Minute of Meeting of the Housing and Communities Committee of 21 June 2023 for Approval
Perth and Kinross Council · 25 October 2023
Back to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee — 25 October 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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HOUSING AND SOCIAL WELLBEING COMMITTEE Minute of hybrid meeting of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee held in the Council Chambers, 2 High Street, Perth on 21 June 2023 at 9.30am. Present: Bailie C McLaren; Councillors P Barrett, B Brawn, A Chan (substituting for Bailie Ahern), D Cuthbert (substituting for Bailie Brock), S Donaldson, M Frampton, I James, N Khogali, B Leishman, I MacPherson, S McCole, T McEwan, F Smith and J Welch. In Attendance: B Renton, Executive Director (Communities); C Mailer, E Ritchie, J McColl, N Lennon, M Smith, S Coyle, C Hendry, M Lynch, P Smith, S Watson, F Robertson, L Haxton, D Mortimer and R Ross (for Items 7 and 8 only) (all Communities); H Robertson (Education and Children’s Services); A Taylor, A Brown and M Pasternak (all Corporate and Democratic Services). Also in Attendance: Superintendent I Wales and Chief Inspector T Leonard (up to and including Item 6) (both Police Scotland); Local Senior Officer J Sharp and Group Commander S Kabamba (up to and including Item 6) (all Scottish Fire and Rescue Service). Apologies: Bailies C Ahern and R Brock. Councillor T McEwan, Convener, Presiding. 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES Councillor T McEwan welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence and substitutions were noted as above. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no Declarations of Interests in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct 3. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minute of the meeting of the Housing and Communities Committee of 15 March 2023 was submitted and approved as a correct record. 4. MOTION – SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE CUTS Motion by Councillors B Leishman and Councillor D Cuthbert Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Cuts Acknowledging the vital service that Scottish Fire and Rescue Service provide to the people of Perth and Kinross, in line with the scrutiny role of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee, this motion resolves to:
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• Note, with grave concern, the operational decision of SFRS to decommission an appliance at Perth Fire Station. • Request a meeting with SFRS decision makers and representatives of the local service with elected members and relevant Council officers to seek more detailed information and express the view for the withdrawal of the proposal to decommission an appliance at Perth Fire Station. • Provide reassurance to the SFRS of the Council's continued commitment to working together with them as a much respected and valued public partner, to safeguard and protect the communities that we serve. Resolved In accordance with the motion. 5. OUTSTANDING BUSINESS STATEMENT Resolved: The Outstanding Business Statement was noted, and it was agreed to remove the completed actions. 6. POLICE AND FIRE REFORM: LOCAL SCRUTINY AND ENGAGEMENT (i) SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE END OF YEAR PERFORMANCE REPORT– 1 OCTOBER 2022 TO 31 MARCH 2023 There was submitted a report by Area Manager J Sharp, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (23/189) containing performance information relating to the six- month period, (1 October 2022 – 31 March 2023) of 2022/23 on the performance of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Area Manager Sharp and Group Commander Kebamba answered members’ questions thereon. The question-and-answer session can be viewed via the following link. Resolved: The update on operational and community safety engagement activities of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in the Perth and Kinross area during the period 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023, be noted. (ii) PERTH AND KINROSS LOCAL POLICING AREA END OF YEAR POLICE REPORT – 1 OCTOBER 2022 to 31 MARCH 2023 There was submitted a report by Superintendent I Wales, Police Scotland ‘D’ Division (Tayside) (23/190) on the performance of Police Scotland against the local policing priorities for the Perth and Kinross area as set out in the Local Policing Plan for the period, 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023. Superintendent Wales and Chief Inspector Leonard answered members’ questions thereon. The question-and-answer session can be viewed via the following link.
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Resolved: The update on performance of Police Scotland against the local policing priorities for the Perth and Kinross area during the period 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023, be noted. SUPERINTENDENT I WALES, CHIEF INSPECTOR T LEONARD, AREA MANAGER J SHARP AND GROUP COMMANDER S KEBAMBA ALL LEFT THE MEETING AT THIS POINT. 7. EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT 2022/23 There was submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (23/181) presenting the Service Annual Performance Report 2022/23 for Education and Children’s Services and detailing progress against targets and improvement actions over the last year against the 2022/23 Service Business Management Improvement Plan. Resolved: The Education and Children’s Services Annual Performance Report 2022/23, as detailed in Appendix 1 to Report 23/181, relating specifically to Criminal Justice Services, be approved. 8. COMMUNITY PAYBACK ORDERS ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 There was submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (23/191) providing an update for the period 2021-22 on the operation of Community Payback Orders in Perth and Kinross. Resolved: (i) The work undertaken by the Public Protection and Unpaid Work Teams in respect of Community Payback Orders in Perth and Kinross for the year 2021-22, be noted. (ii) The Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) bring forward a report regarding the activity and performance of Community Payback Orders in twelve months’ time. 9. COMMUNITIES SERVICE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT 2022/23 There was submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities) (23/168) presenting the Service Annual Performance Report 2022/23 for Communities and detailing progress against targets and improvement actions over the last year against the 2022/23 Service Business Management Improvement Plan. Resolved: The Communities Service Annual Performance Report 2022/23, as detailed in Appendix 1 to Report 23/168, specifically the areas which fall within the remit of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee, be approved.
