Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting. 

Members declared interests in the following agenda items:

6. Overview & Scrutiny Work Programme 2011/2012.

Councillor Lawrie Stratford, Personal, as a member of Bicester Citizens Advice Bureau Management Committee.

Councillor Rose Stratford, Personal, as a Council appointed representative on Bicester Citizens Advice Bureau Management Committee.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There was no urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 8 March and 18 May 2011.

The minutes of the meetings held on 8 March and 18 May 2011 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

In the course of considering the minutes Councillor L Stratford reported to the meeting that there had been positive media coverage of improved attainment levels in both primary and secondary schools in Bicester.

Report of Head of Safer Communities, Urban and Rural Services

Summary

To report progress against actions agreed at the Executive meeting on 10 January 2011 relating to parking with specific reference to:

(i)    The balance and location of long stay/short stay parking in Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington

(ii)   The cost benefit analysis of alternative management arrangements for car parks, including 'Pay on Exit'.

(iii)   An initial review of the impact of the new Parking Order and plans for further evaluation.

To bring to the attention of the Committee the findings of the Bicester Chamber of Commerce and Bicester Vision traffic survey.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

(1)            Note the contents of this report

(2)            Give thanks to Bicester Vision and Bicester Chamber of Commerce for providing the information obtained through the traffic survey and advise them  on the outcome of the Committee’s discussions

(3)            Advise the Executive:

(i)              That the current arrangements for pay and display parking across the District should remain in place, at least in the medium term.

(ii)             The findings set out in this report on provision of parking places are taken into account in the review of parking   programmed for later in the year.

(iii)            Of any actions it would like the Executive to consider in the review of parking planned for later this year arising from its discussions on the traffic survey.

Recommendations 1 and 2 agreed.

(1)               Note the contents of this report

(2)               Give thanks to Bicester Vision and Bicester Chamber of Commerce for providing the information obtained through the traffic survey and advise them  on the outcome of the Committee’s discussions

Recommendation 3 deleted and replaced by:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Resources and Performance Panel should engage on joint scrutiny on 12 July in relation to parking charges, to explore the issues discussed by Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman outlined that parking provision was being considered in response to the request of the Executive that scrutiny provide further work on this issue following the referral back to the Executive as part of the Call-in held in January 2011.

The Chairman invited Ben Jackson (Bicester Chamber of Commerce) to address the meeting. It was reported that the Chamber had identified an 18-20% drop off in trading in recent months and whilst there was no evidence this was due to parking charges, it was believed this was a contributory factor. It was also noted that three businesses, including a long established business had ceased or were going to cease trading.

In the course of debate the following areas for future investigation were highlighted by members:

• The use of town centre rental income to replace lost parking fees if the charges were stopped
• Ticket machines, the availability of change and pay on exit
• Motorcycle parking
• Future of Shopmobility scheme
• Lessons learnt regarding advertising and signage for parking charge changes
• The suggestion of possible trial sites for different parking systems
• The issues of parking fines for low income families and repayment options
• The need to look at first quarter data
• The future of Multi-storey car park at Bolton Road, Banbury
• The consideration of escalating rates to prevent all day commuter parking

The Chairman advised following discussion with the Chairman of Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board it was felt that some elements of the review of parking should be brought forward for discussion at a special joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board and therefore proposed an alternative form of words to recommendation 3 to reflect this.

Resolved

(1)               That the contents of the report be noted.

(2)               That Bicester Chamber of Commerce be thanked for providing the information obtained through the traffic survey.

(3)       That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Resources and Performance Panel should engage on joint scrutiny on 12 July in relation to parking charges, to explore the issues discussed by Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Report of Interim Head of Legal and Democratic Services

Summary

To provide the Committee with the draft overview and scrutiny work programme for 2011/12, specifically to update on items carried forward from the 2010/11 overview and scrutiny work programme and to consider new items for inclusion on the 2011/12 work programme.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee  is recommended:

(1)            To note the update on items carried forward from the 2010/11 overview and scrutiny work programme;

(2)            To decide which items should be removed from the work programme in 2011/12;

(3)            To determine which new topics should be included on the 2011/12 Work Programme.

(4)            To confirm the work programme for 2011/12 for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(5)            To confirm the agenda for the meeting on 19 July 2011.

