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Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Monday 18th March 2024 6.30 pm

March 18, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)  Watch video of meeting

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“Will grounds maintenance cuts impact local biodiversity?”

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Summary

The council meeting focused on reviewing various community and operational matters, including the grounds maintenance contract, a local enforcement plan, and the People's Strategy for workforce development. Decisions were made to adjust services and initiate reviews to align with budget constraints and strategic goals.

  1. Grounds Maintenance Contract: The council decided to reduce the budget for grounds maintenance, impacting the level of service. Arguments for the decision centered on financial necessity and prioritizing critical services. Opponents expressed concerns about the impact on local aesthetics and biodiversity. The decision may lead to increased reliance on town councils and community groups for maintenance tasks.

  2. Local Enforcement Plan: A task and finish group was established to review the local enforcement plan. The discussion highlighted the need for clearer enforcement strategies and better resource allocation. The group is expected to provide recommendations that could streamline enforcement processes and enhance compliance, potentially improving local governance and community standards.

  3. People's Strategy: The council endorsed the development of a People's Strategy to address workforce challenges. The strategy aims to enhance recruitment, support, and performance management. Proponents argued it would build a more resilient and capable workforce, while concerns were raised about the costs and implementation challenges. This strategy is crucial for the council's long-term operational effectiveness.

An interesting moment in the meeting was the extensive discussion on environmental sustainability within the grounds maintenance contract, reflecting growing community and council interest in green initiatives.

Attendees

Profile image for CouncillorPaul Osborne
Councillor Paul Osborne  Conservative •  Eastern Rother
Profile image for CouncillorMrs Vikki Cook
Councillor Mrs Vikki Cook  Liberal Democrats •  South Battle & Telham
Profile image for CouncillorJohn Barnes (MBE)
Councillor John Barnes (MBE)  Conservative •  Burwash & the Weald
Profile image for CouncillorMrs Mary Barnes
Councillor Mrs Mary Barnes  Conservative •  Hurst Green & Ticehurst
Profile image for CouncillorSue Burton
Councillor Sue Burton  Green •  North Battle, Netherfield & Whatlington
Profile image for CouncillorCharles Clark
Councillor Charles Clark  Independent •  Bexhill Pebsham & St Michaels
Profile image for CouncillorBeverley Coupar
Councillor Beverley Coupar  Liberal Democrats •  Sedlescombe & Westfield
Profile image for CouncillorCheryl Creaser
Councillor Cheryl Creaser  Labour •  Rye & Winchelsea
Profile image for CouncillorMark Legg
Councillor Mark Legg  Labour •  Bexhill Old Town & Worsham
Profile image for CouncillorCarl Maynard
Councillor Carl Maynard  Conservative Group Leader •  Conservative •  Sedlescombe & Westfield
Profile image for CouncillorSimon McGurk
Councillor Simon McGurk  Labour •  Rye & Winchelsea
Profile image for CouncillorChas Pearce
Councillor Chas Pearce  Liberal Democrats •  Catsfield & Crowhurst
Profile image for CouncillorChristine Bayliss
Councillor Christine Bayliss  Labour Group Leader •  Labour •  Bexhill Central
Profile image for CouncillorHazel Timpe
Councillor Hazel Timpe  Rother Association of Independent Councillors •  Bexhill Sackville

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

Agenda

Agenda frontsheet 18th-Mar-2024 18.30 Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Reports Pack

Public reports pack 18th-Mar-2024 18.30 Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Additional Documents

Appendix 1A
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Local Enforcement Plan Task and Finish Group
Grounds Maintenance Contract - Specification
Performance Report Third Quarter 202324 October December 2023
Annual Report of Rother Community Safety Partnership
Printed minutes 18th-Mar-2024 18.30 Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Revenue Budget and Capital Programme Monitoring as at Quarter 3 - 202324
Work Programme