Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Nick Dorrington and Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson.

There were no declarations of interest.

RECOMMENDED that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2024 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Further to the meeting held on 22 July 2024, the panel will receive updates and further information from the themed scrutiny panels in respect of:

Economic Development, Culture and Leisure Scrutiny Panel

·       Culture and literacy - engagement with deprived communities.

·       Empty PCC Commercial Properties.

Scoping documents for these two topics are attached.

Housing & Social Care Scrutiny Panel

To consider the below topic for inclusion within the scrutiny work programme:

'Understanding the challenges faced by the independent care sector (domiciliary and residential) and how PCC can support.'

A scoping document for the topic is attached.

Further to the meeting held on 22 July, the panel considered updates and further information in respect of the topics provisionally approved for the Economic Development, Culture and Leisure Scrutiny Panel and the Traffic, Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Panel.

In respect of the Economic Development, Culture and Leisure Scrutiny Panel, scoping documents for the following topics were considered:

·     Culture and literacy - engagement with deprived communities; and

·     Empty PCC Commercial Properties.

Cllr Russell Simpson, Chair of the EDCL Scrutiny Panel was in attendance and spoke to the topics.

In response to questions from the panel, Cllr Simpson confirmed that the remit of the Empty PCC Commercial Properties review would be focussed solely on larger properties within the Culture, Regeneration and Economic Development portfolio and therefore within the remit of the Economic Development, Culture and Leisure Scrutiny Panel.  A specific focus would be placed on the identified risks flagged by internal audit, as detailed within two consecutive Internal Audit Performance Status reports tabled at Governance & Audit & Standards Committee meetings.

Following the discussion, the Scrutiny Management Panel confirmed its agreement of the two topics.

In respect of the Traffic, Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny (TECS) Panel, scoping documents for the following topics agreed by the Scrutiny Management Panel on 22 July 2024 were considered:

• A review of police response; and

• A review of sewage discharges into the sea.

Cllr Brian Madgwick, Chair of the TECS Scrutiny Panel, was in attendance and spoke to the topics.

He explained that the previous title of 'Police Response Times' had been amended to simply 'Police Response', therefore the remit was focussed on how the Police triaged and responded to calls rather than simply the time taken to respond.

In respect of the review of sewage discharges into the sea, he acknowledged that the review would be unlikely to resolve the issue but to date there had been a good response and engagement from the relevant council officers.

The panel discussed these previously agreed review topics, with concerns aired about their success being based upon the co-operation of third parties who were not compelled to attend and the limited scope of the council to effect change.  However, some members of the panel believed that the consideration of these topics could garner information that was previously unknown to form a useful outcome

As part of the sewage discharges into the sea review, it was highlighted that there had been a recent successful Supreme Court Case where the Manchester Ship Canal Company Limited could potentially seek redress from United Utilities Water Limited in respect of unauthorised discharges of untreated foul water into the canal.

At the Langstone Harbour Board a question had been raised as to whether this ruling meant that the parties who owned land affected by similar discharges could also sue Southern Water and it was felt that this would be worth exploring as part of the review.

Following the discussion, the Scrutiny Management Panel confirmed the scoping documents for the previously agreed topics.