Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Richard Udall.

None.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case 27 April 2023).  Further details are available on the Council's website.  Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed in this agenda and on the website.

None.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 29 March 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The following members of the Developer-Funded Highways Infrastructure scrutiny task group attended for this item:

Councillor Alastair Adams (Lead Member)

Councillor Peter Griffiths

Councillor Matt Jenkins

Councillor Emma Stokes

The Board was asked to consider and approve the draft scrutiny report on Developer-Funded Highways Infrastructure.

The Lead Member of the scrutiny task group introduced the agenda item and confirmed that, if OSPB was content, the scrutiny report would be presented to Cabinet on 25 May.  He went on to explain that, following the building of thousands of new houses in Worcestershire in recent years, residents and Councillors had expressed concern that the supporting infrastructure that was to be built as part of planning conditions (such as junctions, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings and traffic lights), had not always been built or had taken a long time to be completed.  The scrutiny task group had been set up to establish why this was the case.

In order to build on the highway network, a developer needed to submit technical drawings of the proposed infrastructure and receive ‘Technical Approval’ from Worcestershire County Council.  Since 2016, the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel had been monitoring the number of days taken to obtain Technical Approval.  After reviewing performance information for Q4 2020, the Panel noted that performance was poor and deteriorating.  OSPB then agreed to set up a scrutiny task group with the following terms of reference:

·       How to get developer-funded highways infrastructure built quicker for the benefit of residents and road users.

·       How can WCC help to ensure the planning conditions imposed on developers to build certain highways infrastructure by certain key times are met?

The task group acknowledged that a record number of new houses had been built over the last eight years and so the demand for the Council’s Technical Approval services had been high.  The task group also recognised the professionalism and expertise of those working in this area and congratulated them on the improvements made since the scrutiny exercise started.

The Lead Member thanked all those who had contributed to the scrutiny exercise including developers, other local authorities, the Council’s partners, officers in the Directorate of Economy and Infrastructure and in the Scrutiny Team, and other Members of the task group.  He believed that, if the recommendations were adopted as the way forward, they would help to improve the life of residents.

In providing further background to the draft scrutiny report, the Lead Member made the following points:

·       Quarterly performance data had shown a marked improvement since the task group had been set up.

·       A Section 278 agreement referred to alterations or improvements to a public highway, whereas a Section 38 agreement related to highways and associated infrastructure within a development (which may be adopted by the Council if it met agreed standards).

·       Work was undertaken by two teams within the Council: the Transport Planning and Development Management Team (TPDMT) (previously Development Control) and the Highways Development Control Team (HDCT) (previously Section 278 & 38 Development Control Team).

·       The disappointing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1318.

The OSPB was asked to consider the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2023/24.

During the discussion, the following main points were raised:

·       The Interim Democratic Governance Manager was asked to clarify when plans for Redditch Library were due to be brought to Cabinet and schedule this item for an appropriate scrutiny meeting (either Corporate and Communities O&S Panel or the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board).

·       It was agreed that Budget Scrutiny would be added to the Board’s work programme for July to allow an initial discussion ahead of Corporate Strategy Planning.

·       It was confirmed that the scrutiny task group on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) had not yet started and would remain on the work programme.  A letter received from the Department for Education and shared with the Children and Families O&S Panel indicated that improvements had been made to the service.  The Panel would retain a ‘watching brief’ on the issue.

·       Members asked whether Q4 performance data and year-end budget information could be reported to May Panels rather than July as currently scheduled.  The Interim Democratic Governance Manager agreed to check whether this would be possible.

·       It was agreed that the ‘Member portal – case management system’ would be added to the work programme for the Corporate and Communities O&S Panel for July.

It was agreed that the scrutiny work programme 2023/24 would be amended as agreed and forwarded to Council for consideration on 18 May 2023.

The Scrutiny Panel Chairmen/Lead Members provided an update on recent Scrutiny meetings and activities.

Adult Care and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Cllr Shirley Webb)

The Chairman reported that some Panel Members from Bromsgrove and Redditch had recently visited a social worker team based in Bromsgrove.

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Cllr Steve Mackay)

No update to report as the Panel had not met since the last meeting of OSPB.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) scrutiny task group (Cllr Steve Mackay)

The task group’s final report had been discussed at Cabinet on 30 March.

Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Cllr Emma Stokes)

No update to report as the Panel had not met since the last meeting of OSPB.

Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Cllr Alastair Adams)

The Chairman reported that the Panel was due to consider Road Diversion Signs at its next meeting and asked that, if Members had any examples or stories in relation to this, please could they let him know so that he could raise them with officers and the CMR at the meeting.  The Chairman of OSPB shared an example from his own division.

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Cllr Brandon Clayton)

The Chairman reminded the Board that HOSC would elect a new Vice Chair following the District Council elections on 4 May as the current Vice Chair was not standing for re-election.  The Committee may also have new District Council Members following the elections.

The Committee planned to visit the new A&E department at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in due course.