Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Marie Gray, Iris Smith and Joyce Snape. 

To confirm as a correct record the enclosed minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 February 2010.

RESOLVED

1.             The minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 February 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

2.             Confirmation of the monetary figure for debts over 90 days and the risk of the money not being paid be forwarded to Committee Members.

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.

In accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct the following interests were declared:

·              Councillor Adrian Lowe declared a personal interest in item 10.OS.134d, Chorley Community Housing.

·              Councillor Alan Cullens declared a personal interest in item 10.OS134d, Chorley Community Housing.

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 25 March 2010.

Members of the Committee are requested to notify the Democratic Services by Friday, 19 March 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 on 25 March 2010.  

To receive a verbal update from the Director of Transformation. 

This is an item requested by the Committee at their meeting last June. 

This was an item requested by the Committee at their meeting last June. The Director of Transformation reported there were no plans for officers to submit any more proposals as the Council had not yet been told whether the last round of proposals had been successful.  In fact, the future of the scheme was currently out to consultation.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted. 

To receive and consider the following reports:

To receive and consider the enclosed final report of the Town Centre Vitality task and finish group. 

The Committee received and considered the final report of the Town Centre Vitality task and finish group.  The Chair of the group, Councillor Peter Wilson, had delivered a presentation outlining the key findings and recommendations as part of the “review of the year” event held prior to the meeting.

The recommendations covered the key elements of the report:

·              Formulation of a comprehensive marketing action plan

·              Improvement of the Evening Economy

·              Develop and deliver a pavement café policy

·              Signage strategy

·              Car parking strategy

·              Town Centre living

·              Vacant property policy

·              Develop and deliver short term and long term action plans for the Markets

RESOLVED

1.            The report be accepted, subject to two alterations to the financial implications:

a, production of 10,000 copies of an A5 double sided sheet £1,700  b, local radio campaign between £3,000 and £10,000. 

2.            The report be recommended for approval by the Executive Cabinet in June.

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

The Committee received and considered the monitoring report of the Director of Places and People on the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Group in 2008.

Members raised several queries and officers explained that there had been a change of approach on some of the recommendations since the report had been approved and other recommendations were dependent on other projects ongoing within the Council. 

RESOLVED

1.             The monitoring report be noted.

2.             To receive a further monitoring report in six months.

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

The Director of Transformation presented a monitoring report relating to the Efficiency Gains inquiry.  Members noted the good progress being made, however, further work was needed going forward to engage with Members in this area.

RESOLVED

1.             The monitoring report be noted.

2.             Department for Communities and Local Government be requested to reconsider the revised 3 year target set and local target for 2009 / 10 as it includes a number of anomalies in relation to capital spend where the Council acts as banker.

1.             To receive a further monitoring report in six months.

To receive and consider the monitoring report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy (enclosed). 

(Councillors Alan Cullens and Adrian Lowe declared a personal interest in this item and took no part in the debate or voting)

Members received and considered the monitoring report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy. 

Members raised concerns in relation to several of the updates and noted that there had been another staffing restructure at Chorley Community Housing (CCH). 

RESOLVED

1.             The monitoring report be noted.

2.             To invite the Director of CCH to a future meeting of the Committee to enable them to provide evidence that changes to working practices and staffing levels arising from the restructure will not adversely impact on the delivery of the tenant promises.

3.             To request CCH to provide information on the scale and payment profile of the VAT shelter.

4.             To forward information relating to the progress of affordable housing units to be provided by Adactus in Chorley to Members of the Committee.  

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

The Head of Leisure and Neighbourhoods presented a report providing a progress report on the first year’s Neighbourhood Working, including the 2009-2010 Neighbourhood Action Plans.

Members noted that an update report would be presented to Executive Cabinet later that week outlining funding allocation against Neighbourhood Action Plan projects for 2010/11.

RESOLVED - The monitoring report be noted, along with the funding allocations for 2010 / 11.  

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

The Head of Democratic Services advised that a report outlining the topics considered at the “review of the year “ event prior to this meeting and the Committee’s draft Annual Report would be presented to the first meeting of the new municipal year.  

RESOLVED - The work programme and Forward Plan be noted.

The Chair accepted as urgent, consideration of this item, not included on the agenda in order to appoint Members for a joint meeting of representatives of Chorley and South Ribble’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees. 

At the previous meeting it had been anitcipated that a joint scrutiny would take place in the new municipal year, but the timetable had been moved forward with the decision on the future of the merged Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership now due to be determined by the Chorley and South Ribble Executive Cabinet’s in June. 

RESOLVED - Councillors Nora Ball, Alan Cullens, Mike Devaney, Dennis Edgerley, Harold Heaton and Adrian Lowe be appointed to represent Chorley at the joint scrutiny meeting.  Substitutes to be appointed by the Members should they not be available.