Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were submitted. 

To confirm as a correct record the enclosed minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 1 December 2009.

RESOLVED – The minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1 December 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair. 

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.

No Members declared an interest in respect of 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 supplementary question within his/her allocated 3 minutes. 

No members of the public requested to ask a question. 

To consider any reports on the agenda for the Executive Cabinet meeting to be held on 7 January 2010.  

Members of the Committee are requested to notify the Democratic Services by Friday, 15 January 2010, to ensure the attendance of the appropriate Executive Member.

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

The Chair reported that there had been no requests from Committee Members to consider reports on the Executive Cabinet agenda for the meeting held on 7January 2010.

As requested at a previous meeting the enclosed summary of the report of the Director of People and Places which was presented to Executive Cabinet in December 2009 is enclosed for consideration.  The full report is 114 pages and can be viewed at http://democracy.chorley.gov.uk/Published/C00000115/M00002084/AI00016638/VFMCorpSupportServAppendix.pdf

The minute of the Executive Cabinet meeting is also enclosed for information. 

The Committee received the report of the Director of People and Places regarding the Value for Money Review of the Corporate Support Services as requested the meeting in January 2009. 

The review included the office of the Chief Executive, Human Resources and Organisational Development, Information and Communication Technology, Corporate Governance (Civic Services, Legal Services and Democratic Services) and Policy and Performance.

The review concluded that, in general, the Corporate Support Services provided good value for money.  The findings identified a number of improvements and service revisions that had the potential to streamline the use of resources and provide better value for money.

The Executive Cabinet have approved the recommendations for development and implementation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider and receive the enclosed report of the Director of People and Places. 

The Director of People and Places presented a report outlining options for future scrutiny of crime and disorder.  Information requested at the last meeting, including information about the Sanctuary scheme and Families First project was also presented.

RESOLVED –

1.            Training on the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) and crime and disorder issues be delivered via several Member Learning sessions, including topics like alcohol misuse, domestic violence and anti-social behaviour.

2.            Investigate the provision of the training jointly with South Ribble Council Members.

3.            To approach South Ribble Council to undertake a joint scrutiny of the merged CDRP, in the new municipal year and before each Council's Executive has made a decision on the future of the merged partnership.  The focus would be the efficient use of officer time and stakeholder satisfaction with the merged CDRP.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

The Committee considered the performance statistics from the merged CDRP that were requested at the last meeting.

RESOLVED – That the statistics be noted.

RESOLVED - That the meeting be reopened to the press and public.

To consider and receive the enclosed report of the Director of Transformation. 

The Director of Transformation presented a report regarding the performance monitoring of Key Partnerships as requested at the meeting on 9 November 2009. 

The Committee discussed different methods of scrutinise the performance of key partnerships in the future, including service delivery and financial standing.

RESOLVED –

1.            A report be presented to the March meeting of the Committee focussing on the financial stability of certain key partners,

2.            To constitute a task and finish group to consider aspects of one key partnership to be determined at the review of the year event in March.

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and the Council’s Forward Plan for the four month period 1 January 2010 to 30 April 2010 (documents enclosed).

The Director of Transformation reported that the broad principles of the 2010 budget would be considered at the next meeting, in addition to the Business Plan Monitoring Statements. 

The detailed budget for 2010/2011 was subject to notification from the Department for Transport on the grant for concessionary travel.  In addition there was an ongoing discussions between the Lancashire authorities and the bus companies relating to the proportion of the fare reimbursed to the bus companies. 

A review of the year session for scrutiny had been planned for 22 March meeting with an earlier start time of 4.30pm.  This would include suggestions for topics next year and be open to all non-Executive Members.

RESOLVED - The work programme and Forward Plan be noted.

Town Centre vitality Task and Finish Group

To receive a verbal update on the inquiry from the Chair, Councillor Peter Wilson.

Town Centre Vitality Task and Finish Group

Councillor Peter Wilson reported that the group would be undertaking a site visit to a comparable town in the near future. 

The final report of the group was expected in March. 

RESOLVED – That the update report be noted.

This item has been accepted by the Chair as urgent to enable the report to be considered by the Executive Cabinet in February and therefore negotiations to commence with Lancashire County Council as soon as possible on the recommendations. 

1.            To consider and receive the enclosed report of the Highways issues task and finish group. 

2.            To delegate power to the Chair of the Task and Finish Group Councillor Mike Devaney to make any slight amendments to the report

The Chair accepted this item as urgent to enable the final report of the task and finish group to be considered by the Executive Cabinet in February. 

Councillor Mike Devaney, as the Chair of the Group, delivered a brief presentation outlining the key findings and recommendations made with the aim of improving the delivery of services for the people of Chorley.

The recommendations included for Lancashire County Council to provide a separate reporting mechanism for officers and Councillors rather than the current single telephone number and to reduce avoidable contact with the contact centre (NI14) by keeping customers updated, with text messaging, email alerts or use of postcards for “work in progress” or “work completed”.

Others were to enter into negotiations with respect to Chorley delivering some enforcement functions, such as advertising boards, highway encroachment and overhanging vegetation and to formalise arrangements and resources to enable Chorley Council to deliver gritting services in an agreed town centre area on behalf of Lancashire County Council.

RESOVED

1.            To delegate power to the Chair of the Task and Finish Group, Councillor Mike Devaney, to make any slight amendments to the report,

2.            The report be accepted and forwarded to the Executive Cabinet in February.