Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

(a) To agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26^th September, 2018

(b) Matters Arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 26^th September, 2018 were signed as a true record, subject to the insert of the word ‘Chair’ after the name of Councillor T Khan in the list of apologies for the meeting. There were no matters arising.

Briefing Note and presentation of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

Councillor Duggins, Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership, and Councillor Brown, Chair of Audit Committee, have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

The Committee considered a briefing note and presentation of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) which provided an update on Coventry’s preparations for the UK City of Culture 2021, with particular reference to the governance and risk management arrangements. Councillor Duggins, Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership and Councillor Brown, Chair of the Audit and Procurement Committee attended the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The presentation set out the focus for Coventry’s City of Culture 2021 being a £25m cultural programme across 365 days under the themes of Being Human; Underground; Reinvention; and Moving, attracting visitors from the whole of the UK. The aim was to deliver £350m total of direct economic benefit with 2.55m extra visitor days in 2021. There was an anticipated £200m tourism impact for 2018-21, with hotel investment, 20 new small and medium sized cultural/ creative enterprises and the creation of 2116 jobs.

Information was provided on readiness for 2021 which included the 10 year partnership Cultural Strategy; the establishment of the Trust in 2015; the securing of major partners and sponsors, the delivery milestones; the Great Place and Cultural Destinations programme for 2017-2020; and over £28.5m media value already secured.

The Board of Trustees comprised 11 trustees, including the Council’s Chief Executive and the leader of the Council, and an Audit, Finance and Risk Committee had been set up. The Risk Registers had been established as part of the bidding process. The 15 staff members appointed were also detailed. Work was being undertaken on the development of audiences and communications strategy and the financial profiling and fundraising. Further information was provided on the Council investment (£4m build-up and 2021 delivery, £1m legacy, £5m cultural capital plus further funding on city readiness) and on the delegated authorities.

The Committee noted that David Nuttall had recently been appointed as the Council Strategic Lead for UK City of Culture, European City of Sport and Commonwealth Gamers 2022.

The presentation concluded with further information on the proposed governance for the City of Culture which included the setting up of the Cultural Place Partnership Board; an Elected Member Advisory Board; and the City Readiness Board which would be supported by an Infrastructure Group, a Programme and Engagement Group and a Licensing, Operations and Safety Planning Group.       

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

·  Clarification about the financial implications for the City Council including the legacy spend

·  The potential arrangements for the proposed Elected Member Advisory Board including the role of Scrutiny

·  A concern about capacity and the need to ensure that that contract management skills assessments were undertaken

·  Clarification about the planning and licensing processes and the importance of communication

·  Further information about the secondment of David Nuttall as the Council Strategic Lead for UK City of Culture, European City of Sport and Commonwealth Gamers and the implications for David’s team at the Council

·  Concerns about current issues in the City Centre including the gangs hanging around Lady Herbert’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Report of the Chief Executive

Councillor Duggins, Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership, has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item  

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning Council Plan 2017/18 End of Year Performance Report which covered the progress made towards the Plan during the period April 2017 to March 2018. A copy of the performance report was set out at an appendix to the report. The report was due to be considered by Cabinet at their meeting on 30^th October, 2018. A Members seminar to discuss the performance report had already taken place. Councillor Duggins, Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership attended the meeting to introduce the item.

Consideration of the report allowed Members the opportunity to identify any areas that required additional scrutiny.

The Council Plan was the Council’s corporate plan which set out the Council’s vision and priorities for the city. The current plan was last reviewed in July 2016.

This year, the Plan had been reviewed and rebranded in line with the Council’s emerging One Coventry approach which was intended to lead to servicers and teams across the Council working smarter and in a more joined-up way.

As part of the vision the Council sought to promote the growth of a sustainable economy, was committed to reform so that everybody, including the most vulnerable residents, could share in the benefits of the city’s growth, underpinned by a Council that was enabling communities to solve local problems, at a time of reducing resource.

The report used indicators, contextual information and comparative information to describe and explain how the Council and the city’s performance compared to previous years and to other places. Of the 67 headline indicators, 42 indicators improved or stayed the same, 17 indicators got worse, 1 indicator couldn’t say since it was updated every other year and targets were not applicable for the remaining 7. Further information was included in a second appendix to the report.  Members noted that this progress had been made in the context of a sustained reduction in overall resources, with the Council receiving £107m less core government grant in 2017/18 than the equivalent figure received in 2010/11.

The report also set out how the Council was addressing inequalities. Appendix 3 to the report set out the Council’s performance management framework which detailed how the Council planned and organised its resources to achieve its vision and priorities. 

Councillor Duggins, Cabinet Member drew attention to the homeless strategy which was a key priority for the Council and the likelihood of additional performance indicators in this area. There was also likely to be a refresh of the tourism indicators.

Members questioned the officer on a number of issues and responses were provided, matters raised included:

·  The importance of the document for providing local residents with an understanding of the work being undertaken by the Council

·  Clarification about the figures for life expectancy and a concern about significant local variations

·  Support for the improvements that had been introduced to increase the number of foster parents in the city

·  A request for further information on smoking cessation for mothers post birth  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Committee considered their work programme for the current year.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The work programme for 2018/19 be noted.

(2) The report on ‘Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy 2018’ be submitted to 14^th November meeting of the Board.

(3) An update be provided on the arrangements for holding Open Forums with stakeholders to discuss (i) homelessness and (ii) child poverty.

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.