Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M Greatorex and R Kingstone.

Apologies were also received from Councillors S Doyle, Portfolio Holder for Skills, Planning, Economy and Waste and R Pritchard, the Portfolio Holder for Environment Entertainment and Leisure.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 22^nd February 2023 were approved as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor C Cooke and seconded by Councillor S Smith)

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Chair reported the following:

1.    An online session was being held regarding the Integrated Care Partnership Strategy on Wednesday 17^th May 2023, which was open to all to attend.

2.    The Council’s website now had website links from the Community landing page to Staffordshire Connects and also to Simply Connect Staffordshire  https://www.tamworth.gov.uk/community

3.    In terms of the breast screening mobile unit the Chair reported that he would raise this with County Councillor T Jay to be raised at the County scrutiny meeting.

(Update on responses to the Reports of the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee)

No recommendations had been made to Cabinet since the previous meeting.

(Discussion item)

No new items had been raised.

(To receive the Digest from Staffordshire County Council’s Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee and an update from County Councillor T Jay)

The Committee received an update on health-related matters considered by Staffordshire County Council’s Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  County Councillor T Jay provided an update on the County meeting held on 20^th March 2023, which had focussed on the Social Care workforce and the strategy being followed and an Integrated Care Board update.

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for the Voluntary sector, Town centre, Evening economy & Community Safety)

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Voluntary Sector, Town Centre, Evening Economy and Community Safety on Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk of Abuse (October 2022 – March 2023).

The purpose of the report was to provide a biannual safeguarding update to the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee sought and received clarifications in the following areas:

1.    Which area of the council made most referrals, where it was reported that most were from the housing team, although increased numbers of referrals were being made by contractors.

2.    The reasons for the differences in the figures on the graphs between numbers of concerns and referrals to other agencies, where it was reported that this would reflect whether the threshold was met for referrals.

3.    The Committee requested that for future reports data from 2 years prior to 2020 be included, to ensure that the trends reflected the pre-COVID period.

4.    It was confirmed that safeguarding training for taxi drivers was a condition of the licensing process.

The Committee thanked the Portfolio Holder, Assistant Director, Partnerships, Safer Communities and Homes Manager and the Children and Families Safeguarding Officer who then left the meeting.

To receive a verbal update from the Theatre, Artistic and Events Manager

The Theatre, Artistic and Events Manager updated the Committee on the plans for the King’s Coronation Weekend plans in Tamworth which covered:

1.    The plans spanning four days of celebrations starting on Friday 5 May;

2.    The events being based on free and accessible events involving community engagement

3.    On the Saturday and Sunday two full days of events, including free sporting events, ticketed events, performance tent including story telling, outdoor theatre and puppetry and live music from the Bandstand.  Celebrating the Big Lunch on Sunday with live music.

4.    Broadcasting the Coronation Concert to the Assembly Rooms

5.    Promoting local community and charitable organisations throughout the weekend.

The Committee sought and received clarification in the following areas:

1.    Whether the Coronation itself were being broadcast where it was confirmed that dues to the fees associated with this, the event would not be broadcast.

2.    What additional facilities were being provided, where it was confirmed that additional toilets, security and catering would be provided.

3.    What communications were planned and how the community and charitable organisations would be engaged, where it was confirmed that communications across local media, and social media was planned to be rolled out.

The Committee thanked the Officer for the overview provided, who then left the meeting.

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Entertainment and Leisure)

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Entertainment and Leisure to provide an update on the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sport Strategy and the Indoor and Built Facilities Strategy currently being undertaken by external leisure consultants, Knight, Kavanagh & Page.

The Sports Manager reported that an initial review of the first drafts provided by the Consultants had led to the Consultants being requested to consider some further areas and further local provision which as this could affect the overall outcomes meant the data was not ready to be presented.  It was expected that final reports would be available from the Consultants at the end of April 2023.

The Committee sought and received clarifications in the following areas:

1.    When the team expected to be able to bring back finalised reports for Scrutiny’s consideration where it was reported that during the summer would be an appropriate time.

2.    How the team was linking in with the wellbeing strategy work being undertaken by CT CIC, where it was reported that the Sports Manager had met with the CT CIC team to ensure that relevant information was shared.

