Venue: the Council Chamber, Pathfinder House, St Mary's Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN
Contact: Mr A Roberts Democratic Services Officer, Tel 01480 388009 / email Anthony.Roberts@huntsdc.gov.uk
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COUNCILLOR K REYNOLDS Minutes: The Panel placed on record their appreciation of the contribution made by its former Chairman, Councillor K Reynolds, to the work of the Panel over the preceding four years. |
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 17th May 2006. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 17th May 2006 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
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MEMBERS' INTERESTS To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda item. Please see Notes 1 and 2 below. Minutes: Councillor K J Churchill declared a personal interest in Minute No.13 by virtue of his field of employment.
Councillor D Harty declared a personal interest in Minute No.13 by virtue of his membership of Cambridgeshire County Council.
Councillor Mrs M Banerjee declared a personal interest in Minute No.13 by virtue of her position as the Council’s representative on the Cambridgeshire County Council Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee. |
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2000 - FORWARD PLAN A copy of the current Forward Plan, which was published on 18th May 2006, is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein. Contact: R Reeves 388003 Minutes: The Panel considered the current Forward Plan of key decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been prepared by the Leader for the period 1st June – 30th September 2006. Having been reminded of the process which previously had been adopted for dealing with the Plan, Members reviewed its contents in detail.
With regard to an item on Recycling Credits and in response to a question by Councillor D A Giles, the Central Services Manager confirmed that a report would be submitted to the Panel in due course. Following the discussion on an Enforcement Policy for Private Sector Housing and on Agreements for the Extension of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Councillor D Harty undertook to investigate these matters and to ascertain whether either needed to be considered by the Panel.
As a result of questions by Councillor Mrs M Banerjee, the Central Services Manager confirmed that a report on the Housing Strategy would be submitted to the next meeting and that the item on the results of a study on the A14 Viaduct fell within the remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support). |
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"GROWING SUCCESS" - CORPORATE PLAN AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING To consider a report by the Head of Policy containing a suggested process for reviewing and updating the Corporate Plan, performance data for 2005/06 and proposed targets for 2006/07 and onwards. Contact: I Leatherbarrow 388005 H Thackray 388035 Additional documents:
Minutes: (In attendance for consideration of this item was Councillor A Hansard Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy)
Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Policy (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing a suggested process for reviewing and updating the Council’s Corporate Plan, together with the end of year results for local and national performance indicators. In introducing the report, the Head of Policy drew Members’ attention to the timetable for the review and the forthcoming training for Members to be undertaken later that month. He also outlined the role of a proposed cross-panel member group comprising the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels and an additional member from each of the Panels, which would lead the review of the Council’s objectives and Improvement Plan and the development of the performance management framework.
The Panel discussed the Council’s performance in relation to the collection of non –domestic rates, the electronic delivery of services, grant aid for legal advice for local residents that had the quality mark, domestic burglaries, processing notification of changes of circumstances, land and highways cleanliness, economic development and affordable housing. Particular reference was made to the local indicator on the Council’s employees. As a result Members were reminded that the Action Plan arising from the Employee Opinion Survey would be submitted to a future meeting.
Members also commented on the format of the performance monitoring report, following which it was agreed that the inclusion of the quartile in which the Council’s performance for each indicator fell, the development of qualitative measures and prioritisation and weighting of indicators would be included in the review.
RESOLVED
(a) that the process for reviewing and updating the Corporate Plan be endorsed; (b) that the results of the performance data for the year 2005/06 be noted and the proposed targets for 2006/07 be endorsed; and (c) that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, together with Councillor R W J Eaton, be appointed to the Working Group established to review the Corporate Plan. |
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OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY - PROCEDURE, REMIT AND STUDIES To consider a report by the Head of Administration, which sets out changes to the Overview and Scrutiny process and the Panel’s remit and reviews the programme of studies. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which outlined the remits of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels and set out the processes involved in their work. Members’ attention was drawn to the importance of the Forward Plan procedure which assisted with pre-scrutiny of Cabinet matters and helped avoid call-in of decisions.
The Panel also reviewed, with the aid of a report by the Head of Administration, the programme of studies (a copy of the report is appended in the Minute Book). With regard to the study on Twinning it was agreed that the Working Group carrying out the study should meet as soon as possible to conclude the study. In discussing the study on the rural economy and services, Members concurred with a suggestion that the meeting with the Patient and Public Information in Health Forum be deferred for 12 months in order that the effects of changes to dentistry services could be assessed. On the same study, the Panel considered whether it could be extended to any other sectors of the rural community. Having discussed farming, affordable housing and youth facilities, Councillor R W D Bailey was requested to consider whether there were any areas where the study could usefully be pursued and to report back to the Panel.
At the suggestion of Councillor J S Watt, the Panel agreed to request the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) to undertake a study on cycling provision in the District. Having discussed the merit of a study on highways maintenance, Members agreed to request the permission of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) to undertake the study, which fell within his Panel’s remit.
Following a suggestion by the Chairman, it was agreed to carry out a study into the possibility of introducing a traffic enforcement scheme to be delivered by Town and Parish Councils.
RESOLVED
(a) that the changes to the structure of Overview and Scrutiny and Members’ remit be noted; (b) that the Overview and Scrutiny process outlined in the report be noted; (c) that Councillor R W D Bailey be requested to review the study on the rural economy and services, to consider whether any of the matters should be addressed as part of the study and report back to a future meeting of the Panel; (d) that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) be requested to carry out a study on cycling provision in the District; (e) that the permission of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) be sought to undertake a study on highways maintenance; and (f) that traffic enforcement via Town and Parish Councils be added to the programme of studies.
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APPOINTMENTS To appoint three Members to the Comprehensive Performance Assessment Working Group and one Member to the Flood Forum Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: RESOLVED
(a) that Councillor D J Priestman be appointed to the Flood Forum; and (b) that Councillor K J Churchill be appointed as the Council’s substitute on the Cambridgeshire County Council Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee. |
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CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL HEALTH AND ADULT SOCIAL CARE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE To receive and note the Minutes of the meeting of the Cambridgeshire County Council Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee held on 9th May 2006. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Cambridgeshire County Council Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee held on 9th May 2006 were received and noted. It was agreed that, in future, the Minutes of this meeting would be forwarded directly to Members of the Panel. |
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SCRUTINY To scrutinise decisions taken since the last meeting as set out in the Decision Digest (TO FOLLOW) and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that fall within the remit of the Panel. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: In scrutinising the Digest of Decisions by the Cabinet and other Panels etc, under the item on Young People, the Chairman informed Members that Ms G Hanby had received a further 12 month temporary contract to continue her work on Young Peoples’ active involvement. |