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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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 5th December 2006.
2 Minutes. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 5th December 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.
2 Minutes. Minutes: Councillors S J Criswell, Mrs C A Godley and P G Mitchell declared personal interests in Minute No. 58 by virtue of being Ward Members for schemes recommended for approval. |
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2000 - FORWARD PLAN A copy of the current Forward Plan, which was published on 15th December 2006, is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.
15 Minutes. 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 January to 30th April 2007.
Following an enquiry by Councillor D A Giles, Members requested that they receive a copy of a report on Cash Offices – St. Ives and St. Neots – Future Developments. In response to a further enquiry on Choice-Based Lettings - Memorandum of Understanding, the Central Services Manager undertook to clarify the background to this item in order to ascertain whether it should be considered by the Panel prior to its submission to the Cabinet. Finally, as a result of an interest expressed by Councillor K J Churchill on an item on the Delivery of Leisure Services, it was agreed to await details of the options under consideration before a decision was taken on how the Panel should be involved.
In response to ongoing concerns Members reiterated their concerns at the appearance on the Plan of a number of new items which were to be submitted to the Cabinet prior to the Panel’s next meeting and at the lack of information in relation to background documents and consultation.
RESOLVED
that this matter be brought to the attention of the Leader of the Council with a request that he encourage officers to avoid a repeat of this situation in the future. |
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SMALL SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS Additional documents:
Minutes: (Councillor T V Rogers, Executive Councillor for Finance, was in attendance for consideration of this item).
With the aid of a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel were acquainted with the background to the introduction of a set of criteria against which applications for funding under the Small Scale Environmental Improvements scheme were assessed. In response to a question by the Chairman, the Head of Technical Services informed the Panel that Members were not involved in the scoring of applications and that they received copies of the letter inviting applications but were not consulted on schemes put forward for consideration.
As the result of being informed that all applications received an initial assessment to determine which funding stream was most appropriate, the Panel requested details of all the schemes to which Town and Parish Councils could apply for grant funding to undertake improvements works.
The Panel also gave consideration to a report detailing the outcome of the 2006/07 approved schemes and recommending schemes for funding under the 2007/08 programme prior to its submission to the Cabinet (a copy of the report is appended in the Minute Book). Councillor T V Rogers acquainted the Panel with the Cabinet’s deliberations on this subject the previous year and, in particular, a request that the existing criteria be reviewed in view of the fact that larger parishes appeared to be more successful than smaller ones in obtaining funding.
Having been provided with an example of how one scheme had been scored, the Panel discussed the remit of a study on this subject. It was agreed that a Working Group should be established comprising Councillors Mrs M Banerjee, R W J Eaton, D A Giles and P G Mitchell to consider the following –
¨ the objectives of the scheme; ¨ the scheme’s criteria, taking into account the Council’s corporate objectives; ¨ the scoring system; ¨ the effectiveness of previous grants; ¨ the degree to which previous grants had met the Council’s objectives; ¨ whether the criteria should include the size of any contribution by the applying Council; ¨ if the above was supported, whether the size of the settlement should be taken into account; ¨ whether separate schemes should be introduced for larger and smaller councils and, if so, the definition of each; ¨ whether an upper limit on grant should be introduced; and ¨ the involvement of Members in the scheme.
The Working Group was requested to make recommendations on these and any other matters deemed relevant with a view to introducing a revised scheme by September 2007.
RESOLVED
(i) that a Working Group comprising Councillors Mrs M Banerjee, R W J Eaton, D A Giles and P G Mitchell be appointed to undertake a study on the Small Scale Environmental Improvements scheme as outlined above; and
(ii) that the report by the Head of Technical Services on Small Scale Environmental Improvement Schemes 2007/08 be approved for submission ... view the full minutes text for item 58. |
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REVIEW OF CONSTITUTION To consider a report by the Head of Administration inviting Members to comment on the review of the Council’s Constitution.
15 Minutes. Contact: C Deller 388007 Minutes: Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining the timetable for the review of the Council’s Constitution by the Corporate Governance Panel and seeking comments on the present Constitutional arrangements. In the context of the discussion at Minute No. 57 ante, it was
RESOLVED
that the Council be recommended to amend the Constitution requiring the permission of the Chairman or in his absence the Vice-Chairman of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Panel to be obtained if it is intended to take a decision on a date earlier than that referred to in the Forward Plan. |
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OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL (SERVICE DELIVERY) - PROGRESS To consider a report by the Head of Administration on the Panel’s programme of studies.
15 Minutes. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Additional documents: Minutes: The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining details of action taken in response to recent discussions and decisions and reviewing the programme of studies. Members noted that the Environment Strategy would be considered at a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Corporate and Strategic Framework) on 20th February 2007 and that it was intended to divide the contents of the Strategy between the Panels for further detailed consideration.
In response to a suggestion by Councillor J D Ablewhite, the Central Services Manager undertook to obtain clarification on the remit of which Overview and Scrutiny Panel Town Centre Initiatives fell in order that their effectiveness could be scrutinised. |
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SCRUTINY To scrutinise decisions taken since the last meeting as set out in the Decision Digest and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that fall within the remit of the Panel. (TO FOLLOW).
10 Minutes. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: In scrutinising the 69th Edition of the Digest of Decisions taken by the Cabinet and other Panels etc, Members raised the following queries:
DPA, EIR, FOI and PSI – Request Procedure – Following a question by Councillor J E Garner, the Central Services Manager advised Members that the procedure was available via by the intranet.
Whistleblowing: Annual Review of Policy and Procedure – In response to a question by Councillor J E Garner, the Central Services Manager outlined the process involved in the review of the Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure. |