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10. COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP UPDATE There was a report submitted by Head of Cultural and Communities Services (23/192) providing an update on the work of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) since the previous report on 15 March 2023. Resolved: (i) The development of a Strategic Risk Profile to support delivery of the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan, be noted. (ii) The progress with locality working in Coupar Angus, including launch of the new Town Centre Action Plan, be noted. (iii) The new funding proposals for Local Action Partnerships, for separate approval by the Committee, be noted. THERE FOLLOWED A 10-MINUTE RECESS AND THE MEETING RECONVENED AT 11.15AM. 11. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2022/23 There was submitted a report by the Head of Culture and Communities Services (23/193) (1) seeking approval of the Community Empowerment Annual Report for 2022/23; and (2) providing an overview of the work done to support and promote Community Asset Transfer and Participation requests made to Perth and Kinross Council between 1 April 2022 and 30 March 2023. Resolved: The Community Empowerment Annual Report 2022/23 as detailed in Appendix 1 to Report 23/193, be approved. 12. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND LOCAL ACTION PARTNERSHIP FUNDS 2023/24 There was submitted a report by the Head of Culture and Communities Services (23/194) setting out proposals for delivering the Community Investment Fund (CIF) and Local Action Partnership funding in 2023/24. Motion (Councillors T McEwan and S McCole) (i) The proposals for delivering CIF in 2023/24 including the timeline and proposed changes to the CIF process as detailed in paragraph 5.2 of Report 23/194, be approved. (ii) The move to disaggregated budgets for Perth City (Wards 10/11/12) as detailed in paragraph 5.3 of Report 23/194, be approved. (iii) The recommended funding formula option for distributing CIF across wards as detailed in paragraph 5.5 of Report 23/194, be approved. (iv) The proposals for Participatory Budgeting to be delivered with Local Action Partnerships in 2023/24 along with the proposed timeline and recommended funding formula across Local Action Partnership areas as detailed in paragraphs 5.11 – 5.13 of Report 23/194, be approved.
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1st Amendment (Councillors B Brawn and I James) The principal of the Community Investment Fund has always been for local people in the form of a Ward Panel to decide funding applications made by local groups. Whilst the criteria may be changed or expanded in each year, it for those Panels to assess an application based upon their individual scores at the time. And whilst Council Officers and Elected Members may be present and the latter chairing said Panels, the final choices and awarding of funds remain with those local people. It is therefore counter to this principal that any form of guidance, influence, political or otherwise and/or weighting be put forward. The independent decision making of Ward Panels must be retained. Consequently, this amendment proposes that we accept the paper as is except that paragraph 5.2(e) be deleted apart from the first sentence, that is:- 5.2(e) “Greater emphasis will be placed on tackling inequalities and delivering against PKC Corporate Plan priorities.” 2nd Amendment (Councillor P Barrett and Councillor D Cuthbert) In line with the Motion but recommendation 2.1(ii) be amended to read: “Request Perth City Councillors from Wards 10, 11 and 12 provide a decision on aggregation or disaggregation of the CIF funding.” 3rd Amendment (Councillor D Cuthbert and Councillor B Leishman) In line with the Motion apart from section 5.8: The words “which address the cost-of-living crisis issues.” be added to the sentence ending in “focused on climate change.” Giving the following sentence: “It is therefore proposed that officers work with Development Trusts and other community organisations within each of the 7 Local Action Partnership areas to deliver Participatory Budgeting initiatives focused on climate change which address the cost-of-living crisis.” FOLLOWING A SHORT RECESS, THE MEETING RECONVENED AT 11.50AM. Note: Following discussion, the Mover and Seconder of the Motion agreed to the following: (i) To incorporate the 1st Amendment into the Motion with the following addition “5.2(e) be amended to read: “Greater emphasis will be placed on tackling inequalities and delivering against PKC Corporate Plan priorities. This approach will be supported by directing applicants to locality profiles as a key source of information.” (ii) To incorporate the 2nd Amendment into the Motion. (iii) To incorporate the 3rd Amendment into the Motion. Resolved: In accordance with the Revised Motion.