Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 6^th April and 19^th May 2010.

2 Minutes.

The Minutes of the meetings of the Panel held on 6^th April and 19^th May 2010 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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 overleaf.

2 Minutes.

Councillors S J Criswell, J J Dutton and R J West declared personal interests in Minute No. 12 by virtue of their membership of Cambridgeshire County Council.

A copy of the current Forward Plan, which was published on 17th May 2010 is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

10 Minutes.

The Panel considered and noted the current Forward Plan of Key Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been prepared by the Leader of the Council for the period 1^st June to 30^th September 2010. Councillor B S Chapman, in his capacity as Ward Member for St Neots Priory Park, requested a copy of the report entitled Transfer of S106 Asset (Community Building & Land) at Loves Farm. The Panel were advised that the item entitled St Ivo Leisure Centre - Proposals for Development had now been delayed until October 2010.

To consider a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives.

20 Minutes.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives in the quarter to 31^st March 2010. Members endorsed for submission to the Cabinet the comments of the Corporate Plan Working Group, particularly with regard to the objectives where targets had not been achieved.

Members received clarification on a number of matters raised by the Corporate Plan Working Group relating to the methodology used to calculate admissions to the Burgess Hall, the achievement of targets that contributed to the objective “to promote healthy lifestyle choices” and the types of temporary accommodation used to prevent people from becoming homeless.

To receive a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships, outlining the progress made to date in respect of the expenditure and receipt of money received from Section 106 Agreements.

20 Minutes.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel were updated on the receipt and expenditure of money negotiated under Section 106 Agreements by the Council. Members were reminded that their role was to scrutinise progress of allocated schemes and existing maintenance agreements. In the context of the Panel’s previous decision to pay particular attention to those schemes that had been completed earliest, Members noted that since the last quarter a spending plan had been received in respect of one of the schemes, programme details had been received for another and meetings had been arranged with St Neots Town Council to discuss the remaining two schemes.

The Panel requested that details of the developer involved in each Agreement was included in future monitoring reports, together with further information on agreements which were awaiting allocation. In noting that one of these agreements was shortly due to expire, Members questioned what would be the implications for the Council if it was not implemented before it expired. In response, Mr J Craig, the Council’s Service Development Manager, reported that there had been a number of problems with the proposed scheme but that it was likely that the agreement would be completed before it expired.

Having discussed the scheduling of the report at Panel meetings, it was agreed that the next report should be submitted to the meeting in July.

RESOLVED

(a)  that the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)  that the next monitoring report be submitted to the Panel’s meeting in July.

To be acquainted with the Cabinet’s response in respect of the study into the provision of play facilities across the District and to consider the way forward.

20 Minutes.

With the aid of a report by the Cabinet (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Members were acquainted with Executive Councillors’ deliberations on the Panel’s recommendations arising from the study into play facilities in Huntingdonshire. Having noted that the recommendations relating to carrying out research into group insurance schemes and to the feasibility of combining safety inspections had been accepted, the Service Development Manager reported that Officers had already commenced work on these matters. In that light, Members requested that a progress report was submitted to a future meeting.

To receive an update from Councillor R J West on the outcome of recent meetings of the Cambridgeshire Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee.

5 Minutes.

The Panel received and noted the Minutes of the meetings of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee held on 13^th and 22^nd April 2010 (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book). Members were advised that the Committee was currently seeking views on the quality of services at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, with a view to undertaking a study on this subject.

To consider and comment upon the draft Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2009/10.

15 Minutes.

The Panel reviewed the draft Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2009/10 (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). In so doing, Members were reminded of the constitutional requirement to produce a Report each year. It was suggested that the Report should include reference to the Chairman’s role in providing public scrutiny of the process to change the governance arrangements of Hinchingbrooke Hospital and details of how members of the public could obtain information on the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny work.

To consider, with the aid of a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services, the current programme of Overview and Scrutiny studies.

15 Minutes.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) reviewing their programme of studies and informing Members of the studies being undertaken by the other Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

To consider a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services on the Panel’s remit and to consider the Panel’s current programme of studies.

15 Minutes.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) reviewing the Panel's programme of studies and providing an opportunity for Members to plan their work programme for the year. Members were reminded of their responsibility to scrutinise the Children and Young People, Health and Well-Being and Inclusive, Safe and Cohesive Communities thematic groups of the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership. This work had already begun and further work would be undertaken during the course of the year.

In reviewing the existing programme of studies the Panel received updates on the future governance of Hinchingbrooke Hospital, the Place Survey and car parking at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. Members also were reminded that they had an opportunity to suggest potential future study areas for investigation by any of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the contents of the report be noted; and

  (b)  that progress in relation to ongoing studies be noted.

To scrutinise decisions as set out in the Decision Digest and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that fall within the remit of the Panel.

5 Minutes.

In scrutinising the 104^th Edition of the Digest of Decision, Councillor R J West delivered an update on progress by the Working Group appointed by the Cambridgeshire Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee to investigate issues surrounding mental health and the associated service provision in Cambridgeshire. In so doing, Members noted that the Working Group had initially decided to focus on the support provided to those diagnosed with dementia and their carers and family.