Agenda and minutes

Lisa Quinn – Borough Treasurer

Mark Nedderman Senior Scrutiny Officer

RESOLVED – That the minutes of te meeting held on 19 April 2010 be approved as a correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit 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 members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered. 

There were no statements from members of the public.

To consider a report of the Borough Solicitor.

The Committee considered a report of the Borough Solicitor setting out a process to approve the work programme for 2010/2011.

            This Committee at its meeting held on 19 April 2010 had approved a paper entitled ‘Strengthening the Scrutiny Function’ which proposed a more formal approach to the work programme setting process in 2010 to enable the views of Cabinet to be fed into the process. This approach had also been considered and endorsed by the Scrutiny Chairs Group. The main aim of the new approach was to share work programmes with colleagues in Cabinet and Corporate Management Team (CMT) at the outset, so that Overview and Scrutiny became an integral part of the corporate business planning process of the Council.  Work programme items would subsequently be linked to relevant Corporate plan targets, and where appropriate, Performance Indicators and LAA targets.

            It was intended that emerging work programmes of all five Overview and Scrutiny Committees would be presented to Cabinet informally in June, and then each Committee would formally endorse its work programme before the summer recess.

            The committee was reminded that it needed to ensure that there was sufficient leeway to allow for additional activities throughout the year.

            A schedule attached to the report, set out all existing items in the work programme.

Members were also requested to have regard to the emerging Corporate Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy, both of which were currently in consultation stage and expected to be adopted by Council in July.

The Committee reviewed each work programme item and made the following comments

To note the end of year report.

The Committee considered a report of the chairman of the Members IT panel summarisng progress made during the 12 months since the inception of the panel.

The panel had nmet 13 times during 2009/2010 and had made significant progress in a number of areas including:

• Majority of of Chesire East CouncilPC’s and laptops being encrypted and virtually all Members using ‘Our cheshire’ to access their email system
• Over a quarter of Members have received new PC’s or laptops, with a further rollout later this year
• 81 new Samsung CLX 3175 printers have been purchased
• A training needs survey completed
• Establishment of a single number for the IT service desk and an out of hours service.

Work was continuing to replace old PC’s and laptops used by Members and IT training guides will be produced and the option of focused PC topic training sessions explored further.

In addition, a new support logging system will be installed and a training and support package will be developed for new members ready for May 2011.

RESOLVED – That the report be received and noted.

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 items currently listed in the forward plan.

Members discussed the need to have more detailed information in the forward plan in a more timely manner to enable Overview and Scrutiny Members to identify potential work programme items at an earlier stage

RESOLVED – That cabinet be requested to include items in the forward plan at as early stage in the decision making process as possible and to aim to include items for a minimum of 4 months wherever possible.

To note any consultations referred to the Committee from Cabinet and to determine whether any further action is appropriate.

There were no consultations from Cabinet.

To consider making arrangements to meet with the 3 Portfolio Holders responsible for Corporate Scrutiny Committee functions.

The Committee discussed arrangements to meet the portfolio holders responsible for functions within the Corporate Committee’s remit.  The Chairman informed the Committee that informal discussions would be required with Portfolio holders to talk about potential work programme items and all Member of the Committee would be invited to attend.

RESOLVED – That the Senior Scrutiny Committee be requested to set up a meeting with portfolio holders and extend an invitation to the meeting to all Members of the Committee, and a summary of the points discussed with portfolio holders be circulated to all Members of this Committee in due Course.

The Chairman to provide a  verbal update on proposals to arrange a Members Awareness session on the new Management Structure.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this matter be deferred to the next meeting.