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Meeting Details

Economic Growth Scrutiny Panel - up to 15 May 2022
21 Oct 2021 - 16:00 to 16:37
Scheduled
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Standard Items

**A pre meeting for Members to prepare for the Panel will take place 45 minutes before the meeting**


The Press and Public are welcome to attend for the
consideration of any items which are public.


Members of the Economic Growth Scrutiny Panel

Councillor Brown (Chair), Councillors Mrs Bowman, Ms Ellis-Williams, Mrs Glendinning, Meller (Vice Chair), Mrs McKerrell, Mitchelson,  Paton.

Substitutes:

Councillors Alcroft, Atkinson, Bainbridge, Birks, Collier, Mrs Finlayson, Glover, Lishman, Mrs Mitchell, Morton, Patrick, Robson, Shepherd, Miss Sherriff, Southward, Sunter, Mrs Tarbitt, Dr Tickner, Tinnion, Miss Whalen.



Public Items
PUBLIC AND PRESS
To agree that the items of business within Part A of the agenda should be dealt with in public and that the items of business within Part B of the agenda should be dealt with in private.
EGSP.61/21
It was agreed that the items of business in Part A be dealt with in public and Part B be dealt with in private. 
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members are invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable interests and any interests, relating to any items on the agenda at this stage.
EGSP.60/21
There were no declarations of interest affecting the business to be transacted at the meeting.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive apologies for absence and notification of substitutions
EGSP.59/21
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Mrs Anne Glendinning, Councillor Lisa Brown and Councillor John Paton.

To note that Council, at its meeting of 14 September 2021, received and adopted the minutes of the meeting held on 29 July 2021.  The Chair will sign the minutes.
(Copy minutes in Minute Book 48(2)

The Chair will move the minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2021 as an accurate record. The only part of the minutes that may be discussed is their accuracy.

(Copy minutes herewith).

EGSP.62/21
RESOLVED - 1) It was noted that Council, at its meeting on 14 September 2021, received and adopted the minutes of the meeting held on 29 July 2021.  The Chair signed the minutes.

2) The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2021 were agreed.
A.1 CALL-IN OF DECISIONS

To consider any matter which has been the subject of call-in.

 

 



EGSP.63/21
There were no items which had been subject of call-in.
Portfolio: Economy, Enterprise and Housing
Directorate: Economic Development
Officer: Jeremy Hewitson, Housing Development Officer
Report: ED.35/21 herewith

Background:
The Corporate Director of Economic Development to submit an update on the delivery of market and affordable housing, relative to identified housing need and targets, alongside emerging strategies and legislation.  It should be noted that Covid-19 inevitably impacted on housing delivery levels during 2020-21.  An update has also been provided on housing strategies, partnerships, and joint working initiatives across Carlisle and Cumbria. 

 

Why is this item on the agenda?

Item requested by Panel Chair.

 

What is the Panel being asked to do?

The Panel are requested to note the key findings relating to housing need and delivery for 2020-21 and scrutinise the effectiveness of existing and emerging strategies and partnerships in supporting identified housing need.


EGSP.64/21
The Housing Development Officer submitted an update on the delivery of market and affordable housing, relative to identified housing need and targets, alongside emerging strategies and legislation. It was noted that Covid-19 inevitably impacted housing delivery levels during 2020-21.  An update was also been provided on housing strategies, partnership and joint working initiatives across Carlisle and Cumbria. (ED.35/21)

RESOLVED - That the Panel noted the key findings relating to housing need and delivery for 2020-21 and scrutinised the effectiveness of existing and emerging strategies and partnerships in supporting identified housing need. (ED.35/21)
Portfolio: Economy, Enterprise and Housing
Directorate: Governance and Regulatory Services
Officer: Scott Burns, Regulatory Services Manager
Emma-Kate Bishop, Home Improvement Agency Team Leader
 Report: GD.72/21 herewith

Background:
The Corporate Director of Governance and Regulatory Services to submit a report which sets out proposals for the acceptance grant funding, if offered, from the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Sustainable Warmth Competition, with the Council acting as the lead authority of a Cumbrian consortium of district councils.

Why is this item on the agenda?
Item confirmed by Panel Chair

 

What is the Panel being asked to do?
Consider and comment on the report, consider endorsing the recommendations of this report.


EGSP.65/21

The Regulatory Services Manager submitted a report regarding the acceptance of grant funding, if offered, from Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Sustainable Warmth Competition and act as the lead authority of a Cumbria Consortium of district councils for the delivery of the grant (GD.72/21)

The Regulatory Services Manager reported that the City Council had applied for £19,955,000 of funding on behalf of the Cumbrian Sustainable Warmth consortium of district councils to address fuel poverty, improve energy efficiency and carbon savings and help boost the local economy to retrofit a target of 1,310, mainly private sector homes, with energy efficiency measures, including low carbon heating across Cumbria.

The Panel discussed the application, in response to questions the Home Improvement Agency Team Leader clarified that Carlisle would lead the work as Eden District Council had received funding from a previous round and the application process preferred that the lead had not received previous funding.  In addition, other Districts did not have the capacity to deliver, Carlisle had the Home Improvement Agency and had experience from similar previous funding.

