Agenda and minutes

Councillor Birdi declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the matter referred to in Minute 31 below, headed ‘Recommendations from the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) Task and Finish Group’. He withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this matter.

In respect of the matter referred to in Minute 33 below, headed ‘Coventry Sports Strategy 2014-2024 – Progress Review’, Councillor Duggins indicated that he had membership of the AT7 Centre and asked that this be noted.

(a)  To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on 16^th December 2015

(b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 15^th December 2015 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Further to Minute 25/15 headed ‘Delivering the Jobs and Growth Strategy’, the Scrutiny Co-ordinator updated the Board on zero hour contracts, in that:

•  The Council did not employee persons on zero hour contracts. It did employee persons on casual contracts which did not restrict them from undertaking work with other employers at the same time as being employed on these arrangements with the Authority.

•  Pertemps Employment Agency had confirmed that they did not employ their workers on zero hours contracts. They were employed on guaranteed hour contracts as was the policy throughout Pertemps.

•  Pertemps had contacted all of their suppliers and only 3 out of 28 agencies used zero hour contracts.

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) considered a report of the Executive Director of Place that set out recommendations of the Board’s Task and Finish Group on Discretionary Licensing. Councillor Welsh, the Chair of the Group was invited to attend the meeting for consideration of this item.

The Task and Finish Group was established by the Board in June 2014 to consider the practicalities and implications of introducing a licensing scheme for the private rented sector in the city. The report of the Group, attached as an appendix to the report, considered whether certain areas of the city met the Government’s required criteria for implementing such a scheme. This included the examination of data available on percentages of private rented properties, anti-social behaviour and levels of deprivation for all wards of the city.

The report recommended that the Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Employment, initiate the process to implement a selective licensing scheme, which included a public consultation requirement with all key stakeholders.

The Housing Act 2004 stated that when considering designating an area the local housing authority must: take reasonable steps to consult persons who were likely to be affected by the designation; and consider any representations made in accordance with the consultation. On completion of the consultation, the results should be published and made available to the local community.

The Board questioned officers and discussed the following issues:

·  Proposals for the future ‘roll-out’ of a Licensing Scheme across the City if the St. Michael’s Ward Scheme is successful.

·  Potential improvements to housing conditions through selective licensing - standard/condition of housing to be kept under review through the inclusion of property safety certificates in the Licence.

·  Housing Officers inspections – identifying landlord neglect of premises and/or tenant damage.

·  Encouraging sign up to the Accredited Landlord Scheme by offer of a discount to the Licence.

·  Data – available by ward,  on numbers of private rented properties, levels of deprivation and anti-social behaviour reported to the police, noise complaints and fly-tipping.  

·  Consultation – Landlords and Landlord Associations, key stakeholders across Wards of the City

·  Licence Fee – One charge for a 5 year licence

·  Levels of rent payable – dictated by market forces

·  Requirement for Scheme to be cost neutral – Charges to enable inspection and administration of the scheme only – it does not cover enforcement 

·  Managing risk – project management to ensure criteria for operating a Scheme is fully met and the correct legislative procedures for establishing a Scheme is accurately followed. Evidence provided to support justification of a Scheme. Continuous monitoring of implemented Scheme

The Chair of the Board thanked the Elected Members appointed to the Task and Finish Group and to the officers who supported the Group, on the work they had undertaken.

The Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Employment welcomed the Scheme and indicated his full support for the proposals.

The Board requested that they be provided with information on how the data on privately rented properties was calculated.

RESOLVED that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

To receive a presentation and briefing note of the Executive Director of Place providing an update on key areas of progress

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Employment in his role as a Director of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP). Appendices to the report provided information on the work of the CWLEP and their Annual Report.

The CWLEP worked with private and public sector organisations to drive economic growth and create jobs across the area. It provided support to businesses of all sizes from Small and Medium Enterprises to global businesses in every sector.

At the Council’s Annual General Meeting on 21 May 2015, Councillor Lucas and Councillor Maton were appointed as Directors of the CWLEP. Council representatives on outside bodies were required to update Scrutiny on the activity of the outside body and recommend whether or not to re-appoint at the next AGM.

