Agenda and minutes

To receive details of any Members appointed to attend the meeting instead of a Member of the Committee.

Councillor Hodgson for Councillor Amos.

To receive any declarations of interest.

The following declaration of interest was made:

Councillor Laurenson – Annual Sanctuary Housing Update (Minute 6) - As an employee of Sanctuary Housing.

To receive details of any Members appointed to attend the meeting instead of a Member of the Committee.

None.

Of the meeting held on 15^th March 2023 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th March 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive a presentation from John Campion, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Committee received a presentation from John Campion, West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner. The presentation covered a range of topics including the budget for 2023/24, the changing nature of services and demands post-covid and support for witnesses and victims of crime. The investment in recruitment was also highlighted and the roles which additional staff will undertake was explained.

There was an opportunity for Members to ask questions following the presentation and a these covered a wide range of topics.

The Chair concluded by thanking John Campion for his responses to Members’ questions.

To receive a presentation from Sanctuary Housing.

The Committee received a presentation from Sanctuary Housing.  Sophie Bell – Head of Development (Midlands), Yvonne Crinean – Operations Manager (Housing), Rebecca Craig – Director of Sustainability and Climate Change and Steven Ward – Operations Manager (Asset Delivery) were in attendance and they all presented in turn.

The presentation included information about Sanctuary’s operations and activity in Worcester, it’s operation as an employer in Worcester, initiatives for the provision of new homes, investment in existing homes including Sanctuary’s approach to damp and mould, sustainability and its relationship with customers. They responded to questions from Committee Members.

In the ensuing discussion, the following action points were identified:

·         Reference was made to ongoing problems with the lifts at John Gwynne House and the Chair asked if this could be investigated further. 

·         Members made reference to the development of Environmental Management System and asked if further information can be shared with Council officers.

·         More information can be provided on Sanctuary’s community investment activities locally.

·         The Chair asked if Members can be provided with some key contact details for Sanctuary staff which can be used to assist in dealing with constituent inquiries.

The Chair concluded by thanking all the speakers for their contributions.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note the contents of this report.

That the Committee:

1.     Approve the business case for an Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) at Perdiswell Leisure Centre;

2.     Approve the release of the ‘in principle’ capital allocation of £200k previously approved at Council on 5th June 2022, which represents the Council’s financial contribution to the AGP project;

3.     Note the requirements outlined in section 5.2 of this report relating to the disposal of public open space and approves the undertaking of a statutory public consultation having regard to Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended);

4.     Note the previously approved Council Motion relating to Perdiswell and that a further report will be presented to Council at its July meeting seeking approval for use of land at Perdiswell as set out within this report;

5.     Subject to recommendations 1.3 & 1.4 being approved, delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Operations, Homes & Communities in consultation with the Chair & Vice-Chair of this Committee to submit a planning application for the AGP facility;

6.     Subject to the grant of a satisfactory planning permission and confirmation of the successful award from the Football Foundation grants panel, delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources and the Corporate Director of Planning & Governance in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of Communities Committee to:

(a)  finalise the operating arrangements and user pricing structure and enter into the requisite lease and other legal agreements with Freedom Leisure to operate the AGP facility on the Council’s behalf;

(b)  enter into the requisite legal agreements with the Football Foundation to secure their grant funding;

(c)  award the construction contract under the Football Foundation framework up to the value of £800k.

The Committee considered a report on a proposal to construct a new 3G Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) at Perdiswell, to be located to the side of the building in the area of land between the Football Foundation changing accommodation and the six existing grass football pitches. The Corporate Director – Operations, Homes and Communities presented the report and the Contracts and Performance Manager commented on the detailed aspects of the scheme.

The Corporate Director explained that the business case for the proposal and the release of the ‘in principle’ capital allocation of £200k – which represents the Council’s financial contribution to the AGP - had previously been approved by this Committee and full Council.

Officers responded to questions from Committee Members. In the ensuing discussion, reference was made to the environmental impact of an artificial surface. In response, the Corporate Director gave an assurance that the Council will ensure there is a net biodiversity gain of 10%. This would not ordinarily feature in the Council report but it can be formally recorded in the minutes.

It was proposed and seconded that the Committee agree the following additional recommendation:

That the Council keeps its commitment to achieving a 10% biodiversity net gain on site.

Upon being put to the vote it was resolved:

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree:

1.   To approve the business case for an Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) at Perdiswell Leisure Centre;

2.   To approve the release of the ‘in principle’ capital allocation of £200k previously approved at Council on 5th June 2022, which represents the Council’s financial contribution to the AGP project;

3.   To note the requirements outlined in section 5.2 of this report relating to the disposal of public open space and approves the undertaking of a statutory public consultation having regard to Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended);

4.   To note the previously approved Council Motion relating to Perdiswell and that a further report will be presented to Council at its July meeting seeking approval for use of land at Perdiswell as set out within this report;

5.   To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Operations, Homes & Communities in consultation with the Chair & Vice-Chair of this Committee to submit a planning application for the AGP facility;

6.   Subject to the grant of a satisfactory planning permission and confirmation of the successful award from the Football Foundation grants panel, to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources and the Corporate Director of Planning & Governance in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of Communities Committee to:

(a)   finalise the operating arrangements and user pricing structure and enter into the requisite lease and other legal agreements with Freedom Leisure to operate the AGP facility on the Council’s behalf;

(b)  enter into the requisite legal agreements with the Football Foundation to secure their grant funding;

(c)   award the construction contract under the Football Foundation framework up to the value of £800k; and

7.   That the Council keeps its commitment to achieving a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

1.     That the Committee note the contents of this report;

2.     That the Committee note the contents of the Annual Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Report 2022/23; and

3.     That the Committee endorse the proposed allocation of resources.

The Committee considered an update report on the delivery of the Worcester City Action Plan since the Worcestershire Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2022-2025) was adopted by Council in January 2023. The Head of Homes and Communities presented the report and highlighted the main points. The report included an annual report on the homelessness service and a summary of the proposed allocation of the Homelessness Prevention Grant for 2023/24, which was as follows:

The Head of Service responded to questions and comments from Members.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to:

1.    Note the contents of this report;

2.    Note the contents of the Annual Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Report 2022/23; and

3.    Endorse the proposed allocation of resources.

That the Communities Committee note the Council’s quarter 4 and annual performance for 2022/23.

The Committee considered the annual and quarter 4 performance report. The Corporate Director – Operations, Homes and Communities presented the report and explained that the report provided a narrative to explain those indicators which remain overdue and actions being taken to rectify the position. Officers responded to questions from Committee Members on detailed aspect to the report. In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

·         Percentage of successful homelessness preventions – Officers will check when the target was originally set and how it was identified.

·         Participation in tennis in parks was raised and the Corporate Director stated that this can be discussed further at a Chair/Vice-Chair’s briefing.

RESOLVED: That the Committee note the Council’s annual and quarter 4 performance for 2022/23.

Which in the opinion of the Chair is of sufficient urgency as to warrant consideration.

None.