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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Brentwood County High School, Seven Arches Road, Brentwood CM14 4JF

Contact: Zoe Borman/Zoey Foakes (01277 312 736/733) 

Items
No. Item

190.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies received.

191.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 214 KB

Minutes:

The Minutes of the previous Community, Health and Housing Committee held on Tuesday 2nd July 2019 were signed as a true record.

 

192.

Axis Presentation

Minutes:

Following commencement of the new Housing and Maintenance Repair contract the Council have been working closely with Axis to deliver a range of social value benefits for our residents.

 

Kellie Durey, Community Investment Manager of Axis, presented to Members updating them on the partnership regarding the social aspect commitments being delivered.

 

Members found this very informative and were appreciative of the commitment of the partnership.

 

 

193.

Chairs Update Report pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Minutes:

The Chair’s Report has been appended to the Minutes.

 

Members noted the updates from Officers as set out in the report.

 

 

194.

Leisure Strategy Action Plan pdf icon PDF 180 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Council’s Leisure Strategy was agreed by Members at Policy, Projects and Resources Committee on 18 September 2018. It was agreed as part of the strategy that an annual action plan and update on the delivery of the strategy will be presented to the Community and Health Committee (or relevant committee) to appraise Members of the progress of the strategy. This report was put before Members.

 

Following a full discussion Cllr Poppy informed the Committee this was an information only item and requested members to note the following:

 

·         Note the progress of the Leisure Strategy in 2019 -20 and agree the proposed work programme for 2020-21.

 

 

Reasons for Recommendation

 

As part of the Council’s due diligence in delivering a successful Leisure Strategy, Members and officers need to have a complete picture of the current associated costs, risk profiles of the Borough’s Leisure facilities and identify opportunities for income generation.

 

Comments from Sport England as part of the Local Development Plan consultation, stated that a Leisure Strategy is required that assesses Council owned sports and leisure facilities in order that the Council can continue to work with partners to ensure that appropriate provision is made for the residents of Brentwood. The strategy should not only consider how the Council can provide services, but also how other partners can. The strategy should also use current sports facility evidence to identify strategic priorities to then inform what will be included in the Council’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan. Following this feasibility work, the Council will then be able to determine which projects will be funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and those funded by planning obligations.

 

The Council’s Asset Management Strategy 2014/15 also sets out the need to obtain and maximise income where possible from its asset portfolio.

 

195.

Social Value Policy pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Social Value Policy sets out Brentwood Borough Council’s approach to social value measurement and management. The Council wants to ensure that the Social Value principles are considered at all stages of the procurement/commissioning cycle to enable the Council to maximise the additional social, economic and environmental benefits that can support our residents. This will ensure that the Council is accountable to its stakeholders, manages its activities to be able to create the social value, enables best practice and reduces our assumptions about the way our activities create value through outcomes to our stakeholders.

 

Members raised concerns and sought confirmation that the procedures in the policy was being adhered to.  Officers confirmed that this was so and the report and recommendation was before them to formalise what was already part of the Council’s procedure.

 

Cllr Poppy MOVED the motion and Cllr Mrs Tierney SECONDED the recommendation in the report.

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY to:

 

·                     Approve the Council’s Social Value Policy and ensure that it is considered as part of the Council’s procurement or commissioning processes 

 

 

Reasons for Recommendation

 

As part of the Council’s Delivery of Value for Money the Social Value Policy allows for the Council to identify and maximise the Community benefits for its residents.

 

196.

Future Management of Countryside Open Space pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Minutes:

Brentwood Borough Council owns and manages a variety of countryside open space, woodlands, country parks and common land. To date management has been directed towards public access. This has resulted in a majority use being for walking dogs with very little alternative and with increasing population growth and the resulting pressure on the environment it is important that management encompass other objectives and recreational uses.

 

In order to direct and guide the future management of these sites a baseline has been set by entering into various central government countryside stewardship schemes. Public engagement in the detail of the management is now sought by the setting up of a conference group of open space users from residents of the Borough.

 

Representation from all potential user groups is essential to ensure balanced management is undertaken within the framework of the stewardship schemes.

 

Members raised concerns regarding the wording in the recommendation with regard to Wards and Parishes and the parks therein; as some Wards had up to 3 Parishes and others none.  Some Wards had country parks within them and others none.  Officers advised that two representatives should be appointed from each Ward.

 

Following a full discussion Cllr Poppy MOVED the motion, omitting the word “parish” and Cllr Mrs Tierney SECONDED the recommendation in the report.

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

 

·         That the committee request that each Ward nominate one tree warden and one other interested resident to represent country park users, plus two representations for forest school/educational user.

 

 

Reasons for Recommendation

 

In order that management of the countryside site becomes more proactive in the services they provide.

 

197.

Deer Population Study pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Minutes:

Residents and Police are concerned at the increasing Deer population in the Curtis Mill Green area. This has resulted in Road Traffic Accidents, poaching and crop damage. Prior to any consideration of control, a population survey is required. This is a specialist operation and should be carried out by an authoritative organisation independent of the Borough. 

 

Members raised concerns regarding an independent study carried out on behalf of Essex County Council and whether or not that study had included Curtis Mill Green.  Officers advised they would look into this before embarking on their own research.

 

Following a full discussion Cllr Poppy MOVED and Cllr Tierney SECONDED a motion to amend the recommendation in the report as follows:

 

·         Delegated authority is given to the Director of Corporate Resources in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair to request quotations and appoint a suitable organisation to carry out a survey of the total deer population, age and sex. The information received would be reported back to a future committee on the optimal numbers that the area can hold with regard to the population health and the biodiversity of the area.

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED that:

 

·         Delegated authority is given to the Director of Corporate Resources in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair to request quotations and appoint a suitable organisation to carry out a survey of the total deer population, age and sex. The information received would be reported back to a future committee on the optimal numbers that the area can hold with regard to the population health and the biodiversity of the area.

 

 

Reasons for Recommendation

 

1.    For the sustainable future management of the Curtis Mill Green SSSI.

 

198.

Urgent Business

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

 

The meeting concluded at 20:30