Agenda and minutes

There were apologies for absence from Councillor Scott Brerton. Councillor Jodi Clements substituted.

There were no declarations of interests or dispensations.

To submit the minutes of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15^th March 2023 for approval as a correct record.

Recommended          -           That the minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

To receive the Minutes of the meeting of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15^th March 2023 for approval as a correct record. There were no questions or comments relating to the minutes.

Recommended        -            That the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

This report requests that the Overview and Scrutiny Committees give consideration to and approve the work programmes for Overview and Scrutiny for 2023/24.

Recommended - That the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee approves its work programme for 2023/24.

The Chair invited the Scrutiny and Policy Officer to present this item.

The Officer informed the committee of the process for producing the draft work programmes for all three scrutiny committees, which were included in the appendix to the report. The process included:

-        Suggestions from Councillors

-        Suggestions from Service Managers

-        Suggestions from members of the public

-        Meeting with Scrutiny Chairs and Cabinet

The Officer explained that all suggestions had been considered, and most had been accepted as part of the work programme. As ever, scrutiny work programmes are flexible and can be added to in year. The role of this committee is to approve its own work programme, as outlined in section 2 of the report.

There were no questions from the committee.

Resolved        -           The Committee approves the 2023/24 Work Programmes for the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee as outlined in the report.

To update Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee on disability provision in parks.

Recommended          -           That the Committee notes the report.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Steven Smithson and Craig Haraben, Head of Environmental Services to present this item.

Councillor Smithson thanked the committee for the report request. He said all information was outlined in the report and he and Craig were happy to respond to any questions from the committee.

Response were given on the following topics:

-          Promotion of inclusive play equipment on the Council’s website

-          Provision of inclusive equipment

-          Specifics around Milton Close Play area and public perceptions of what equipment is disability accessible

-          Plans for a disability specific play area

-          Whether plans for the above are specifically linked to leisure transformation or if they would go ahead without the leisure project

-          Expert involvement in planning for a disability specific play area

-          Consideration to providing disability accessible play equipment at all play areas in the borough

-          The difficulties in providing truly accessible equipment as different disabilities can have very different needs

-          Plans for changing places accessible toilet and changing facilities

-          Difficulty for some people in travelling to access disability play areas

-          Wheelchair accessibility in existing play areas

-          Plans to update existing play areas

-          Funding for improvements to play areas

-          Compliance with British Standards for play areas

-          Audits of equipment in play areas

-          Car parking availability close to or as part of play areas

-          Dropped kerbs near to play areas to improve wheelchair access

Councillor Jodi Clements proposed several recommendations which were agreed by the committee.

Resolved        -          

That the Committee thanks the Portfolio Holder and the Head of Service for their report and responses to questions of the Committee.

That the following recommendations of the Committee be submitted to Cabinet:

-          Cabinet instructs officers to carry out an audit of play areas across the borough to identify areas in need of improvement in terms of disability provision;

-          Cabinet instructs officers to carry out an audit of parking facilities near to play areas to identify areas in need of improvement in terms of disability access;

-          Cabinet instructs officers to carry out a review of safety for women and girls accessing parks and open spaces across the borough;

-          Cabinet introduces a policy of including a changing places accessible toilet and changing facility in all new facility developments; and;

-          Cabinet instructs officers to explore the feasibility and funding opportunities to create a publically accessible changing places assessable toilet and changing facility in every township across the borough.

To update Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the dog warden service.

Recommended          -           That the Committee notes the report.

The Chair invited Councillor Smithson and Craig Haraben to present the report on this item. Cllr Smithson referred to the report which included the relevant information. He also highlighted that the service will be recruiting new trainee dog warden/pest control officer in September, and circulated some information regarding the number of dog bins in the borough.

Councillor Smithson and Craig Haraben responded to questions on the following:

-          Issues with overflowing bins in Woodnook on land owned/managed by Place First

-          Distribution of free dog poo bags and the possibility of partnering with other organisations so that they can be collected and used by dog walkers without having to travel to Scaitcliffe House

-          More details on the new trainee role

-          Previous proposal to create a second dog warden post

-          Holiday/sickness absence cover for the dog warden

-          Allocation and provision of dog bins

-          Dangerous dogs

-          Renewal and consultation regarding Public Space Protection Orders

-           

The committee made a couple of suggestions which the Portfolio Holder indicated he would be happy to implement. If any organisations across the borough would be interested in distributing free dog poo bags on behalf of the Council then they could contact the department and the Council would be happy to work with them if possible. Additionally, although additional poo bins could not be provided due to the emptying service currently operating at full capacity, he would welcome suggestions from Councillors about were current bins could be relocated to greater areas of needs. Councillors should contact Waste Services for detailed information about the current locations of bins in the borough.

Resolved        -

That the Committee thanks the Portfolio Holder and the Head of Service for their report and responses to questions of the Committee.

That the following recommendations of the Committee be submitted to Cabinet:

·       Cabinet creates a new Dog Warden post for Hyndburn to support the existing service as demand increases due to growing numbers of dog ownership across the country.

·       Cabinet instructs officers to create a link on the Council’s website for residents to report dog fouling to help reduce dog fouling across the borough.

·       Cabinet explores opportunities to create a “bark park” in Hyndburn where dog owners are charged a fee to walk dogs off lead in safe, enclosed environment and use this income to help fund a new dog warden post.

Recommended - That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following items, when it was likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings that there would otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraph at Schedule 12A of the Act specified at the items.

Resolved        -           That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following items, when it was likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings that there would otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraph at Schedule 12A of the Act specified at the items.

This report will contain exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972,

Schedule 12A, Paragraph 1 - Information relating to any individual.

To consider nominations for Co-opted Members on to the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Recommended - That the Committee gives consideration to the nominations for Co-optees detailed in the report, and makes a recommendation to Council accordingly.

The Committee considered the information outlined in the report and representations from Councillors Munsif Dad and Paddy Short who had submitted nominations for the vacant co-optee positions. The committee received 5 nominations for 4 vacancies. The Scrutiny and Policy Officer explained the role of the Committee was to recommend to Council that up to 4 nominees be appointed as co-optees to the committee.

Resolved        -          

That after consideration of the five nominees, the Committee recommends that Council appoint Jean Battle, Stewart Eaves, June Harrison and Joan West as co-optees to the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee until the end of the 2024/25 municipal year.