Agenda and minutes

The Chair confirmed that the meeting was being broadcast live to the internet via the Council’s website and was capable of repeated viewing. The images and sound recording may be used for training purposes within the Council. All were asked to keep to the speaking guidelines which were outlined.  Any views expressed by any speaker in the meeting are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of High Peak Borough Council.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2021 be approved as a correct record.

Councillor Ashton declared an ‘other’ interest in agenda item 7, “Working with the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector (reason: Trustee of New Mills Volunteer Centre)

Representatives of Parkwood Leisure were in attendance to provide members with an annual performance update around the leisure facilities and Pavilion Gardens, including Covid 19 complaince..

Matters reported on in relation to the High Peak Leisure Contact included new lighting, decoration and branding, health and safety inspections being carried out, partnership working, increased opening hours at swimming pools and the installation of the Leisure Centre app.  Attendance numbers from April 2019 to March 2020 were reported together with key usage statistics and membership information. Activity programmes were set out together with details of active communities and sports development and customer satisfaction.  Details of investments made in the facilities were set out together with planned authority capital works and plans for the future.  Prices were not being increased and activities were being promoted via social media to encourage more children and young people to access services.

Regarding Pavilion Gardens, new initiatives introduced were reported on including new menus and services which had received positive customer feedback. The policy around single use plastics was set out, whereby, amongst other initiatives, Parkwood has ceased purchasing any new single use plastics within its cafes with alternative products sourced in more environmentally friendly products.  Details around usage and other key performance indicator information was set out together with details of projects and developments, which included the submission of a bid for a Changing Places Toilet, which was welcomed.   In response to a question, access to the conservatory may be affected by capital works.

The presenters were thanked for their presentation and attendance.

The Chair reported that this item had been deferred.

The Committee considered an update on High Peak’s VCSE Sector and use of the Council’s Community Support Grant funding, and set out the Council’s future approach to collaborative working with the sector.  In introducing the report, the Leader advised that the organisations set out in Table 1 were not all the organisations who receive grant funding from the council and further reports would follow,

Reference was made to the commissioning of HPCVS to undertake a coping exercise to look at the provision of food banks, pantry schemes and other food projects across the High Peak, with a view to developing a forum for exchanging ideas and practical support.

It was suggested that the work of the voluntary sector should be recognised, to which members were referred to the suggestion that an annual event and members were encouraged to make appropriate recommendations to the Beacons of Hope scheme, details of which had been circulated.

The proposed additional funding for New Mills Volunteer Centre was welcomed, and reference made to the stability long term funding provides.  The need for the sector to remain flexible was highlighted as set out in paragraph 9.13 of the report.

RESOLVED:

That the following recommendations to the Executive be supported:

1.    The Council should formalise its working arrangements with the VCSE sector through a compact agreement or a collaborative working protocol.

2.    The Council should work with High Peak CVS to jointly deliver an annual awards event for the community and voluntary sector.

3.    The Council should produce a plan setting out how it intends to collaborate with and support the VCSE sector as a means of delivering the Corporate Plan and achieving further efficiencies.

4.    The Council should adopt the principles set out in the report as a means of achieving a more strategic approach to funding the VCSE Sector.

5.    The funding contribution to New Mills Volunteer Centre should be increased in 2021/22 to the same level as Connex and The Bureau (from £2,500 to £5,000) to support the organisation to improve their levels of support in areas such as Chapel-en-le-Frith and Whaley Bridge.

6.    Levels of core Community Support Grant Funding for other organisations should remain the same for 2021/22.

7.    The Council should provide additional funding where necessary for those VCSE Sector organisations (The Bureau and Glossopdale Furniture Project) that are experiencing short-term financial difficulties.

8.    Councillors should be provided with regular updates on work with the VCSE Sector and key partnerships with an emphasis on how this has helped to achieve the Council’s corporate objective.

The Committee considered the level of fixed penalty notices that can be issued to those individuals that do not take reasonable measures to ensure proper disposal of their household waste, in an effort to help to prevent the unlawful depositing of waste within the Borough.

Consideration was given to enforcement matters and a reduction for prompt payment.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Executive be recommended to set the fixed penalty amount for failure to comply with eh household duty of care up to a maximum of £400;

2.    That the Executive be recommended to agree a reduced amount if the fixed penalty notice is paid in full within 10 days,

The Committee considered an update around how changes implemented in 2019 have impacted the way in which the Carelink Service is delivered, managed and charged for. 

The improvements to the service were noted and the officers involved thanked for their work in this area.

The high performance of the Carelink service particularly during periods of lockdown was highlighted, and the staff were thanked for their efforts.

RESOLVED:

That the update report be noted.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval from the Executive to allocate capital funding towards the development of a new football and community hub facility at Cemetery Road in Glossop.

Members were very supportive of the scheme.  In response to a query around playground facilities, particularly in the Hop Valley area, members were advised that this would form part of the Park Strategy.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive be recommended to:

·         Approve the allocation of £200,000 capital funding towards the development of a new football and community hub facility at Cemetery Road in Glossop; and

·         Approve the allocation of £50,000 from the Outdoor Sports and Recreation Capital Fund towards development of the same project on the basis that the remaining project costs are secured by the Club.

A report would be coming forward around the Integrated Care Programme.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the above, the Select Committee Work Programme be noted.

1.    Question to the Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure from Councillor Ashton:

“As warmer weather is approaching, together with the relaxing of Covid restrictions, we can expect a substantial increase in visitors to our rural locations. When will the opening times of the Borough toilets be fully restored?”

Response:

Given the expected increase in number over the peak summer months, the Executive has asked officers to expand the toilet provision. Since then officers have been working with Vertas (our current contractor, formerly DCC cleaning and caretaking service) to determine options within our existing cost model to restore WC opening times in a Covid safe way. Focus has been given to ensure busiest WCs in the town centres and Hope Valley are prioritised. Unfortunately, this has meant that the facilities in Charlesworth and Hadfield remain closed, and Castleton Visitor Centre and Market Place in Glossop close at 5pm rather than 6pm.  We are seeking costed options to determine whether these facilities can be reopened for the busiest summer months.  These changes in opening times came into force with the change to BST on 28^th March and the website will be updated this week with the new information ready for the Easter weekend.  

Hope                                                                                                  8am - 6pm

Castleton Visitors Centre                                                                   8am – 5pm

Chinley                                                                                              8am – 6pm

Edale Car Park                                                                                  8am – 6pm

High Street, New Mills                                                                       8am – 6pm

How Lane, Castleton                                                                         8am – 6pm

Long Lane, Charlesworth                                                                  Closed

Station Road, Hadfield                                                                      Closed

Bamford                                                                                             8am – 6pm

Manor Park, Glossop                                                                         8am–6pm 

Market Place Buxton                                                                         8am-5.15pm

Market Place Chapel                                                                         left open

Market Street, Whaley Bridge                                                            8am – 6pm

Market Place Glossop                                                                       8am – 5pm

Pavilion Gardens (Car Park)                                                             8am–6pm

Sylvan (Car Park) Buxton                                                                  8am–6pm

NB: Pavilion Gardens Kiosk WCS are operated by Parkwood.

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as there may be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

RESOLVED:

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as there may be disclosure of exempt information as set out in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2021 be approved as a correct record.