3.    The work being undertaken by the Consultants and the additional areas that it had been requested that they considered requested, where it was reported that the Consultants were working to Sport England guidance and would link heavily and support the Local Plan.  One of the additional areas of work requested was to provide Strategic Outcomes Planning Guidance (SOPG) which was to knit the indoor and outdoor strategies into health and wellbeing and ensure they were rooted in local strategic outcomes and meeting health and wellbeing needs of people in Tamworth.  The SOPG process also looked to ensure that this considered and integrated the strategic picture including consideration of the County Health & Wellbeing Board in the round.

4.    Given the amount of work going into this work, what was the longevity of the work, where it was reported that this work would tie into the length of the Local Plan and be of a long term view.

5.    How the costs of this work were affected by the cost of living crisis, where it was reported that in terms of the capital costs of any leisure build this would be the case as with any capital build.

6.    How the strategies looked at the place of Tamworth and what assets were considered, where it was reported that the strategy looked at all facilities, whether or not council owned.

7.    How the younger generation were being involved, where it was reported that there was a standardised process for consulting which was followed, as set out by Sport England, however additionally it was reported that that local clubs were closely engaged.

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Skills, Planning, Economy and Waste)

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Economy and Waste to give an update on the Open Spaces Assessment currently being undertaken by external leisure consultants Knight, Kavanagh & Page.

It was reported that the position here was similar to the previous item. The Consultant had been asked to look at some gaps in provision, and the timings were expected to reflect those of the Indoor and Outdoor Sports Strategy.  CT CIC had been briefed on the relevant data.

The Committee thanked the Officers for their attendance who then left the meeting.

Discussion item

The Chair reported that following a Petition received at full Council regarding the Castle Pleasure Grounds toilets in July 2022, it had been agreed that this Committee would consider further the issue, and the assistant Director Assets had been invited to provide an update of the current public toilet provision in Tamworth.

The Assistant Director, Assets highlighted to the Committee:

1.    the current toilet which were open to the public and the opening times, which included that the castle grounds toilets were open daily between 9-5pm (year round) and these included a Changing Places facility which was accessible on request to the CCTV control centre.

2.    The cleansing arrangements in place currently, which for the Castle Grounds toilets and the challenges faced

3.    The potential alternatives available to improve public access to toilets, including community toilet schemes.

The Committee commented and sought clarification in the following areas:

1.    Whether the Changing Places facility could be made accessible for those users who needed those facilities on a 24/7 basis, and any arrangements which would need further consideration.  The Assistant Director reported that as access was granted via the CCTV control room there was 24/7 capability, however there would be very limited assistance available locally out of hours if any alarm were activated.  The Committee discussed and suggested that a safety feasibility assessment could be considered prior to extending the operating hours, which could indicate if additional facilities could be installed, such as an intercom, in addition to an alarm, inside the Changing Places facility.

2.    The adequacy of the current hours of cleaning of the Castle Grounds toilets which did not appear sufficient, and which could impact on the users’ experience of the free childrens’ play facility  and other facilities within the area.  The Committee requested that further consideration be given to methods of recruitment of cleaning staff, as well as to the number of hours allocated to the Castle Grounds toilets’ cleaning, in particular at busy times which had been noted as weekends and school holidays.

3.    Whether Officers had explored the community toilet scheme alternatives, where it was reported that this had not been explored as yet.

RESOLVED that the Committee make the following recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet explore the allocation of contingency funds to adequately resource and fund the cleaning of the Castle Grounds toilets, with sufficient cleaning allocated to weekends and holiday periods

2.    That Cabinet explore with Officers the Community Toilet Scheme with local businesses

3.    That Cabinet continue with the current daily (7 day a week, 9-5pm) opening of the Castle Grounds toilets and explore extending the opening hours during the summer period to 7pm in the evening

4.    That Cabinet explore the installation of an intercom in the Changing Facilities.

(Moved by Councillor D Maycock and seconded by R Claymore)

The Committee thanked the Officer for his attendance who then left the meeting.

Please see the link to the Forward Plan:

Browse plans - Cabinet, 2023 :: Tamworth Borough Council

No further items were identified at this time.

The Chair reported that following the signing of the refreshed Armed services covenant, it felt appropriate to close the working group on this item, which was accepted.

The Chair reported that a members briefing had taken place on the travellers item and documentation had been circulated.

To the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Work Plan

The Committee considered the Work Plan and updated it as follows:

Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Work Plan

The Committee further considered the wellbeing support provision for Councillors, which was included on the Committee’s work plan, and following an update from the Chair, the Committee:

RESOLVED  to recommend to Cabinet that a member benefit scheme in terms of mental wellbeing support only be considered.

(Moved by Councillor D Maycock and seconded by Councillor J Wadrup)