Page 2 TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY Introduction from the Chair Why do we have and Overview and Scrutiny Committee? To redress the concentration of power held by the Cabinet is the official 'constitutional' view. But we are not just there to look inwardly and back at decisions that have been made by others. Our aim is to also to look forwards and outwards - to investigate whether the council should be doing better and to provide a way of residents getting issues and concerns looked at when they are not part of the Cabinet's agenda. I hope that this report will demonstrate that we are achieving our goals. It is gratifying to note that the Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise report commissioned by the Cabinet this year have supported the view of the committee that the council’s Vision should be shorter and clearly aligned to finances, and that opportunities for income generation Our aim is to also to be explored at the Crematorium. look forwards and outwards None of this would be possible without the enthusiastic energy and breadth of knowledge of the committee members and the efficiency of officers who support the committee, for which I am very grateful. Councillor Catherine Mayhew, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny About Overview and Scrutiny The Overview and Scrutiny Committee meets in public and runs task and finish groups to carry out its work. The committee is led by its members and looks to bring forward issues that are of concern to local residents. It has asked residents what they think is important through Local magazine and uses social media to let residents know what the committee is doing. The committee has a wider presence through social media, and it has achieved recognition from the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) and the The committee has local press for taking forward the views of residents. The CfPS in its Good been a conduit for Scrutiny Guide provides four key principles for effective scrutiny. This resident’s views on annual report presents the work of the committee under those principles: aircraft noise and • Crowborough birth- Providing constructive ‘critical friend’ challenge ing unit as well as • Amplifying the voices and concerns of the public holding Portfolio • Led by independent people who take responsibility for their role Holders to account • Driving improvement in public services The council has also chosen to introduce Cabinet Advisory Boards to its governance arrangements. Those Boards see Cabinet and non-executive members working together to come to a consensus on matters due for decision at Cabinet. Councils with a Cabinet must, however, have an Overview and Scrutiny function, led by non-executive members, as a necessary balance to the power of the Cabinet. Constructive ‘critical friend’ challenge Page 3 Portfolio Holder Plans and Progress One of the roles of the committee is to ask Cabinet members to attend the committee to answer questions. The committee agreed to an annual cycle of Portfolio Holder Plans and Progress sessions to understand what the aspirations of the portfolio holders were and to ask them about what they had achieved in the previous year. Portfolio Holders have grown in confidence and the committee have had the opportunity to understand the strategic direction of each Portfolio. ‘Vision’ Task and Finish Group The Portfolio Holder sessions revealed that the council was finding it difficult to articulate progress toward its 20 year Vision. Councillors Mayhew, Wauchope, Scott and Woodward formed a task and finish group to looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the current Vision. The group proposed a range of changes, most importantly that the council should have a five year Vision, with clearly identified annual steps to achieving that Vision, coupled with the need to make it clear how the Vision affects the Budget. The Cabinet responded positively and said that the new Vision for the council would reflect the Cabinet agreed with proposals of the task and finish group where practicable. having a five year Vision, linked more Safety Car Review clearly to finance A timely review of the safety car was proposed by Councillors Palmer and Mayhew. The committee were concerned that the safety car was not yet fulfilling the role of enforcing the bus gateway at Five Ways. The committee reviewed the original paper presented to Cabinet and have asked for a full report reflecting the original intentions of the project alongside its first year of operation. The intervention of the committee proved a catalyst for the necessary orders to be made that enabled the safety car to start enforcement of the bus gateway. Amplifying the voices and concerns of the public Aircraft Noise over Tunbridge Wells The Chair placed an article in Local Magazine asking residents to propose topics for the committee to consider. Aircraft noise over Tunbridge Wells was suggested by a reader and the committee agreed to hear from local residents, and parish representatives, who were affected by noise. The committee heard from the Vice-Chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign and the new Kent County Council representative on the Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee (GATCOM). Having listened to the views of those con- cerned, the committee agreed that those representing the interests of the borough of Tunbridge Wells should prioritise a cessation of night flights and a potential increase in the degree of descent as their main arguments. Since the meeting, the Chair has taken part in a feature on BBC Radio Kent, and another short article has been placed in Local Magazine to encourage residents to report noise incidents. A night-noise respite trial is underway, a noise monitor has been installed in the west of the borough and the committee is continuing to work to ensure that the concerns of local residents about aircraft noise are represented at GATCOM, which was not previously happening. Page 4 TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY ‘Any bin will do’ Councillor Elliott said that Southborough residents were concerned about dog fouling in the area. The committee felt that this was a problem around the borough and respondents to the Residents Survey in 2012 said it one of their highest priorities. Councillors set up a task and finish group to look into how to change the behaviour of irresponsible dog owners. The group trialled a simple but effective method of temporary signs and community led intervention. Councillor Elliott reported an 87% reduction in dog fouling on the Ridgewaye Playing Fields and the council agreed to facilitate a series of events with local communities as part of a high profile campaign to tackle littering and dog fouling. This review gained national recognition and was runner-up in the Centre for Public Scrutiny Awards 2013. The judges thought that the work demonstrated how, by responding to significant public feedback on a live issue, scrutiny could have a real impact on a small policy area. ‘Any The CfPS judges bin will do’ was, in their view, a good model for short, sharp work that thought that the could be replicated. Since the review, events have taken place in work demonstrated Rusthall, Capel, and Grosvenor and Hilbert Recreation Ground and the how, by responding provision of support for ‘any bin will do’ campaigns became part of the to significant public work of the council where it had not been before. feedback on a live issue, scrutiny could Led by independent people who take re- have a real impact on a small policy sponsibility for their role area. An Independent Work Programme Everything considered by the committee has come directly from its membership. Each item is led by a Member with the agreement of the committee. This way of working was agreed as part of the changes to the governance structure agreed by Full Council in 2012. A Cultural Vision for Tunbridge Wells The committee took an early interest in shaping the cultural direction of the borough and urged the council to be ambitious about its role. Councillors Rook, Derrick, Mayhew and Lewis participated in the council’s Cultural Strategy Workshop facilitated by the Tourism, Leisure and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Councillor Jane March. The committee were proud of the cultural offer in Tunbridge Wells and felt that culture would be central to the future of the borough. The Cabinet agreed and are exploring ‘cultural led regeneration’, including a new ‘cultural and learning hub’ for the town centre. This will be supported by the Cultural Strategy, which is due to be agreed by Cabinet. Sounds of the Wells As part of the engagement of the committee with culture, Councillor Derrick took the lead on a project called ‘Sounds of the Wells’. The aim of Sounds of the Wells was to promote Tunbridge Wells as a key live music destination outside London. Councillor Derrick worked on increasing the profile of live music in Tunbridge Wells locally and nationally and led a launch event in February. The launch event saw Sounds of the Wells host representatives from the business, voluntary and public sector. It achieved good press coverage including the headline “Town set to be destination of choice for music lovers” in the Courier. Page 5 A website was developed, coupled with a smartphone application, and sponsorship packs were produced along with promotional t-shirts. Through social media, Sounds of the Wells has achieved a national presence. Councillor Derrick’s work became a template for how the council can help promote cultural interests in the borough. Mid Kent Improvement Partnership (MKIP) Councillor Woodward, who is also a member of the Finance and Governance Cabinet Advisory Board which had received a report proposing that two services join the partnership, asked that the committee look at the long term direction of the Mid Kent Improvement Partnership, the impact on service quality, costs and how decisions were taken by its Board.