Agenda and draft minutes

The Committee was requested to appoint a Vice Chair for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

Resolved:
That Councillor Moores be appointed as Vice Chair of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hince and Hindle.

There were no public questions for the meeting to consider.

The Scrutiny Board considered its terms of reference which had previously been approved at the Annual Council meeting on 24^th May 2023.

Resolved:
That the terms of reference for the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board, be noted and supported.

To consider the Proposed Audit Committee Work Programme for 2023/24 in terms of some of the issues that are included within the programme.

The Scrutiny Board was presented with the Audit Committee’s work programme for 2023/24 for information. There were elements of work that the Audit Committee may be asked to undertake that was similar in nature to the remit of the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board. Therefore, Members looked at the possibility of joint working.

Resolved:
That the Audit Committee’s Work Programme, 2023/24, be noted.

To note and discuss the Work Book on Scrutiny produced by the Local Government Association as a guide for elected Members.

Consideration was given A Councillor’s Workbook on Scrutiny produced by the Local Government Association (LGA) which had been designed as a learning aid for Councillors. The LGA considered that the Workbook serves as a useful tool for some of the key skills, approaches and tactics that make for an effective ward Councillor.

Resolved:

That the Councillor’s Workbook on Scrutiny produced by the Local Government Association be noted.

Presentation by the Executive Director for Place and Economic Growth

The Committee received a detailed presentation which outlined the work and functions of the Place and Economic Growth Directorate. The Directorate was headed by the Executive Director, who was supported by a Director of Economy and a Director of Environment.

The Director of Economy was responsible for the following areas:

a.    Planning

The principal functions of the Planning Service were outlined as: Development Control, Planning Policy and Transportation. The priorities of the Planning Service were: the development of a resident focused Planning System; the development of the Greater Manchester wide (except for Stockport) Places for Everyone initiative; the Local Plan refresh; development and maintenance of District Plans; and the implementation of the Borough’s Transport Strategy.

b.    Housing

The main aims of the Housing Services were to deliver the ‘Warm Homes Oldham’ plan; tackling Homelessness; developing Housing Options (in consultation with local providers) and Market Interventions. The current priorities for Housing Services were: an accelerated delivery of housings sites, promoting the Town Centre Strategic Partnership; and revitalising the Housing Options place based delivery model.

c.    Economic Development and Growth

The main aims of the Economic Development Service was providing support, where necessary and possible for local businesses, Investment, the ‘Get Oldham Working’ initiative and developing the Borough’s town centres and markets. Their current priorities included the delivery of Green Shoots and The Hive; Investment and Place Marketing; Delivery of Restart and the National Careers Service; Markets transition into Spindles; and development of the Atom Valley development site.

d.    Property and Projects

The main areas of focus for the Property and Projects Service included: Estates Management; Property Maintenance; Facilities Management; Parking; and the School Catering Service the Service’s current priorities included – development of a Facilities Management Target Operating Model; a strategic review management of asset base and the establishment of an Oldham Strategic Estates Group.

The Director of Environment was responsible for the following areas:

a.    Public Protection

The main areas covered by the Public Protection Service were: Licensing, Trading Standards’ First Response Security, Environmental Health (including Health and Safety, Food Safety and Selective Licensing), the development of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan, Neighbourhood Enforcement and Building Control. The Service’s priorities included periodic and fundamental service reviews; resident focused systems and technology; and the development of mobile working options for officers across all services to improve efficiency and response times.

b.    Waste Management, Street and Highways Operations

The main elements of this service included - Waste Management (Domestic, Trade and Bulky), Fleet Management and Highways Operations (including winter maintenance). The service’s priorities included the implementation of the ‘Bartec’ Collective’; dealing and managing DEFRA consultations; the roll out of handheld technology to ‘front-end’ the Highways’ service’s workforce; to review grit bin locations; to review Gully maintenance work and the delivery of quality services; and the procurement of replacement vehicles.

c.    Highways and Engineering

The functions of the Highways and traffic teams were to - manage and improve the Borough’s highways; to carry out planned  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To be circulated

The Committee considered its Work Programme for 2023/24.

Resolved:

That the Place, Economic Growth and Environment Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme 2023/24, be noted.

The Scrutiny Board reviewed the Key Decision Notice which provided an opportunity for the identification of items or policy or service development, not otherwise listed on Work Programme.

Resolved:
That the Key Decision Notice be noted.