Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd March, 2017 were signed as a true record.

With reference to Minute 63 headed ‘Creation of a City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order’, the Committee were informed that their recommendations had been considered by Cabinet on 7^th March. Cabinet felt that the issues raised in recommendations i – iv were already being pursued, they accepted an amended version of recommendation v to ‘support the consideration of a city centre skatepark' and accepted an amended version of recommendation vi which supported the ‘further consideration of a clear cycle plan for the city centre’. In addition, the Committee noted that in respect of Minute 64 headed ‘Connecting Communities Phase 2’, their recommendations had been accepted by Cabinet on 7^th March without alteration.   

Presentation of Iona Old and Claire Hindson, DWP who have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

Councillors L Bigham and C Thomas, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Community Development have also been invited along with the following representatives:

Janet Gurney, Coventry Law Centre

Ed Hodgson, Citizens Advice Bureau

Alan Markey, Coventry Independent Advice Service

Glen Smailes, Job Shop

The Committee received a presentation from Mary Dunleavy, Claire Hindson and Iona Old, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which outlined their priorities, challenges and opportunities for 2017/18 and informed how partnership work was supporting their aims. Janet Gurney, Coventry Law Centre, Ed Hodson, Citizens Advice, Alan Markey, Independent Advice Service and Glen Smailes, Coventry Job Shop also attended the meeting for the consideration of this item. A paper from Janet Gurney and Alan Markey setting out potential partnership issues for consideration was tabled at the meeting.

The presentation highlighted that the unemployment rate had fallen to 4.7% which was the lowest since 2005. Coventry had 4,430 claiming work intensive benefits, 855 being 18-24 which was a significant positive change since 2010.

Information was provided on the Jobcentre Plus Offer. Support for claimants included a universal job match; a named Jobcentre Plus contact with experience of recruitment in the local area; attraction campaigns and opportunities to get involved in local events; opportunities to recruit via a sector specific route-way; and offers of work experience or work trials. Examples of recent individual cases where claimants had been supported were highlighted. 

The Committee were provided with an understanding of universal credit and given details on the benefit cap. The full role out for Universal Credit in Coventry was due to take place in April, 2018.

The presentation referred to the new Disability Confident scheme, which involved working with employers to increase their understanding of disability; challenging attitudes towards disability; removing barriers for disabled people; and ensuring disabled people had the opportunities to fulfil their potential.

The Committee were informed about the support provided by Jobcentre Plus which included disability employment advisers, work choice and Access to Work, a national programme which helped to overcome barriers that disabled people come across when moving onto or retaining employment. Detailed information was provided on the benefits of Access to Work, the eligibility criteria and the types of help available. Information was also provided on the Mental Health Support Service and the help available from the Access to Work programme. Examples of several success stories were provided where individuals had been assisted with Access to Work grants.

The presentation set out current partnership working which included support for schools and troubled families. The presentation concluded with a summary of departmental objectives.

Members questioned the representatives on a number of issues arising from the presentation and responses were provided, matters raised included:

·  Information on sanctions placed on claimants and how long the appeals process took

·  The support provided by DWP for troubled families including attendance at children centre partnership board meetings

·  The involvement of the DWP with the new family hub models

·  The relationship between DWP and the local Law Centre and Citizens Advice Bureau

·  The opening hours for Job Centre Plus and the position of the Tile Hill office

·  Clarification about the working age population and the classification of university students

·  Further details about the budgeting support available for claimants

·  Clarification that there was not a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Committee considered a briefing note of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which had previously been considered by the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) at their meeting on 22^nd March, 2017 (their minute 48/17 refers) which detailed the outcomes of the Scrutiny Board’s Public Transport Select Committee held on 15th February, 2017.

The report indicated that in preparation for the Select Committee:

·  Members of the Board visited the House of Commons on 19^th July 2016 sat in on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport to observe Members questioning witnesses, they also met with Clive Betts MP the Chair of Communities and Local Government and questioned him on the process of a Select Committee in the Houses of Parliament.

·  An Advisory Panel of the Board, comprising Councillors Brown, Lancaster, Mayer, and McNicholas (chair), was established to clarify and finalise key lines of enquiry and scope for the meeting.

·  Members attended a number of briefings and were provided with background documentation on: Effective Questioning for Scrutiny; Connecting Coventry – Strategic Transport Investment Programme; Coventry Station Masterplan; and Coventry Rail Story.

·  Members agreed the key lines of enquiry and the witnesses to be invited to provide evidence and also invited representatives from Coventry Older Voices and Transport Focus (the independent transport user watchdog) to participate in the meeting. Twitter and Facebook would also to be used to encourage public participation.

The Select Committee was set out in 3 sessions at which Members received presentations and information from witnesses and raised questions in response:

·  Session 1 - How can train connectivity support economic development and business growth in the city?

·  Session 2 - How can we improve the bus service in the city?

·  Session 3 - What are the key accessibility issues for public transport in the city, and how can they be addressed?

The Committee were informed that Scrutiny Board (3) had agreed the lessons learned and ways to improve the process as follows:

i.  Specific briefings for Cabinet Members by Select Committee Chair and Officers should be held, especially if the themes of the committee span more than one portfolio.

ii.  Members on the select committee attend briefing sessions, avoid substitutions and fully familiarise themselves with background briefing papers.

iii.  Presentations from witnesses should be to introduce their role only and not provide additional or new information.

iv.  The number of witnesses should be kept to a maximum of three per session.

v.  Questions to witnesses should be given one at a time to allow multiple witnesses to respond, and should be limited to 60-90 seconds.

vi.  Questions to witnesses should be prepared prior to the meeting by members of the committee, based on background briefing information and themed or grouped together.

vii.  Careful consideration of payment to expert witness should be made where there are gaps in knowledge by Council officers.

viii.  Council officers who attend as witnesses should be senior officers with responsibility for implementing and managing policy decisions.

ix.  The select committee should be consist  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

Report of Councillor Patricia Seaman

The Committee considered a report of Councillor Patricia Seaman, one of the Council’s four representatives on the Whitefriars Housing Board, which detailed the work of Whitefriars Housing over the preceding twelve months; set out the benefits to the Council of the Council’s appointments; and provided information on the attendance records and remuneration for the appointments. Councillor Seaman attended the meeting for the consideration of this item.

RESOLVED that the current arrangements for the governance of the Whitefriars Housing Board continue to be made and the Council continues to appoint four individuals to the organisation to:

·  Ensure compliance with the values and purpose of Whitefriars Housing

·  Play a leading role in setting the direction for the organisation

·  Establishment of policies and plans

·  Ensure residents are central to plans and decisions

·  Oversee a framework of delegation and control

·  Take decisions on significant matters

·  Approve annual accounts, budgets and business plans for agreement at West Mercia Group Board

·  Monitor performance in relation to plan budgets and key performance indicators.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

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

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

The Committee noted an update from Councillor J Mutton, the Council’s representative on the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Overview and Scrutiny Committee, regarding his attendance at the recent Committee meeting held on 21^st March, 2017. The Committee had discussed the key principles to underpin the relationship between the CA and local authority scrutiny by individual authorities on the work of the CA. The Committee had agreed that all partners would work together to exchange views, to minimise bureaucracy and ensure the best use of resources. The Committee agreed that their focus would be on regional issues and there was an acknowledgement that, for some issues, consideration at a local scrutiny level would be preferable. Local Scrutiny Committees would have the opportunity to make recommendations to the CA.

The Committee noted that they were due to discuss progress of the work of the WMCA at their meeting on 10^th May, 2017.