Agenda and minutes

Proposed by Councillor Hay, seconded by Councillor Hicks and agreed that Councillor Mrs Davis be elected as Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel for the municipal year 2025/26.

Proposed by Councillor Hay, seconded by Councillor Barber and agreed that Councillor Sennitt Clough be elected as Vice-Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel for the municipal year 2025/26.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of 20 January 2025.

The minutes of the meeting of 20 January 2025 were confirmed and signed.

To note how the Fenland Community Safety Partnership identifies their work streams for Fenland and consider the up-to-date performance picture for 2024/25, including the performance report relating to CCTV services for 2024.

Councillor Susan Wallwork, Dan Horn, Alan Boughen and Aarron Locks together with Michael Basford, Neighbourhood Police Team Inspector, provided a Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and CCTV update.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

·       Councillor Booth stated there is an item in the report pack regarding speeding indicating that it is not the responsibility of the CSP and whilst the CSP can assist others it is down to other people to tackle that issue. He expressed concern as speeding is an issue, it has been looked at in the past but never made a priority and he feels that the CSP are not delivering what the community wants with the title of the organisation being Community Safety Partnership and he would like to know why this is not a priority? Councillor Booth continued that he believed community engagement events were meant to be held under the Police, Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 which is meant to shape the CSP’s responsibilities, and reiterated why is speeding not being taken more seriously? He stated that he is aware of the Speed Watch groups but that is down to volunteers in the community. Dan Horn stated, in terms of road safety, there are many areas of community safety that have a countywide group, one being Vision Zero which coordinates the road safety work across the whole of Cambridgeshire, the countywide group and Fenland’s CSP will support their work where they feel the CSP can assist. He suggested that based on the feedback today to contact the Road Safety Partnership and ask them to come along and give an update to the Community Safety Partnership and ask if in terms of Fenland CSP is there anymore that can be done to plug issues that Vision Zero feel are not being addressed. Councillor Booth commented that speeding is one of the biggest complaints received, and he understands there is some community engagement, but feels there needs to be larger forums and feels looking at the figures shown this needs to be a priority and something that needs addressing alongside the everyday presence of the Police as previously this has had an impact. He continued that due to the accidents and fatalities on the Fen roads the speed van is likely to be returning to the area. Dan Horn stated when the Road Safety Partnership and Vision Zero came along to O&S it was on the 9 September 2024. Councillor Booth asked if Michael Basford had any comments to make on his question on the Community Speed Watch Sessions? Michael Basford responded that the Police were actively supporting it a couple of years ago but over the last year it has dropped off. He stated that he would take that away from the meeting today and if there were any opportunities to add further Speed Watch groups within Fenland it would be welcomed. Councillor Booth suggested that Fenland District Council’s Communications Team help promote this and he would like this added  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC34/23

To receive an update on ASB issues in Wisbech.

Michael Basford, Neighbouring Policing Team Inspector, Dan Horn and Alan Boughen provided an update on ASB issues in Wisbech.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Hicks stated that he attended a meeting with some residents from West End, March and was informed by the officers in attendance that officers have not got enough time to police on the beat as they are spread too thinly looking after March and the surrounding villages between two officers. He asked how the Police intended to make a visible presence when there are so few officers covering a big area? Michael Basford responded that neighbourhood policing does cover a large area, and work does need to be prioritised. He continued, with the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, resources are redirected to dedicated officers to specific areas, and they will be dedicated to being visible and available to the members of the community in those specific communities but disagreed with the comment that the Police are spread too thinly.

·         Councillor Booth asked if the Police will be more visible in the surrounding villages as this has been lacking for many years? Michael Basford responded in the affirmative.

·         Councillor Woollard stated there has been a lot of talk concerning Wisbech, but this anti-social behaviour is prevalent in all of the towns and he has seen first-hand the issues March Town has had and would like some assurance that the initiatives that are being introduced will spread across the whole of Fenland rather than concentrating in Wisbech alone. Michael Basford assured the committee that this project will be rolled out across the whole of Fenland.

·         Councillor Barber asked if Police visibility is going to be a regular presence in the towns? Michael Basford confirmed this was going to be the case with dedicated specific resources to that role. He continued the neighbourhood policing team is also supported by other teams with the help of specific funding, enabling an uplift in officers in and around town centres across the Northern District of Cambridgeshire with Peterborough included which is still a developing area but should soon see an uplift in officers in the Horse Fair at Wisbech and an increase in visible policing.

·         Councillor Booth asked how long it was going to take before officers are seen in place? Michael Basford replied that 36 people were being interviewed this week and there is a plan to have them in a post within 28 days. Councillor Booth commented on the shortness of time as he imagined it was quite a few months to be trained to become a police officer. Michael Basford confirmed they were taking existing officers from other departments and bring them into neighbourhood policing and their role will be backfilled with new staff.

