Agenda item

To consider the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being).

Agreed to adopt the Constitution for Local Joint Committees in Huntingdonshire; requested that the County Council and relevant Parish Councils involved in the LJC Pilot scheme be consulted on adopting the constitution; agreed that a pilot Local Joint Committee be trialled in the Norman Cross County division for 12 months period; requested the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) to undertake a review of the pilot scheme during its twelve months of operation and authorised the Executive Deputy Leader to review urgently the format of the existing Neighbourhood Forums, with a view to them continuing during the trial in those areas that have expressed a wish that they remain.

(Councillors P J Downes and R J West, (Vice-Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) were in attendance and spoke on this item.)

Further to Minute No. 11/112, the Cabinet considered a report by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining the responses received to the consultation on the proposed boundaries, composition, voting and constitution for new local Joint Committees (LJC’s) in Huntingdonshire.

It was reported that the consultation exercise had involved Town and Parish Councils, District and relevant County Members, Partners of the existing Neighbourhood Forums and members of the public with an interest in the existing forums.

The Executive Leader outlined the work undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel in producing the report and invited Councillor Downes to speak on the proposals.  In addressing the Cabinet, Councillor Downes expressed his view that the LJC’s would be creating an additional, costly, undemocratic level of decision making and questioned what funding would be devolved and to whom the LJC’s would be accountable.

Councillor West explained that the focus of the proposals was to build upon and enhance the existing Neighbourhood Forums and it was not the intention to introduce another level of council committees.  He stressed that by having all levels of local government present at the meetings there would be an opportunity for them to discuss joint working and to determine the most appropriate level for functions to be performed. Reference was made to a meeting between Officers and Members from both the County and District Councils on the proposals.  Although some concern had been voiced over the level of officer support that would be required, the County Council had agreed to consider what County decisions could be delegated and had given their support to the new structure being trialled.

The Deputy Executive Leader then provided further information on a possible pilot in the Norman Cross County Division over a 12 month period. He explained that limiting the trial to a small area rather than the nine LJC’s areas would be more manageable.  It was his intention that the existing Neighbourhood Forums would continue during this period in those areas that had indicated a wish for them to remain but that their format would be reviewed.

Having expressed their thanks to the Working Group for their efforts in producing a thorough and comprehensive report, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Constitution for Local Joint Committees in Huntingdonshire attached as Appendix A to the report now submitted be adopted;

(b)  that the County Council and relevant Parish Councils involved in the Pilot scheme be consulted on adopting the constitution;

(c)  that a pilot Local Joint Committee be trialled in the Norman Cross County division for 12 months period;

(d)  that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) be requested to undertake a review of the pilot scheme during its  twelve months of operation; and

(e)  that the Executive Deputy Leader be authorised to review urgently the format of the existing Neighbourhood Forums, with a view to them continuing during the trial in those areas that have expressed a wish that they remain.