Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Thomas Bedford and Christopher Snow.

Members of the Committee are reminded of their responsibilities to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct.  If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, then the individual member should not participate in the discussion on the matter and must withdraw from the room and not seek to influence a decision on the matter.

None of the Members declared any interests in relation to matters under consideration at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4 December 2006 (enclosed)

The Committee considered the Minutes of the previous meeting.

The Chair informed Members that the Council’s Relationship Manager (Audit Commission) was unable to attend the meeting due to personal reasons.  He would ask if he would be able to attend the next meeting on 20 February 2007 and if not available an alternative representative will be requested.

RESOLVED – 1)  That the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4 December 2006 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

2)      That the Director of Development and Regeneration be requested to submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee on 20 February 2007 rather than to the meeting on 27 March 2007 on whether the Best Value Performance Indicators affect the decisions taken on planning applications, in particular those which are of a complex nature.

To consider any reports on the agenda for the Executive Cabinet meeting to be held on 11 January 2007 which are not already on the agenda. The Executive Cabinet agenda will be circulated to all Members of the Committee. Please bring your copy to the meeting.

Members of the Committee are requested to notify the Democratic Services Section by 10.00am on Monday 8 January 2007, to ensure the attendance of the appropriate Executive Member and officers.

No reports on the agenda for the Executive Cabinet meeting on 8 January 2007 were considered for discussion.

To receive and consider the Council’s Forward Plan for the four months period from 1 January 2007 to 30 April 2007 (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the Council’s Forward Plan which set out details of the key executive decisions expected to be taken between 1 January 2007 and 30 April 2007.

The Plan identified several matters for potential decisions by the Executive and the Committee was requested to identify the items it wished to examine in advance to be considered by the Executive.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Cabinet be notified that this Committee wishes to examine reports on the following matters with the appropriate Executive Members and Directors, before decisions are taken by the Executive:

?    Review of Advice and Support Funding to External Groups (22 February2007)

?    Approval of Pay and Workforce Strategy (29 March 2007)

?    Approval of Neighbourhood Management and Engagement Strategy (28 April 2007)

Report of Director of ICT Services (enclosed)

The Committee received a report of the Director of Information and Communication Technology enclosing the draft Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Strategy and requesting the Committee to approve the document for consultation.

The revised ICT Strategy was to replace the existing strategy approved in April 2002 and will build upon the foundation laid by that document and support the further development of technology into areas that will deliver real benefits to our customers and efficiencies to the organisation.  The Strategy defined a programme of work that will contribute directly to people and performance.

RESOLVED – That Officers and Members be invited to comment upon the contents of the Information Technology (ICT) Strategy.

To receive a presentation by the Council’s Relationships Manager (Audit Commission) Mr Mike Thomas.

The presentation is to gain background information in connection with the Committees ongoing inquiry into the Council’s performance against the key lines of inquiry to be assessed by the Audit Commission during the CPA and the Direction of Travel.

At the last meeting of the Committee, two Sub-Groups were established and below are the dates for when they will meet

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Equality and Diversity Sub-Group

Monday 29 January 2007

Thursday 15 February 2007

Thursday 1 March 2007

Capacity /Achievement Sub-Group

Wednesday 31 January 2007

Monday 26 February 2007

Thursday 8 March 2007 

The Committee received notification that the Council’s Relationships Manager (Audit Commission) was unable to attend the meeting, however attempts will be made for him to attend the next meeting of the Committee on 20 February 2007, if not, his representative.

The Committee also received notification of the dates of the meetings of the Equality and Diversity Sub-Group and Capacity/Achievement Sub-Group.

Copy of the updated Plan enclosed

The Committee received the revised and updated Overview and Scrutiny Improvement Plan, which listed all the actions required to ensure that Scrutiny Improvement Plan was kept on track in order to assist the delivery of the Council’s performance agreement and corporate strategy.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the proposal being developed with the Improvement and Development Agency (IDEA), for a review of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Toolkit and the implementation of training sessions in June/July 2007.

The review of the toolkit and structure would identify options for a scrutiny structure appropriate to the Council’s needs.

The training sessions would be based around general Overview and Scrutiny issues, Chairing Overview and Scrutiny and Financial Strategy with further reports to be submitted on these issues to this Committee and Executive Cabinet.

RESOLVED – That the revised and updated Overview and Scrutiny Improvement Plan be noted.

The Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel at its meeting on 30 November 2006 received a presentation from a representative of the Lancashire Care NHS Trust on their wish to become a NHS Foundation Trust.

It was explained that the plans and the improvements the Trust required, would deliver even better mental health and substance misuse services to the people of Lancashire.

As part of the consultation process the Trust was required to consult with stakeholders. The Council’s comments on the proposals were welcomed so that they could be incorporated in their plans for the future.

Attached is the consultation document compiled by the Lancashire Care NHS Trust for information.

The Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel welcomed the proposals for the Lancashire Care NHS Trust on their wish to become a NHS Foundation Trust, however the Panel requested that Chorley Borough Council receives a fair share of representation on the Council of Governors.

The Committee is requested to endorse the views of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel.  

The Committee was informed that the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel at its meeting on 30 November 2006 had received a presentation from a representative of the Lancashire Care NHS Trust on their wish to become a NHS Foundation Trust.

The plan and the improvement the Trust required, would deliver even better mental health and substance misuse services to the people of Lancashire.  As part of the consultation process the Trust was required to consult with stakeholders, with the Council’s comments on the proposals to be welcomed so that they could be incorporated in their plans for the future.

The Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel had welcomed the proposals for the Lancashire Care NHS Trust on their wish to become a NHS Foundation Trust, however the Panel requested that Chorley Borough Council receives a fair share of representation on the Council of Governors.

RESOLVED – That the views of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel, be endorsed.

The Committee were presented with the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2006/07.

The programme included the envisaged timescales for the on-going, scrutiny inquiries and the planned dates for the periodic monitoring of past inquiries.

RESOLVED – That the work programme be noted.

The Chair accepted as urgent, consideration of this item, not included on the agenda, in order to consider a report which had been requested by the Committee at its meeting on 4 December 2006 (Minute 06.OS.70 refers) enabling Members to be brought up to date on the Council’s Job Evaluation process.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Human Resources on the background and progress made to date on job evaluation.  The report outlined the tasks completed, the outstanding issues to be addressed and the potential risks, such as equal pay claims, salary reduction and other costs.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.