Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to advise the Democratic Services Officer of any  apologies for this meeting.

Councillors A Bullen and P Molyneux.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2024 are attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2024 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Government guidance expected Members of Scrutiny Committees not to act in accordance with party whipping and that, if they did, they were to declare it.

Government guidance expected Members of Scrutiny Committees not to act in accordance with party whipping and that, if they did, they were to declare it.

Resolved: There were no declarations.

Please find attached a link to the Council’s Forward Plan, which details the forthcoming Key and Non-Key decisions that are due to be taken by the Cabinet, a Member of the Cabinet (Portfolio Holder) or a Designated Officer relating to the service areas of this Committee, at this time: Forward Plan of Key/Non-Key Decisions.

The Committee considered the Council’s Forward Plan of forthcoming key and non-key decisions to be taken by the Cabinet, an Individual Portfolio Holder or delegated officers, in relation to the Resources Directorate.

Resolved: The Committee notes the forthcoming decisions, with no items being requested to be placed on a future agenda of the Committee.

The Committee considered a report and presentation of the Assistant Director – HR & OD, Lisa Selby, presented by the Assistant Director and the Service Lead – HR & OD, Vicki Lowe, which provided an update on the impact of the supporting attendance approach with details of the progress and further enhancements that had been made to the Council’s staff wellbeing offer.

Some of the key areas included in the Committee’s discussion were:

?           the effect of mental health issues on the workplace;

?           improvement in special leave including leave for carers; and

?           the wellbeing offer for Elected Members.

The Assistant Director – HR & OD set the context of Wigan’s offer to support attendance within Wigan council and a refreshed approach to seeking to enable early intervention and support to help keep staff in work, and support those who were absent, to return. A response was also provided in recognition of stereotype in respect of men’s health and take up of access to mental health support nationally and how the Council have sought to address this and the interventions that have been put in place. It was recognised that mental health was as important as the physical health of employees and the focus had been on improving this by introducing and independent phone line for employees, staff network groups and mental health champions etc throughout the Council.

There was also recognition of wider support including menopause, guidance, signposting and tools to support the workforce.

The Service Lead – HR & OD advised Members that there had been a significant increase in staff taking carers leave to support family members, partners and parents who could not cope without their support. There had been a greater awareness of this support option as a result of the supported attendance approach and the conversations that managers had been having with their staff. The number of days allowed for special leave had been increased from 6 to 10 days to support staff with personal life circumstances that had impacted on their wellbeing.

The Committee was also informed that many elements of the staff wellbeing offer were also available to Councillors.

Resolved: The Committee:-

(1)      thanks the officers for their report and presentation; and

(2)      endorses the work being undertaken in relation to the Council’s Supporting                Attendance approach and wellbeing offer.

The Committee considered a report of the Director – Strategy and Innovation, James Winterbottom, presented by the Service Manager – Culture and Events, Georgina Roby, which detailed  the achievements of the Events Team to date, and outlined the strategy from 2025/26 which was linked to the new Progress with Unity plan and focussed upon increasing the vibrancy of town centres, increasing visitor numbers and supporting large scale transformation projects.

Some of the key areas included in the Committee’s discussion were:

?         the impact of the concerts held at Robin Park and possibilities for Leigh;

?         the positive impact of the locally held community events; and

?         how local businesses could support events going forward.

The Service Manager informed the Committee that plans had been ongoing for a series of concert at Robin Park in 2025. The former Events Manager had now moved to a post at Leigh Sports Village (LSV) and whilst it had been difficult to find substantial gaps in the use of the venue, officers were hopeful of something similar to the Wigan concerts at LSV in 2026.

The Service Manager advised Members that the Events Team had continued to deliver against the Council’s ambitions by creating diverse, inclusive events and festivals with all members of the community. The programme planned for 2025/26 had provided opportunities to attract visitors and investors enabling each town and neighbourhood to improve their health and wellbeing, and included Wigan and Leigh Pride, Wigan 10K, Leigh Leopards Fan Zones and the Wigan Run Festival amongst others.

The Service Manager informed Members that a menu of sponsorship packages had been identified for local businesses to promote their brand. This had been planned for the coming months with the aim to secure significant investment and sponsorship for the 2025/26 programme.

Resolved: The Committee:-

(1)        thanks the officer for her report;

(2)        endorses the proposed events programme for 2025/26; and

(3)        supports the progressing of Events Team plans towards 2030.

The Committee considered a report and presentation of the Director – Strategy and Innovation, presented by the Operations Director – Haigh Hall, Peter Hughes, the Service Lead – Council Assets and Property, Heather Coombs, the Programme Manager – Policy and Strategy, Clare Jones and Head of Horticulture, Sylvia Travers, which provided an update on the progress made at Haigh Hall, including future plans and key next steps.

The main elements of the project had included extensive external repairs to the hall; internal remodelling and restoration; external landscaping; remodelling of the car park facilities and transport options; and construction of an energy centre.

Some of the key areas included in the Committee’s discussion were:

?         public transport links;

?         horticulture, including nature trails, endangered species and apprenticeships; and

?         the hospitality roles to be advertised for the site.

The Operations Director – Haigh Hall informed the Committee that following concerns having been raised in relation to  local transport links, Levelling Up Funding  would provide electric buses and/or an electric land train to provide links to the Plantation Gates on Wigan Lane. Conversations had also taken place with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) with regards to the current transport links and the possibility to improve them later in the project.

The Head of Horticulture advised Members that National Lottery funding had been secured for works to the pond, which would be drained and cleaned in Spring 2025, as well as a plan and strategy put in place to combat the Japanese Knotweed that had been identified on site. Haigh Hall had collaborated with Wigan and Leigh College to provide three and four year apprenticeships in Horticulture, Community Gardening and Woodland Management starting Spring 2025.

The Operations Director – Haigh Hall informed Members that plans had been put in place to appoint a hospitality partner by Autumn 2025 with the tender for this work starting in January 2025, and a hospitality sector expert had supported with interior/kitchen design at the Hall.

Resolved: The Committee:-

(1)        thanks the officers for their report and presentation; and

(2)        endorses the work being undertaken at Haigh Hall.