Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Harold Heaton and Margaret Lees.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 August 2007 (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 September 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

In relation to Minute 07.OS.83 (A Customer Focused Council – Implementing the Outcomes of Chorley’s Business Process Review) the Chair reported that he would request officers to report at the end of the meeting on the Council’s shared financial services arrangements with South Ribble.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 September 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

In relation to Minute 07.OS.83 (A Customer Focused Council – Implementing the Outcomes of Chorley’s Business Process Review) the Chair reported that he would request officers to report at the end of the meeting on the Council’s shared financial services arrangements with South Ribble.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations of interest by any of the Committee Members on any of the items on the agenda.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the Committee. Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one question within his or her allocated 3 minutes.

No members of the public had requested the opportunity to raise question(s) on any of the agenda items.

To consider any reports on the agenda for the Executive Cabinet meeting to be held on 4 October 2007 which are not on the agenda.

Members of the Committee are requested to notify the Democratic Services Section by 10.00am Friday 28 September 2007, to ensure the attendance of the appropriate Executive Member and officers.

 Please bring your copy of the Executive Cabinet agenda previously circulated.

The Chair requested that the item on the Executive Cabinet for the 4 October meeting regarding the annual refresh of the Corporate Strategy for 2007/08 – 2009/10 be discussed with the Committee.

The Chief Executive outlined the changes to the Corporate Strategy and would be the Council’s key strategic document.  It will be at the heart of the Council’s corporate business planning process and the key driver for delivering Chorley Council’s visionary priorities and strategic outcomes.  In line with the corporate business planning process, the three-year Corporate Strategy was reviewed and refreshed on an annual basis and where appropriate changes recommended including the introduction of new key projects which would deliver real improvements for the community.

The Chair requested that the item on the Executive Cabinet for the 4 October meeting regarding the annual refresh of the Corporate Strategy for 2007/08 – 2009/10 be discussed at the Committee.

The Chief Executive outlined the changes to the Corporate Strategy and would be the Council’s key strategic document.  It would be at the heart of the Council’s corporate business planning process and the key driver for delivering Chorley Council’s vision priorities and strategic outcomes.  In line with the corporate business planning process, the three-year Corporate Strategy was reviewed and refreshed on an annual basis and where appropriate changes recommended, including the introduction of new key projects which would deliver real improvements for the community.

Report of Corporate Director (Business)

Members will recall that the Committee requested this report at its meeting on the 2 August 2007

Noted

Further to Minute 07.OS.64 (2 August 2007) the Corporate Director (Business) submitted a report updating Members on progress with Chorley Markets.

The report indicated that a Markets Steering Group had been formally established in May 2007 with traders representatives from both the covered and flat iron markets and the Council, with a jointly prepared Action Plan.  The Action Plan showed that considerable progress had been made and the report indicated the key achievements that had been made to date.

Some of the recommendations from the Scrutiny Inquiry into Chorley Markets had been utilised by the Working Group.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Committee at its last meeting received from the Executive Member for Health, Leisure and Well-Being and the Director of Leisure and Culture the outcome of the Lancashire Overview and Scrutiny session regarding ‘Every Child Matters that was held on 28 August.

Enclosed are the minutes of the session, which the Committee requested, to allow Members the opportunity of determining any action that Chorley Council can take to enhance delivery of the project outcomes.    

.

That the Minutes be noted.

Further to Minute 07.OS.78 (3 September 2007) the Committee received the minutes of the Lancashire Overview and Scrutiny session held on 28 August regarding ‘Every Child Matters’.  The Minutes allowed Members the opportunity to determine any action that Chorley Council could take to enhance delivery of the project outcomes.  It was reported that no action was required at the present time however this may be looked at at a later date.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes be noted.

To consider the Councils Forward Plan for the four month period 1 October 2007 to 31 January 2008 (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the Council’s Forward Plan setting out details of the key executive decisions expected to be taken between 1 October 2007 to 31 January 2008.

The Plan identified several matters for potential decisions by the Executive and the Committee was requested to indicate those items that it wished to examine in advance of consideration by the Executive.

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan be noted.

The Committee received the updated Overview and Scrutiny Programme for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

The programme included the envisaged timescale for the ongoing scrutiny inquiries and the planned monitoring of past inquiry recommendations.

RESOLVED – That the work programme be noted.

The Committee received a report from the Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation) updating Members on the progress of the 2007/08 Capital Programme and setting out a recommendation from the Corporate Improvement Board for the approved of an increase by the Executive Cabinet.

The report indicating that the latest Capital Programme forecast for 2007/08.  However an increase in the programme of £414,860 to £8,673,310 and the significant reasons for the increase were set out in the report.

RESOLVED –That the report be noted.

Report of Assistant Chief Executive (Business,Transformation and Improvement)

The Chair accepted as urgent, consideration of this item, not included on the agenda in order for members of the Committee to receive clarification on the Council’s shared financial service arrangements with South Ribble.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation and Improvement) clarified the proposals for Chorley and South Ribble Councils to share financial services.  He clarified the robustness of the projected financial arrangements and explained the proposed joint working arrangements will be delivered as well as the contingency plans in the event of the joint working arrangements not being realised.  A report will shortly be submitted to the December Executive Cabinet setting out the proposals and arrangements.

The Chair accepted as urgent, consideration of this item, not included on the agenda in order for members of the Committee to receive clarification on the Council’s shared financial services arrangements with South Ribble.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation and Improvement) clarified the proposals for Chorley and South Ribble Councils to share financial services.  He also clarified the robustness of the projected financial arrangements and explained how the proposed joint working arrangements would be delivered as well as the contingency plans in the event of the joint working arrangements not being realised.  A report would be submitted to the December Executive Cabinet setting out the proposals and arrangements.