Agenda and minutes

Russ Glennon

Chris Mann

Alex Thompson

Janis Grant

Mark Nedderman

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2009 be approved as a correct record.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests or for members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest, or imposition of a party whip.

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 questions.

To consider a report from the Borough Treasurer and Head of Assets and to  consider Committee involvement in the key stages of the budget timetable for 2009/2010 contained in appendix B.

The Committee considered a report of the Borough Treasurer and Head of Assets on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2010-2013 which was due to be considered by Cabinet at its meeting to be held on 14 July 2009.

The report detailed the business Planning proposals to develop a performance framework linked to a MTFS 2010 –2013 and to budget planning for 2010-2011.

The Committee had been asked to comment on the budget process, the processes and deadlines for 2010 and beyond.

The committee discussed the MTFS on a page by page basis and raised the following comments

RERSOLVED – That the above comments be forwarded to Cabinet on 14 July 2009.

To note the current Work Programme progress report.

The committee reviewed the work programme 2009/2010 which had been approved by the Committee on 12 June 2009.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer informed Members that ameeting to scope the review of the role, performance and funding of voluntary organisations would be held within the next two weeks.

The Vice Chairman informed members that the Resources Portfolio Holder had set up a member/officer panel to progress Members It provision, and that consequently, the Task and Finish group set up by this committee at its previous meeting would now cease work in this area to avoid duplication. The terms of reference of the panel working under the Portfolio holder had not yet been finalised, and therefore the Scrutiny Task and Finish group would be retained and held in abeyance awaiting confirmation of the remit of the new panel.

The Leader of the Council had requested the committee to examine the start times of meetings in the calendar of meetings. The Chairman informed the committee that it would be difficult to make significant changes to the 2009/2010 calendar, that the efforts of the committee should concentrate on the 2010/2011 calendar and that matter be given a medium priority in the work programme.

RESOLVED – That

(a)   The Work programme be noted;

(b)   It be noted that a Members Officer IT panel has been set up under the auspices of the Resources Portfolio Holder, and that consequently, the Member IT Task and Finish Group approved by this Committee be held in abeyance until such time as the Terms of Reference of the Portfolio Holder group are known  

(c)   An item be added into the work programme relating to the start times of meetings, and the Democratic Services Manager be requested to submit a report to the next meeting outlining the implications of the various options available to the Council;

To note the current forward plan, identify any new items, and to determine whether any further examination of new issues is appropriate.

The Committee considered the items currently on the Forward Plan that related to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – (a) That the contents of the Forward plan be noted.

                           (b) That the full forward plan be submitted to future meetings.