Agenda and minutes

In relation to Minute 65 below relating to “Connecting Communities Phase 1” the Committee noted that Councillors Lancaster and Clifford had links to an organisation that was involved in Connecting Communities Phase 1.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8^th February, 2017 were signed as a true record.  There were no matters arising.

Report of the Executive Director of Place

Councillors Abdul Khan and Pervez Akhtar, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item. Bridget Harper, Coventry Older Voices and Davey Walmsley, Coventry Skatepark Project have also been invited to attend.  

The Committee considered a report of Executive Director for Place which contained a proposal to be considered by Cabinet on 7th March, 2017 regarding the creation of a City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

The report proposed that in order to ensure that the City Centre was an attractive destination for residents, shoppers and businesses, Coventry needed to minimise any behaviours that may be detrimental to the quality of life in this locality and potentially deter people from visiting the City Centre.

A City Centre PSPO would assist in this matter and simplify the response of officers from the Police and the Council in dealing with various anti-social activities.  The order would recognise that some of those considered to be causing issues had their own vulnerabilities and would seek to offer support and assistance, rather than simply rely on enforcement.

The report summarised the results of the consultation, set out conditions of the PSPO that was proposed would best suit what was needed for the City Centre and was reflective of the responses received from partners and the public.

The initial order as proposed had been left largely unchanged apart from two amendments. These related to begging, cycling and skateboarding. The amendments were made in response to the consultation.

The Committee heard contributions from Councillor P Akhtar the Deputy Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, officers and members of the public representing Coventry Skatepark Project and Coventry Older Voices.  The perception of danger and fear in a pedestriainised area was recognised as a problem and those present were keen to find solutions to this through intergenerational dialogue and consideration of suitable facilities which would benefit the community.  The Coventry Skatepark Project video available on the internet referred to during the discussion would be circulated to Members.

The Committee questioned those present on the following:

•  Police support for the PSPO, enforcement and fines

•  Displacement of activity to areas outside of the city centre as a result of the order

•  Whether prostitution and curb-crawling could be addressed via a PSPO

•  Flexibility and discretion in implementing the PSPO, especially regarding buskers and performers in the city centre.

•  Current powers regarding prohibiting cycling in the city centre

•  The issue of encouraging more people to cycle, but also wanting to restrict dangerous cycling.

•  Support to vulnerable people who are begging as well as enforcing the PSPO

•  Code of conduct for charity subscription collectors to ensure they don’t target vulnerable people

•  How evidence to support extending or enhancing the PSPO can be gathered and how members of the public and the Council can do this.

•  Other Local Authorities with PSPO’s

•  Use of CCTV footage

•  Damage to property

RESOLVED that

1)  The Committee requested that a further report be presented in 12 months’ time to review progress.

2)  Cabinet be recommended to consider:

i.  Monitoring levels of begging outside of the city centre to ensure there is no displacement effect of the PSPO.

ii.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

Report and Presentation of the Executive Director of People

Councillor Maton, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills and Councillors Ruane and Seaman, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Children and Young People have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

Further to Minute 34/16 the Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for People regarding Connecting Communities Phase 2.  Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee had requested the outcome of consultation prior to consideration at Cabinet, which was due to take place on 7th March, 2017. 

The report noted that the grant Coventry received from central Government had reduced by 49% from 2010/11 to 2017/18 and by 2020 this was estimated to reduce further to a 55% reduction.  Due to the increase in the city’s population this equated to a 51% reduction per person from 2010/11 to 2017/18. The budget for the People Directorate was 70% of the Council’s net budget and so the services provided by the People Directorate needed to contribute significantly towards those savings. 

Connecting Communities was recognised as an ambitious approach to redesigning services through collaboration with local communities.  Phase 1 of Connecting Communities focused on ten specific proposals.  These proposals were on track to deliver the £1m savings target set for 2016/17 and £1.2m ongoing.

The report noted that Phase 2 of Connecting Communities focused on how services and support could be delivered differently in local communities with the greatest need, within the resources that were available.  As a consequence of cuts a target of £3.8m was set for this work.  Across all phases of Connecting Communities a total of £5m savings must be achieved, in line with the total requirement set for the original City Centre First programme, which had now been incorporated into the wider Connecting Communities change programme. 

Phase 2 comprised of two overarching proposals to reshape the way that support was delivered to children and young people aged 0 to 19 years and the provision of library services in the city.

The scale of grant cuts meant the current way in which services were delivered was no longer sustainable.  The financial position and the needs of residents must be balanced alongside making radical changes in the delivery of services.  This meant working closely with residents and partners in new ways to maximise the total public funding that remained to support the most vulnerable in the city. Part of the Council’s strategy was also to work with organisations that could draw upon resources that the Council cannot access and to enable this to happen as far as possible.  The delivery of the savings programme described in this report contributed to the total savings required of £35m by 2017/18.

Coventry’s long-term strategy was to focus on avoiding crude cuts through closer partnership working with statutory and voluntary agencies, and communities. The Connecting Communities approach was to work with others to redesign services that could be delivered within the resources available, focusing on supporting those areas that were most in need.  Connecting Communities was the overarching transformational change programme for the Council’s People Directorate which delivered a wide range of key frontline services to Coventry residents and as such further phases were likely to be forthcoming at a later point.

In August 2016, Cabinet approved public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

Briefing Note of the Executive Director of People

Further to minute 34/16 the Committee considered a briefing note that they had requested on the outcomes and achievements of Connecting Communities Phase 1. The consultation process on these Phase 1 proposals commenced on 7th December 2015 and ended on 1st February 2016.

The report noted that all proposals were on track to deliver the £1.2m savings target associated with Connecting Communities (Phase 1).  Appended to the report were an outline of delivery progress to date for each proposal following approval from Cabinet in February 2016.  An update on any Equality and Consultation Analysis (ECA) impact was also provided.

Learning from Connecting Communities Phase 1 implementation had informed Connecting Communities Phase 2 proposals, particularly in relation to ensuring that sufficient time was allowed for implementation of any proposed changes. Ongoing communication was required between all parties to embed the changes that result from a different way of delivering services.

Initial Equality Consultation Analysis (ECA) documents were produced prior to the start of the Phase 1 consultation process.  Each proposal would be reviewed and updated 6-12 months after the relevant implementation dates to reflect any additional information received about the potential impact of the proposals; specifically on those groups of people with protected characteristics.

RESOLVED that Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee noted the Phase 1 implementation and request a report back at an appropriate time with comments from partner organisations.

Report of the Lord Mayor, Councillor Lindsley Harvard

The Committee considered a report of the Lord Mayor, Councillor L Harvard concerning his visit to Volgograd, Russia from 29th October, 2016 to 2nd November, 2016 for the attendance at “Volgograd International People’s Diplomacy Forum: Dialogue Upon the Volga: Peace and Mutual Understanding in the 21st Century”.

The report detailed costs and benefits of attendance.

RESOLVED that the visit to Volgograd be endorsed.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Committee received and noted a report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator which outlined the approach to be taken on progress, outcomes and responses to recommendations and actions made by the committee.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Committee considered their work programme for the current municipal year.

RESOLVED that the work programme be noted and updated to include a report back on the Public Space Protection Order (minute 63 refers) and Connecting Communities Phase 1 (minute 65 refers).   

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no additional items of public business.