Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda

A number of Councillors who were existing County Councillors and Borough Councillors declared a personal interest in the business of the meeting en bloc.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research it would be helpful if questions were submitted at least one working day before the meeting.

There were no Members of the public present who wished to address the Panel

To approve the minutes of the last meeting.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record.

To share with Advisory Panel Members the proposals which are being developed

for a structure for the People Directorate and to decide on the feedback which

the Panel wishes to give about these proposals.

Consideration was given to a report detailing the proposals being developed for a structure for the People Directorate. The proposals had been developed in the context of the Financial Scenario, which the Council had to address.

The Strategic Director (People) reported that 22 responses from officers and Trade Unions on the draft proposals had been received, which were generally positive.

In considering the report Members of the Panel raised the following issues:

Reference was made to the Head of Transformation, it was noted that this position would focus around managing change, as there was a large programme of works in areas relating to children’s social care, the NHS and tackling wastage of resources.

With regard to paragraph 6.9 of the report Members noted the importance of grading posts at a level, which would enable the authority to recruit high calibre managers.

That joint working should be delivered at management and operational level.

Members were happy with the proposals and agreed that the structure should be implemented as soon as possible.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet be recommended to endorse the proposals and implement them as soon as possible.

To share with Advisory Panel Members the Project Initiation Document (PID),

which has been put together in relation to the Provision of Cultural

services and to decide on the advice, on this matter, which the Panel wishes to

give to Councillor Andrew Knowles, the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing

services.

Consideration was given to the Project Initiation Document (PID) which had been put together in relation to the provision of Cultural Services. The Panel agreed that a task and finish group should be established to give consideration to the final report prior to it being considered by Cabinet at its meeting scheduled to be held on 2 December 2008.

RESOLVED

1.      That a group of Councillors assist Councillor Knowles in considering the issues prior to deliberations upon them by the Cabinet.  That group should include Councillors B Livesley, JB Crockatt, R Fletcher.

      2. That the final report be circulated to the Advisory Panel – People for information.

To share with Advisory Panel Members some proposals for the Terms of Reference and Officer support for the Task Groups, agreed at the meeting of the Panel held on 23 September 2008 and to agree the Terms of Reference for the Task Groups and Officer support arrangements.

Consideration was given to the proposed Terms of Reference and officer support for the Transforming Learning Communities (TLC) and Social Care Redesign Task Groups.

With regard to the Transforming Local Communities Task Group, Members questioned whether or not Transforming Local Communities was currently being supported by consultants, how it would be supported in the future, what the current position was and how many surplus places were within the schools at present. The Panel agreed that at the first meeting of the task group a background report answering the above issues should be received.

It was agreed that Councillor Mrs E C Tomlinson would be added to the membership of the Social Care Redesign Panel and that the Democratic Services Officer arrange a meeting of both Task Groups for the end of November 2008.

RESOLVED

1. That the terms of Reference for the Task Groups be approved.
2. That the officer support arrangements be approved.
3. That the Transforming Local Communities Task Group receive a background report at its first meeting
4. That Councillor Mrs E C Tomlinson be added to the membership of the Social Care Redesign Panel
5. That meetings of both Panels be arranged for the end of November 2008.

To consider the attached paper, which is in the format of a Cabinet report, to enable Panel Members to be aware of a forthcoming Cabinet issue and to contribute views to inform the decision making of the Cabinet.

Consideration was given to a report, which was submitted to the Panel to enable Members to be aware of a forthcoming Cabinet issue and to contribute views to inform the decision making of the Cabinet.

The report informed Members of the legal and contractual context of the future relationship with Connexions Cheshire and Warrington Ltd. The report also highlighted the actions being taken by Cheshire County Council, in discussion with Warrington Borough Council and the Connexions Company, to transfer the County Council’s interests in Connexions to Cheshire East Council under the terms of the legally binding Members’ Agreement between CCC and WBC.

With regard to paragraph 2.6 of the report, Members agreed that Cabinet should be recommended to approve option 1- continuation of the current pan – Cheshire contract for one year with both LAs agreeing similar funding levels that will be compatible with delivering a pan-Cheshire contract and service specification to 1 April 2010, incorporating a refresh of outcome and output targets so they accord with each Authority’s LAA and other area specific requirements.

Members expressed the importance of the need to put in place effective contract management arrangements within the Children’s Services/People Directorate to performance manage the contract with Connexions.

Members also highlighted that the youth service provision should be maintained within the constraints of the budget.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet be recommended to:

1. Approve the continuation of the current pan – Cheshire contract for one year with both LAs agreeing similar funding levels that will be compatible with delivering a pan-Cheshire contract and service specification to 1 April 2010, incorporating a refresh of outcome and output targets so they accord with each Authority’s LAA and other area specific requirements.
2. Give consideration to the need to put in place effective contract management arrangements within the Children’s Services/People Directorate to performance manage the contract with Connexions

      3.   Give consideration to the youth service provision being maintained within the constraints of the budget.

Verbal Update by Strategic Director (People) 

The Strategic Director (People) reported that the following items would be considered at the next Advisory Panel – People:

1. Area Based Grants
2. Children’s Trust Arrangements
3.  Update on the Structural Proposals

RESOLVED

That the above issues be considered at the Advisory Panel – People at the meeting scheduled to be held on 8 December 2008.

8 December, 2008, 19 January, 2009, 2 March, 2009, (April 2009 to be confirmed).

Future meeting dates were noted as follows:-

8 December 2008

19 January 2009

2 March 2009

April 2009 – To be confirmed