attached to the Minutes.

The Housing Services Operations Manager and the Senior Housing Standards Officer responded to questions relating to:

·         Condition of the property.

·         Overcrowding.

·         Current Licensing regime.

·         Current fee £466 per licence for a 5 year period.

·         New regulations – the Council would look at the costs to be incurred for inspection and set the fee at an appropriate level to cover costs but not make any additional income.

·         Prosecutions.

·         Government proposals to extend mandatory HMO licensing to include all relevant HMOs with 5 occupants, regardless of number of storeys.  Detailed definitions, effective date and guidance awaited.

·         Identifying HMOs.

·         No indication that there would be extra funding from the Government to extend the mandatory licensing of HMOs.  The Panel was advised by the Chief Executive that the Government has a new burdens document which enabled local authorities to recover the actual cost incurred.  It was also noted that the LGA had made a strong case for additional resources to fund the cost.

·         Landlord Forums held when required.  Forums were well attended.

·         Guidance to Parish Councils, how to identify and report an HMO.  The Housing Services Operations Manager undertook to produce a guidance note which could be available to parishes and would discuss with Democratic Services how this information could best e publicised.

In response to a comment made on the Panel being given more notice and prior information on the subject, the Policy, Performance and Policy Manager explained that at a previous Panel meeting when Members received a report on the Performance Indicators interest was expressed regarding the HMO target and it was suggested that a presentation be given to a future Panel meeting.  The Leader, Councillor Long commented that normally the subject of HMO’s would be in the remit of the Environment and Community Panel.  However, as the Panel had raised questions regarding the performance level of the indicator.  Officers had been invited to the Panel this evening to provide an overview of the work undertaken regarding HMO’s.  If Members felt that a further detailed presentation was required then the Panel could suggested that HMO’s be added to the Environment and Community Panel’s work programme and the Corporate Performance Panel be invited to attend for that item.

The Housing Services Operations Manager explained that when policy decisions on fees and charges were required a report would be presented to the relevant Panel and be taken through the democratic process.

The Assistant CIC Manager presented the results of the consultation undertaken with Service Users at Hunstanton and Downham Market offices.

Councillor Collop commented that at the last Panel meeting it had been agreed that a further report would be brought back to this meeting.  However, Cabinet had discussed and made the decision to close the two area offices and had therefore overruled the Panel’s decision.  The Leader, Councillor Long advised that it was a Cabinet decision and Cabinet had been provided with the early findings of the consultation exercise which had commenced on 18 July immediately after the Corporate Performance Panel meeting on 17 July.  The decision to close the two area officers would allow the resource to be utilised in answering telephone enquiries.

Councillor Humphrey commented that at the last Panel meeting when the report was presented and added that he was satisfied with the recommendation.  Customers could contact the Council in a number of ways without having to visit an area office. Councillor Humphrey gave an example of residents in rural areas accessing services where there was no area office.  The consultation had been undertaken and the results presented to the Panel.  Cabinet had also taken account of the views of the Panel when making the decision to close the two area offices.

The Assistant CIC Manager responded to questions relating to:

·         Internet access in libraries and impact if any potential closures.

·         Variety of methods Customers could contact the Council – website, telephone, visiting King’s Court offices, visiting officers, community information points.

The Panel will receive a presentation from the Policy, Performance and Personnel Manager.

Members of the Environment and Community Panel have been invited to the meeting for this item of Business.

The Panel received a verbal presentation, a copy of which is attached to the Minutes.

The Policy, Performance and Personnel Manager invited Members to put forward any aspects of equalities that they wished to see included or identify any gaps in the policy.

The Chairman, Councillor Wareham thanked the Policy, Performance and Personnel Manager for the verbal presentation and suggested that the Panel await receipt of a presentation at the next meeting on 9 October 2017.

RESOLVED:  A presentation would be given at the next meeting of the Panel on 9 October 2017.

To note the Committee’s Work Programme for 2017/2018.

The Panel noted the Work Programme for 2017/2018.

Members were invited to contact the Chairman at any time should they wish to add an item to the Work Programme.

The following items were suggested as future Agenda Items:

·         King’s Lynn Innovation Centre (KLIC).

·         Pontoons.

The Chief Executive advised that the above items were within the remit of the Regeneration and Development Panel and should therefore be put forward as potential items on that Panel’s Work Programme.

Councillor Howman suggested that the call in process be placed on a future Agenda of the Panel.

The Chief Executive responded to questions regarding the Panel’s role in scrutinising Cabinet decisions.  The Panel was informed that the Scrutiny Structures Task Group had held their first meeting and a draft Questionnaire to be circulated to all Members of the Council would be discussed at the next Task Group meeting on 6 September.

The Panel received the Employment Monitoring Figures – Annual Report for information purposes only.

To note that the date of the next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will take place on 9 October 2017.

The next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will be held on 9 October 2017.