Equalities Policy – include on work programme, Chairman to progress issue with officers and to be scheduled for September 2011.

Commissioning of Advice, Volunteering and Voluntary Car Driving Schemes in Cherwell – include on work programme for July 2011. Members of Committee to feed in views and ideas to Chairman in advance of meeting to allow review approach to be planned. Agreed that advice, volunteering and voluntary car driving would need to be looked at separately in order to make manageable and as members feel there are likely to be different timescales involved.

Registered Social Landlords Relationship Policy – issue to be scoped and brought to committee at next meeting with benefit of CMT input.

Secondary School Education Attainment Levels – delete form work programme

 Kidlington Pedestrianistaion – delete from work programme, members to receive update circulated outside of meeting when available.

Houses in Multiple Occupancy and Planning Policy - delete from work programme, members to receive update circulated outside of meeting when available.

Democratic Engagement with Young People - delete from work programme, members to receive update circulated outside of meeting when available.

Crime and Anti Social Behaviour – to be referred to RPSB to be considered effect of budget reductions on work area.

Private Sector Housing Strategy – July meeting then removed from work programme

Built Environment Conservation Area Policy - delete from work programme, members to receive update circulated outside of meeting when available.

Youth Services – Schedule for an update in last quarter 2011

Preparation for 2012 Olympics - delete from work programme

RAF Bicester - delete from work programme, members to receive update circulated outside of meeting when available.

Residents Parking Schemes - delete from work programme, include within general parking discussion on 12 July 2011.

The Committee discussed the work programme and agreed that in a climate of scarce resources it was important that topics for scrutiny should deliver clear outcomes and made a difference to the community.

Resolved

That the following amendments and alterations be made to the Overview and Scrutiny work programme:

Equalities Policy – include on work programme, Chairman to progress issue with officers and to be scheduled for September 2011.

Commissioning of Advice, Volunteering and Voluntary Car Driving Schemes in Cherwell – include on work programme for July 2011. Members of Committee to feed in views and ideas to Chairman in advance of meeting to allow review approach to be planned. Agreed that advice, volunteering and voluntary car driving would need to be looked at separately in order to make manageable and as members feel there are likely to be different timescales involved.

Registered Social Landlords Relationship Policy – issue to be scoped and brought to committee at next meeting with benefit of CMT input.

Secondary School Education Attainment Levels – delete from work programme

 Kidlington Pedestrianistaion – delete from work programme, members to receive update circulated outside of meeting when available.

Houses in Multiple Occupancy and Planning Policy - delete from work programme, members to receive update circulated outside of meeting when available.

Democratic Engagement with Young People - delete from work programme, members to receive update circulated outside of meeting when available.

Crime and Anti Social Behaviour – to be referred to RPSB to be considered in terms of effect of budget reductions on work area.

Private Sector Housing Strategy – July meeting then removed from work programme

Built Environment Conservation Area Policy - delete from work programme, members to receive update circulated outside of meeting when available.

Youth Services – Schedule for an update in last quarter 2011

Preparation for 2012 Olympics - delete from work programme

RAF Bicester - delete from work programme, members to receive update circulated outside of meeting when available.

Residents Parking Schemes - delete from work programme, include within general parking discussion on 12 July 2011.

Report of Interim Head of Legal and Democratic Services

Summary

To consider public speaking at Call-in.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:

(1)            Consider what change(s), if any, they wish to make to the order of speaking at Call-in.

Agreed no change

The committee considered some concerns that had been raised in terms of the order of speaking at the recent Call-in of car parking. Concern had been raised that the public were not allowed to speak until after councillors had the opportunity to do so, which could mean that they were not able to speak for several hours, although in the event all those present at the meeting were able to speak.

It was noted that Call-in was essentially a process for councillors to call-in and review a decision of the Executive and that at many authorities the public were not allowed to speak. It was also noted that there was a balance to be struck between councillors exercising their scrutiny function and the involvement of the public.  The committee considered the issues, but felt on balance that the existing order of speaking should be maintained as it reflected the importance of the role of councillors whilst allowing the public to speak after they had heard from all parties to the call-in and heard the questioning from members.

Resolved

That having reviewed the order of speaking during a Call-in, no amendments should be made.