Agenda and minutes

Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any matters on the agenda and, if so, to formally declare that interest.

Councillor O’Brien declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Minute number OSC.619 Bury Children’s Centres and Minute number OSC.620 Bury Sculpture Centre as the issues fall within his portfolio as Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Culture. Councillor O’Brien took no part in the questioning or discussions relating to these items.

Councillors Holt and Tariq declared personal interests in relation to Minute OSC.619 Bury Children’s Centres as Board Members at the Little Oaks Children’s Centre.

Minutes of the last meeting, held on 2 December 2015, are attached.

It was agreed:

That the Minutes of the meeting, held on 2 December 2015, be agreed as a correct record.

A period of 30 minutes has been set aside for members of the public to ask questions on matters considered at the last meeting and set out in the minutes or on the agenda for tonight’s meeting.

There were no members of the public present to ask questions under this item

A report from the Deputy Leader of the Cabinet and Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing is attached.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing submitted a report providing a Mid-Year review of Treasury Management.

The report has been prepared in compliance with CIPFA’s Code of Practice, and covered the following:

An economic update for the 2015/16 financial year to 30 September 2015;

·         A review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy;

·         The Council’s capital expenditure (prudential indicators);

·         A review of the Council’s investment portfolio for 2015/16;

·         A review of the Council’s borrowing strategy for 2015/16;

·         A review of any debt rescheduling undertaken during 2015/16;

·         A review of compliance with Treasury and Prudential Limits for 2015/16;

·         A review of the Council’s MRP (Minimum Revenue Provision) Policy.

·         It was agreed:

·         That the report be noted

A report from Sue Reynolds, Head of Early Years and Early Help, is attached.

Further to Minute OSC.69 of the meeting of this Committee held on 9 June 2016, Sue Reynolds, Head of Early Years and Early Help, submitted a report concerning the new delivery model of Children’s Centres in the Borough.  The model commenced implementation in April 2015 following a detailed consultation process. The main aims of the new model were as follows;

·         Improving the health of U5’s

·         Improving U’5’s school readiness

·         Supporting parenting and family support

·         Promoting the economic prospects of families 

The report set out information relating to the following areas:

·         Current Provision

·         The Implementation Action Plan

·         Staffing Structures

·         Take up of 2 year old provision

·         Hub/Spoke Delivery Specification

·         Early Help Outreach Service

·         Maintenance of Buildings

·         Review of Governance Arrangements

·         Redvales Children’s Centre

·         Challenges/Opportunities Going Forward

Questions and comments were invited from the Committee and the following issues were raised:

·         In response to a question from the Chair, Councillor Gartside, the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Culture acknowledged some slippage in the timescale for the delivery of places for 2 year olds. It was explained that this could partly be explained by the need for some capital funding being required for some areas of provision that require premises to be adapted.

·         Members of the Committee discussed how future proof the model was going forward. The Cabinet Member explained that services would always depend on funding levels but highlighted the potential of the Hubs to develop as community venues.

It was agreed:

That the update be noted

A report from Tony Trehy, Head of Arts, Museums and Tourism, is attached.

Tony Trehy, Head of Arts, Museums and Tourism, submitted a report setting out an update in respect of the Centre since its opening in May 2014. The Bury Sculpture Centre was conceived as a cultural use for the Bury Library space vacated by changes in that Service. While it was given the separate identity of the Sculpture Centre, with its rationale drawn from Bury’s long term development of the Irwell Sculpture Trail, operationally, its identity is primarily a marketing tool. It operates entirely as an extension of the Art Museum spaces. All functions of staffing, programming, utilities/building operations are integrated with the existing Service arrangements for the Arts in Bury.

The physical changes to the library space were primarily reinstatement of architectural features especially the floor, decoration, gallery lighting and extension of security systems. This cost £75,000 from the Council’s capital programme and £26,000 from the Arts Council.

A Business Plan was prepared as part of the Arts Council bidding process and this can be made available to members on request, but the reality of operating the Centre means most sections of it are now out of date.

The report set out information in respect of the programme of exhibitions; finance; social media activity; and visitor numbers.

Questions and comments were invited from the Committee and the following issues were raised:

·         In response to a question concerning visitor numbers, the Head of Arts, Museums and Tourism explained it was difficult to give a breakdown between the Art Gallery and Sculpture Centre as a result of the numerous entrances to the building.

·         With regard to the cost of the initial exhibitions held it was explained that the only overspend related to the Contemporary Finnish Art, which was primarily due to a timing issue which resulted in a guest curator having to be used.

·         In response to a question relating to income generation, the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Culture explained that it was difficult to quantify as the Centre was part of the overall cultural offer of the town centre. Operationally the centre only employs 4 front of house staff and has been successful in attracting international and external funding.

·         Councillors James, Briggs and Holt highlighted the international acclaim attributed to the centre and acknowledged it was still a relatively new facility in terms of income generation.

·         In response to a question concerning the measure of performance for the Sculpture Centre, the Head of Arts, Museums and Tourism explained that performance indicators were being developed.

·         In respect of visitor survey responses, the Head of Arts, Museums and Tourism acknowledged the relatively low number of responses. It was explained that plans to have touch screens for surveys were not practicable at the moment due to cost.

With regard to the planned exhibitions planned for 2016 it was confirmed that funding was largely in place. In response to a question from Councillor Gartside, the Head of Arts, Museums and Tourism confirmed that the only exhibition which would not be funded  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC.620

Any other business which by reason of special circumstances the Chair agrees may be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business to report.