·         Councillor Hicks asked how many new officers there will be in total? Michael Basford replied across the Northern Division, which includes Peterborough, there will be 36 new officers, however, currently at the moment unfortunately there are several vacancies to be filled  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC35/23

To receive an update on the Diagnostic Centre in Wisbech.

Greg Lane from the NHS gave an update on the Wisbech Diagnostic Centre.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Foice-Beard asked what data was collected and how and could the committee have access to it as to better understand the conclusion in more detail? Greg Lane confirmed data has been sent through to the committee which is focused on local GP’s as this is the accessible data plus what non-hospital referrals are coming through for patients that are registered to those practices, which will paint a picture of the current needs and demands for those services and that is what is going to formulate those strategic discussions about delivery now and further down the line.

·         Councillor Foice-Beard stated that on paragraph 7 of the presentation it stated, ‘that it is not technically possible to integrate’ and asked if not now is there a timescale of when they will be working towards this? Greg Lane stated that when it comes to the NHS app this is led nationally with no local influence, but is it known this is one of the ambitions with the NHS app. Councillor Foice-Beard asked how he can guarantee this will be at the forefront of the plans and will there be regular updates? Greg Lane responded when it comes to direct booking through the NHS app, local solutions will be considered if there is not a national solution in place and there will be regular updates in terms of what the thinking will be around the NHS app.

·         Councillor Foice-Beard asked what efforts are being made to ensure that staff and patients are aware of the facilities at Wisbech as due to a recent telephone discussion to discuss an appointment there seemed to be a lack of awareness of what is in existence, the staff member in the department was very adamant that there was not a facility and the facility that was referred to in the letter was for Kings Lynn and not Wisbech. Greg Lane responded in terms of ongoing discussions that are happening around current and future delivery, all stakeholders are being included, general practice is pivotal in terms of that voice ensuring that the patient is kept aware and up to date and there are also regular updates given to Healthwatch and patient participation groups. Councillor Foice-Beard asked how this communication was being given out? Greg Lane confirmed the communication was happening through conversations and updates with bulletins and in writing within health groups. Councillor Foice-Beard reiterated that all staff need to be fully updated. Greg Lane stated that it is a minimum expectation that employees within a stakeholder position would know what their organisation does and when but he will take that information away from the meeting today.

·         Councillor Sennitt Clough asked who the stakeholders are? Greg Lane responded in terms of the ongoing strategic discussions around the Clinical Diagnostic Centre (CDC) and why the North Cambridgeshire Hospital site, those stakeholders would include local GP practices  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC36/23

To consider what has been undertaken and achieved by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel during 2024/25 and a forward look at 2025/26. – Report to Follow

This item had been withdrawn and will be considered at the next meeting.

To provide notice of decisions taken without the need for notice to be given on the Forward Plan and/or for the call-in procedures to be applied.

Councillor Sennitt Clough referred to the occasions since the last meeting when the Chairman has been asked to exercise her authority to wave the ordinary requirements in relation to the forward plan.

Councillor Booth stated he would like to see Vison Zero back as discussed in the previous item.

Members noted the waivers permitted by the Chairman since the last meeting.

To receive an update on the previous meeting’s Action Plan.

Councillor Sennitt Clough stated that the response from Anglian Water is noted.

Councillor Booth stated there is a response from Anglian Water, but it is not anything definite and he would like to keep the question active and ask for regular updates when they know plans are being confirmed by November.

Amy Brown responded that Anglian Water are due to visit the committee in December and suggested before they visit the question is updated ready for them to answer.

Councillor Sennitt Clough asked if it would be possible to get a six-month update so when Anglian Water visit in December the committee have the most up-to-date information.

Councillor Booth stated that Anglian Water is developing a business plan and suggested asking for the highlights of the business plan that are relevant to Fenland to be able to give the committee a clear understanding of what will be happening in the Fenland area.

The committee agreed with the proposals.

To consider the Draft Work Programme for Overview & Scrutiny Panel 2025/26.

Amy Brown gave a brief update on the work programme for the municipal year 2025/26.

Councillor Booth stated that as there are no Elections coming up that extra items could be added to the month of April 2026.

Councillor Sennitt Clough requested that Greater Anglia visit the committee based on the fact that there are three railway stations within the Fenland area, the railway is undergoing nationalisation, and there is the issue with the North Junction which could form part of a number of questions that could be asked.

Councillor Booth felt that it would be better to invite the National Rail Service as Greater Anglia are only a franchisee and cannot answer questions about the infrastructure.

Councillor Sennitt Clough suggested inviting the rail partners along as well.

Amy Brown stated she would have a conversation and see when this can be made possible.