Eastleigh Borough Council Policy and Performance Scrutiny Panel Meeting

There were no declarations of interest in relation to items of business on the agenda.

It was AGREED -

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 7 March 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

There was no public participation on this occasion.

The Chair welcomed the panel back for another year of scrutiny and welcomed Councillor Derek Pretty.

There were no updates for this meeting.

The Housing Policy Task and Finish group was likely to be reformed and the Chair asked for volunteers to join Councillor Asman on the group.  Councillor Pretty volunteered.

The Panel considered its appointment to the Housing Working Group for the 2024/25 municipal year.

RESOLVED:-

That the Panel appoint Councillors Asmanand Reynolds to the Housing Working Group for the 2024/25 municipal year.

The Service Director for Neighbourhoods and Green Spaces introduced the report and outlined the rationale for the removal of the bring bank sites.  This included the monitoring of previous bring bank sites following removal.

RESOLVED –

That Policy and Performance Scrutiny Panel:

(1)  commented on the strategic approach to remove glass bring banks across the Borough from 9 September 2024; and

(2)  recommended to Cabinet that the Domestic Waste Policy is updated to reflect that provision for glass recycling will be made available in all communal flats.

The Leisure Services Manager introduced the report.

RESOLVED –

That the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Panel noted the development of the Playing Pitch and Built Leisure Facility Strategy (Appendix 1) and considered the associated action plan.

The Committee commended the Leisure Services Manager for a very thorough piece of work, a comprehensive report and a very good strategy.

[NOTE: Councillor Pretty left the meeting at 19:37]

The Pollution Control Specialist gave a short presentation to the Committee outlining the Air Quality Management Areas in the Borough and the recent trends.

RESOLVED –

That the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Panel:

(1)  noted the content of this report and received updates for further comment;

(2)  Noted the positive progress made in the four Air Quality Management Areas; and

(3)  Recommended to Cabinet that no Air Quality Management Areas were revoked until a comprehensive strategy was in place.

[NOTE: Councillor Bicknell spoke on this item and expressed concern regarding the data presented in the report, particularly relating to PM2.5 and the number of exceedences per year, despite the downward trend.]

The Resource Manager and Corporate Strategy Manager gave a short presentation to the Committee.

RESOLVED –

That the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Panel approved the performance and provisional financial outturn position of the Council for 2023/24.

[NOTE: The Committee requested that the sustained red report be brought back to a future meeting and that they be invited to the Audit and Resources Committee meeting where the Arts and Culture Business Plan was to be discussed.]

The Panel considered the Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

It was agreed that the report be noted.

Panel members considered their Work Programme to March 2025.

It was agreed that the Work Programme be noted with the following items to be added:

·  Sustained Red Report – Households in emergency accommodation

·  P&P members to be invited to 24 September Audit and Resources Committee where the Arts and Culture Business Plan would be discussed

·  The Grass Verge item be added to the March 2025 meeting and become an annual item.