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BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
(COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY 30 MAY 2006
PRESENT: Mr C J Hunt – Chairman
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Mr D G Grutchfield |
Mr J W Roberts |
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Mr B D Hurren |
Mr J R A Sayers |
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Mr R E Kemp |
Mr D L Wood |
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Mr J A B Long |
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Mr K Grimsey was unable to be present at the meeting.
1 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
RESOLVED
That Mr J A B Long be elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.
2 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
There were no declarations of interest.
3 MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
4 PETITIONS
None received.
5 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
None received.
6 YOUTH STRATEGY
The Head of Leisure and Community Services submitted a report (Paper F28), setting out a summary of actions achieved in 2005/06 in relation to the Youth Strategy, and recommending the adoption of an Action Plan for 2006/07.
Kirsty Farthing and Naomi Webb, pupils at Hadleigh High School, spoke about their contribution to the Theatre Critic Project, and how they felt they had benefited from it. They answered a number of questions from Members.
Jill Barton, Corporate Support Officer, and Susie Tyrell, Arts and Community Development Officer, made a presentation highlighting what had been achieved in 2005/06 in relation to the Youth Strategy, and what was planned for the forthcoming year.
Members asked a number of questions and highlighted the benefits of good publicity, the importance of keeping Members informed of initiatives in their Wards, and the need to ensure that young people in the more rural areas of the District were able to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.
RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE
That the Youth Strategy Action Plan for 2006/07 as set out in Appendix B to Paper F28 be approved.
RESOLVED
- That the summary of Youth Strategy Actions achieved in 2005/06 as set out in Appendix A to Paper F28 be noted.
- That Officers be requested:
to identify, within existing resources, how to improve publicity and awareness of our youth strategy; and
to ensure that local Members are informed of activities planned within their Wards.
7 SERVICE AND FINANCIAL PLANNING
The Head of Finance presented a report (Paper F22) concerning arrangements for service and financial planning for 2006/07. The Committee was requested to consider nominating Members to serve on the Service and Financial Planning Group. Members confirmed that they saw value in holding a joint meeting with the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee in December to consider the recommendations of the Service and Financial Planning Group.
RESOLVED
- That Mr C J Hunt and Mr B D Hurren be nominated to serve on the Service and Financial Planning Group for the year 2006/07, and that Mr K Grimsey be approached to determine whether he is prepared to serve on the Group for the same period.
- In the event that Mr Grimsey is unable to serve on the Service and Financial Planning Group, that Mr D G Grutchfield be appointed for the year 2006/07.
8 REVIEW OF OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY ROLE AT BABERGH
Mr D Wood presented a report by the Working Group established to review the Overview and Scrutiny role at Babergh (Paper F21). In the ensuing discussion the following were among the points noted:-
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At its meeting on 23 May 2006, the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee had approved the report.
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Like many other Councils, Babergh had had difficulty in moving into the Scrutiny role. Whilst this was not an area of serious concern, the Group had identified steps which could be taken to improve the way in which Scrutiny was undertaken. These were set out in the Action Plan attached as an Appendix to Paper F21.
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Members would welcome the development of a training programme, if possible in collaboration with other authorities.
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Babergh was different from many Councils in having no overall political control, and this affected the way in which decisions were made and scrutinised.
RESOLVED
That the Action Plan of recommendations in the Appendix to Paper F21 be progressed by the appropriate officers as identified by the Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services.
9 WORK PLAN
The Acting Head of Legal and Administrative Services submitted a report (Paper F29) which provided details of the Committee’s anticipated work for the remainder of 2006/07 including items that may be the subject of call-in procedures (Appendix A) and a Planning Assessment Sheet concerning a possible review of the Council’s approach to sustainability (Appendix B).
It was noted that at its meeting on 5 June 2006 the Strategy Committee would be considering the business case for a joint procurement exercise on refuse collection.
In considering the Planning Assessment Sheet attached as Appendix B to Paper F29, Members recognised that the proposed review of the Council’s approach to sustainability would be very valuable, but acknowledged that it would represent a large amount of work for senior officers whose time was currently heavily committed. They also noted that a great deal was already being done to improve sustainability. It was agreed to undertake an audit of what was already being done, with a report on this issue being prepared by the end of 2006. The Committee would then be in a position to consider late in 2006/07 or early in 2007/08 whether further steps should be taken to improve sustainability.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan submitted as Paper F29 be noted.
10 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT – QUARTERLY REPORT
The Corporate Support Manager presented a report (Paper F30) setting out the 2005/06 end of year figures for the Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI’s) and Local Performance Indicators (LPI’s) included in the 2005/07 Corporate Plan.
It was noted that 82 BVPI’s and LPI’s were the responsibility of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee. Nine of these BVPI’s and nine of these LPI’s were not on target. Members asked a number of questions and discussed the reasons why targets had not been met.
RESOLVED
That the performance information contained in Paper F30 be noted.
NOTE:
The Committee adjourned for refreshments between 11.00am and 11.15am.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 1.10pm
Chairman
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