Venue: Council Chamber, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey GU2 4BB. View directions
Contact: James Dearling, Tel no: 01483 444141 Email: james.dearling@guildford.gov.uk
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Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitute Members Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee was advised of apologies from Councillors Geoff Davis, James Jones, Steven Lee, Sandy Lowry, Joanne Shaw, and Katie Steel. Councillor Vanessa King attended as a substitute for Councillor Joanne Shaw.
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Local Code of Conduct and Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests In accordance with the local Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda. Any councillor with a DPI must not participate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.
If that DPI has not been registered, the councillor must notify the Monitoring Officer of the details of the DPI within 28 days of the date of the meeting.
Councillors are further invited to disclose any non-pecuniary interest which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda, in the interests of transparency, and to confirm that it will not affect their objectivity in relation to that matter. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no disclosures of interest.
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To confirm the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 30 September 2024. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2024 were approved.
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Lead Councillor Question Session A question session with Councillor Tom Hunt, Lead Councillor for Regeneration. Councillor Hunt’s areas of responsibility: Corporate Capital Projects, Housing Delivery, Regeneration, Economic Development and Transport.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair introduced the Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Regeneration, Councillor Tom Hunt and invited him to make a statement about his portfolio.
The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Regeneration outlined his regeneration and economic development portfolio. He referred to the range of capital projects and the economic development element of his area of responsibility. The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Regeneration advised the meeting of the governance arrangements for the Council’s capital projects and noted that some councillors present in the meeting were members of the cross-party Boards involved in delivery of these projects. He indicated that over the previous 18 months or so officers had improved programme and project governance and that in future any projects the Council committed to were aligned to its Corporate Strategy.
The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Regeneration indicated that the Council had not had an economic development team for some time and stated that he and the new Joint Strategic Director for Economy, Planning, and Place would be reviewing.
During the ensuing discussion a number of questions were asked, and points raised:
· In response to a request for an update on the former House of Fraser site in Guildford town centre, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Regeneration advised that the building was owned by Canada Life. He indicated that Canada Life and Fenwick had been unable to agree a deal for the site and the building was now on the market for offers in excess of £10m. The Committee was informed that the listed status of the Jellicoe gardens on the roof of the building complicated its use for anything other than a large retailer.
· The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Regeneration confirmed that a report on Shaping Guildford’s Future would be considered by the Executive within the next month or so.
· In reply to a query about the possible development of the brownfield site at Woodbridge Meadows, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor advised of work to enable housing at sites such as Woodbridge Meadows and Bedford Wharf. He indicated the importance of appropriate flood defences for housing on such sites.
· With reference to the St. Mary’s Wharf development, a member of the Committee questioned the whether the footbridge to the Yvonne Arnaud theatre and beyond was still planned. In response, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Regeneration confirmed that a covenant in the section 106 agreement outlined £1m towards delivery of works considered necessary by the Council to improve pedestrian and cycling access along the riverway and in the vicinity of the site, and that these improvements might include a pedestrian bridge.
· The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Regeneration and the Assistant Director for Regeneration and Economic Development provided an update on the Bright Hill car park. The meeting was informed that discussions ... view the full minutes text for item OSS24 |
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Performance Monitoring Report 2024/25 Quarter 1 Should any members of the Committee have any queries about specific performance indicators detailed in the Performance Monitoring report, please submit these to andrea.barnett@guildford.gov.uk at least two days prior to the Committee meeting to enable a response to be given. Additional documents: Minutes: The Corporate Strategy and Performance Manager introduced the item. He acknowledged that Quarter 1 of the current financial year had concluded some time ago and that the report had been scheduled to be considered by the Committee in September. The Corporate Strategy and Performance Manager indicated that due to the need to align the report format and performance indicators with the Council's new Corporate Strategy, it had not been possible to complete the report in time for the September meeting.
The Committee was advised that of the thirty-seven key performance indicators (KPIs) reporting on in Quarter 1, three were red rated and four yet to be confirmed.
A number of questions were raised by Councillors:
· A member of the Committee queried how many missed bin collections were caused by collection vehicles not being able to access properties. In response, the Corporate Strategy and Performance Manager indicated that the data within the report submitted to the Committee reflected service failures rather than access issues. He advised that the service had been asked to provide information on the incidence of access issues.
· In reply to a query on major planning applications, the Corporate Strategy and Performance Manager indicated that a written answer would be obtained and provided to Committee members giving the latest information on the determination of major planning applications.
· With reference to the processing of new housing benefits claims, a member of the Committee asked if performance had improved over Quarters 2 and 3 and how long were people waiting to receive benefits. In response the Corporate Strategy and Performance Manager indicated that the performance had improved since Quarter 1 and he would provide a written answer on when people actually received their money after a claim had been processed.
· In response to questioning on the red rating for the Decent Homes Standard, the Corporate Strategy and Performance Manager informed the meeting that contractors were being appointed to undertake necessary works. He suggested that although a property had not met the Decent Homes Standard it did not mean there was a live risk in the home.
· In reply to questions about the rate of improvement for housing repairs and the number of voids in Council housing, the Corporate Strategy and Performance Manager advised that the Council was in the process of appointing six additional contractors to support the work of the repair team. He indicated that void contractor work was stopped at the end of last year due to the investigation in the housing service.
· A member of the Committee referred to questions on air quality that had been circulated in advance of the Committee’s meeting. In response, the Corporate Strategy and Performance Manager confirmed that the information within the report on the number of sites not meeting the air quality target indicated the number of locations not the number of Air Quality Management Areas. The member questioned why Guildford had three Air Quality Management Areas but only one site with an air quality exceedance. In reply, the Corporate Strategy ... view the full minutes text for item OSS25 |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: The Senior Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) invited questions on the work plan attached as Appendix to the report submitted to the Committee.
The Chair noted the items scheduled for the Committee’s next meeting on 16 December.
RESOLVED: That the Committee work plan attached as Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Committee be approved.
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