The Home Improvement Agency Team Leader explained that there was no risk of the Council overspending, Carlisle would receive a delivery grant of 15% which would cover staff costs.  Any funding that was not used would not be clawed back.

She reported that it had been difficult to encourage people to apply for the funding for previous schemes of a similar nature, if any District did not have 100% take up of their grant allocation then work could be undertaken in other areas redistribute funding.

The Economy, Enterprise and Housing Portfolio Holder reminded the Panel that the City Council had an excellent track record in delivering such funding programmes and the Team were confident that that they could deliver this funding to households in need.

The Home Improvement Agency Team Leader clarified for the Panel that low income households were identified as having an annual income under £30,000.  The Team had access to a free software package that cross referenced publicly available energy ratings and identified properties which were likely to have a low energy rating, they would then be invited to apply for the funding.  The Team encouraged people to apply, if they were not eligible for this scheme the Team could still provide other advice and support to help energy ratings in properties.

The Home Improvement Agency Team Leader advised that tenants in social housing would not be eligible to apply as their landlord would need to apply.  In addition social housing properties tended to have had improvement work and better energy ratings to meet their landlord responsibilities, however, support may be available for those in rural areas.  She added that there were other schemes coming forward that would support social housing tenants.

The Environment and Transport Portfolio Holder highlighted the importance of the project in improving the energy ratings in home.  The work was a key part of the work the City Council was undertaking to address climate change issues.

The Home Improvement Agency Team Leader summed up by confirming that legal had been involved in consideration of the Memorandum of Understanding, their comments were included in the report. 

RESOLVED - That the Panel supported the acceptance of grant funding if offered, from Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Sustainable Warmth Competition as detailed in report GD.72/21 and, recommends to the Executive:

- That any potential offer of the Sustainable Warmth grant funding by the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is accepted.
- That the City Council should act as the accountable body for the Grant on behalf of the Cumbrian Consortium.
A.4 Pdf OVERVIEW REPORT (153Kb)
Portfolio: Cross Cutting
Directorate: Cross Cutting
Officer: Rowan Jones, Overview and Scrutiny Officer
Report: OS.26/21 herewith

Background:
To consider a report providing an overview of matters related to the work of the Economic Growth Scrutiny Panel.

Why is this item on the agenda?

The Economic Growth Scrutiny Panel operates within a Work Programme which is set for the 2021/22 municipal year.  The Programme is reviewed at every meeting so that it can be adjusted to reflect the wishes of the Panel and take into account items relevant to this Panel in the latest Notice of Executive Key Decisions.

 

What is the Panel being asked to do?
Note the items within Panel remit on the most recent Notice of Executive Key Decisions
Note the current Work Programme.









EGSP.66/21
The Overview and Scrutiny Officer presented report OS.26/21 providing an overview of matters relating to the work of the Economic Growth Scrutiny Panel.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer reported that the Scrutiny Chairs Group had met on 16 September 2021.  They discussed future scrutiny arrangements and the work that the Business and Transformation Scrutiny Panel planned to carry out through a Task and Finish Group.  The Chairs of all Panels had agreed that there should be cross panel engagement and a terms of reference would be drafted.

The Panel agreed that Councillors Meller and Mrs Bowman would take part in the Task Group work. Confirmation of Members to represent the Panel at the Task and Finish Group would be confirmed by email following the meeting to allow an opportunity for Councillor Brown to participate in the Group, if she chose.  The Panel also asked that Scrutiny Chairs Group notes be attached to the Overview Report in the future.

In considering the work programme the Panel asked that the Events and usage of the City Centre update be moved from December to January 2022. 

A Member highlighted that the Victorian Baths Feasibility Study had been deferred from this meeting and expressed disappointment that it had taken nearly a year for Scrutiny to see the document.  She asked for an update on the Study.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer explained that she was working with officers to ensure that the report came to the Panel at the earliest opportunity.  The report had been deferred from today’s meeting to allow for some additional work to take place.

RESOLVED – 1) That the Overview Report incorporating Key Decision items relevant to the Economic Growth Scrutiny Panel be noted (OS.26/21).

2) That Scrutiny Chairs Group notes be added to the Overview Report;

3) That the Events and Usage of the City Centre Update be moved to the 20 January 2022 meeting

4) That Councillors Meller and Mrs Bowman be nominated to take part in the Future Scrutiny Arrangements Task and Finish Group, with Councillor Brown if so so wished.
Exempt Items

- NIL - 

Enquiries, requests for reports, background papers etc to: 
committeeservices@carlisle.gov.uk

Attendance

Name
No other member attendance information has been recorded for the meeting.
NameReason for Sending ApologySubstituted By
Councillor Lisa Brown  
Councillor Mrs Anne Glendinning Councillor Miss Jeanette Maria Whalen
Councillor John Paton  
NameReason for AbsenceSubstituted By
No absentee information has been recorded for the meeting.

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

Also Present: Councillor Ellis - Finance, Governance and Resources Portfolio Holder
Councillor Nedved - Economy, Enterprise and Housing Portfolio Holder
Councillor Christian - Environment and Transport Portfolio Holder
Officers: Corporate Director of Economic Development
Housing Development Officer
Regulatory Services Manager
Home Improvement Agency Team Leader

Councillor Meller (Vice Chair) chaired the meeting Councillor Brown's absence.