The Board questioned the Cabinet Member and discussed the following issues:

·  The composition of the LEP Board

·  The benefits and impact of the LEP for the City

·  The revenue funding/running costs of the LEP, including officer support

·  The 33 projects – types of projects and locations

·  Foreign Direct Investment and Government Investment

·  The 2015 impact of the Growth Hub – key business engagement

·  The LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan, it’s 5 priorities and jobs target

·  Proposals for an Economic Plan for Coventry – identifying skills, office development, small businesses and retail needs of the City

·  How the LEP fits with the West Midlands Combined Authority and where the Combined Authority sits in the Midlands Engine (a marketing tool for the region)

·  The possible further reduction of the Government’s revenue support grant and the importance of generating future Business Rates and Council Tax in the City

The Board requested that the following information be circulated to Members of the Board:

•  Further details of the 33 project successes.

•  Details of where the revenue funding of the LEP comes from and the cost to the City Council of Officer support.

RESOLVED that the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3):

1)  Notes the content of the information on the work of the CWLEP and their Annual Report, attached as appendices to the report.

2)  Supports the re-appointment of Council representatives to the Board of CWLEP.

To receive a presentation and briefing note of the Executive Director of Place providing an update on progress in implementing the Strategy.

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a presentation and briefing note of the Executive Director of Place that provided details of the progress made on the Coventry Sports Strategy 2014-2024 since approval of the Strategy by Cabinet in August 2014 (their minute 40/14 referred) and Council in September 2014 (their minute 58/14 referred).  In line with Strategy recommendations regarding future public leisure provision, Council further approved investment of £36.7m in a city centre destination sports and leisure facility (their minute 59/14 referred).

The mission of the Coventry Sports Strategy 2014-2024 was ‘To develop a more active, inclusive and vibrant Coventry through positive experiences in sport’. It was structured around eight Vision Aims and 37 Strategic Objectives and included objectives concerned with increasing and widening participation in sport; increasing the number of people receiving sports coaching; increasing the number of people volunteering in sport; establishing and embedding early specialist support services for talented athletes; developing City Centre sports facilities that are accessible, high quality, sustainable and of significance to the Midlands; attracting high profile sporting events to the City; establishing a Coventry Sports Network; and harnessing the power of sport to promote community cohesion and address public health inequalities in the City. The Strategy was influenced and supported by the Coventry Playing Pitch Strategy 2014-2024, the Coventry Indoor Facilities Strategy 2014-2024 and the Coventry Aquatics Strategy 2014-2024. 

The Board received Key Strategy updates where there had been the largest focus of activity in the first 16 months of the implementation, these were:

·  Vision Aim 1 - To inspire more people in the city to take up and regularly take part in sport: #Ucan project; In It Together; Coventry Public Leisure Participation Data

·  Vision Aim 2 - To provide a wide range of high quality and exciting sporting opportunities and experiences: National Governing Body Planning; The ‘Engage!’ Project; Rugby League Decommissioned Sport England Funding

·  Vision Aim 3 - To inspire more people to volunteer, coach and be facilitators of sport: EnV

·  Vision Aim 4 - To identify and support talented athletes to reach their sporting potential: Support to Succeed

·  Vision Aim 5 - To provide a range of modern, accessible and high quality sports facilities in the city: Centre AT7; Destination Water Park; Bowls; President Kennedy School; Badminton England, England Squash and Racketball and the Sport England Inspired Facilities Fund

·  Vision Aim 6 - To attract high profile sporting events to the city and to celebrate sporting achievement: Ricoh Arena; Rugby World Cup 2015; Ice Hockey; Sports Week

·  Vision Aim 7 – To grow and promote sport in the city through effective partnerships: Coventry Sports Network;   External Funding; Coventry Sport Network – Year 2 Priorities; Public Health

·  Vision Aim 8 – For sport to make Coventry a better place to live, work and visit: Coventry Sports Strategy’s Contribution to the City; Sport England Active People Survey Results

The Board questioned officers and discussed the following issues:

·  Public Health and Sport link – health service benefits

·  Volunteers – their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Outstanding issues are picked up in the Work Programme

Outstanding issues were included in the Board’s Work Programme.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) considered the Work Programme 2015/2016 and discussed the scheduling of proposed issues for consideration at future meetings of the Board.

RESOLVED that the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) notes the Work Programme 2015/2016 and requests that the Scrutiny Co-ordinator liaises with relevant officers on the items listed under ‘Date to be arranged’ to identify issues for the April meeting of the Board.

There were no other items of public business.