Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillors Alison Hansford, Harold Heaton and Rosie Russell.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting that was held on 9 August 2010 for signing by the Chair (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That subject to the addition of the following paragraph; 

‘In debating the two issues of frequency of performance information and scrutiny of Executive decisions, amendments were moved by Members who felt strongly that the Committee should retain the current arrangements’.

in the preamble of minute 10.OS.28 the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 9 August 2010 be held as a correct record for signing 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 declarations of interest were declared.

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 questions were received from any member of the public.

Following the decision made at the last meeting, the Committee are asked to consider the minutes of the last Executive Cabinet meeting held on 12 August 2010 (enclosed)

10.EC.181 – Overview and Scrutiny Task Group’s Inquiry into Highways Issues – Executive Response

Issue Raised:

Members had concerns that the response had been postponed and sought the current position with Lancashire County Council on Public Realm and Locality Working. Highways issues were raised frequently by Members under Neighbourhood Working.

The Director of Transformation clarified that Chorley had submitted a programme of works that we would be capable of delivering on behalf of Lancashire County Council and that officers were optimistic that they would receive a response soon.

The Director of People and Places explained that he would be contacting all Members shortly about the format for forthcoming Neighbourhood Tours.

RESOLVED – That the information be noted.

Issue raised:

Information was sought on the three Councils that had been selected for a pilot scheme in connection with Public Realm and Locality Working.

One of the Councils selected had been South Ribble and lessons had been learnt from their early findings. However it was pointed out that grass cutting arrangements between Chorley and Lancashire County Council and South Ribble and Lancashire County Council differ greatly.

RESOLVED – That the information be noted.

10.EC.184 – Chorley Partnership – Performance Monitoring Report for First Quarter of 2010/11

Issue raised:

A member raised the issue of Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEPs) and whether there would be one for the whole of Lancashire or by division.

The Director of Transformation informed the Committee that meetings had taken place with Lancashire Leaders and Chief Executives but no consensus had been achieved. Chorley had favoured one LEP for the whole of Lancashire.

RESOLVED – That the information be noted.

10.EC.188 – 2012 Olympic Games – Action Plan

Issue raised:

Members sought information about the provision of courses for young people of the Borough that are not in education, employment or training (NEET). European Social Funding (ESF) via Sport Unlimited had provided funding for two NEET courses but only one had taken place and an explanation was requested.

The Director of People and Places would investigate the details but it was intended that a review would take place at the end of the course with a view to it being repeated in the future, subject to available funding.

RESOLVED – That the information be provided to the Member as requested.

Issue raised:

Information was sought on what venues were deemed as being suitable for inclusion on the 2012 Olympic Venue List and whether the Council could market these venues effectively for use in other major competitions such as Iron Man 2010. There was an understanding that the cycling element of this tournament was taking place in Chorley, but as the start was taking place in Wigan and the finish would be in the Town Centre of Bolton, we would not receive any publicity.

Members were concerned that the Council did not do enough to effectively promote tourism in the Borough to attract major competitions and events.

The Director of People and Places explained that the Anderton  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy.

The Committee received a report providing an update on progress made against the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Inquiry report on the Local Strategic Partnership.

The purpose of the Inquiry had been to better understand how the Local Strategic Partnership works with the Council and the extra value that it provided against three main objectives around engagement, capacity to deliver and how the LSP could help to tackle one of the big issues of the Borough in relation to alcohol harm related hospital admissions.

 The report explained that a steering group of partners had worked together to develop an Alcohol Intervention Programme to tackle the major issue of alcohol related harm. Following this, a programme containing four major projects had been developed:

• Smart Response
• Healthy Shotz
• Workplace Training
• Free Health Checks

It was reported that the Lancashire Children’s Trust Board had also commissioned some early intervention work, money had been allocated across the 12 district councils and Members asked how this would link into the above projects, as there was some concern that the partners/agencies that would signpost these type of projects to the relevant people, particularly young people, did not know what was available and better communication was sought between the thematic groups of the LSP and the Children’s Trust to engage more effectively.

The money allocated to the districts for the early intervention programmes would be over a two year period. Funding had also been received from the Schools Forum and the Local Children’s Trust would engage with schools to facilitate their needs. The partners had been better aligned and a sub-group established to decide on what projects were needed and how they would link into existing provision. An Early Intervention Development Officer was also to be appointed to map the services/projects that were currently available across the district and identify any gaps or overlaps in provision.

Chorley Partnership is currently refreshing its Sustainable Community Strategy  and the Thematic Groups will be better aligned to improve on communication and enable deadlines for funding to be lined up more effectively.

Members also highlighted the need to consult and feedback with the local ward councillors so that the sessions available on the projects within the programme could be intelligence led to enable greater impact.

Members asked if the Alcohol Designation Order implemented to cover the Town Centre and Astley Park had  been successful. The Order had been implemented just before the Football World Cup and initial feedback suggested that the Order had helped over this busy period. The effects would continue to be monitored over the year.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Allotments Task and Finish Group

To receive a verbal update on the Inquiry from the Chair, Councillor Julia Berry and approval for the attached scoping document.

Asset Management Task and Finish Group

To receive a verbal update on the Inquiry from the Chair, Councillor Alan Cullens.

The Committee received from the Chair of each of the Task and Finish Groups an update on their respective inquiries.

(a)       Allotments

Councillor Berry reported that the Group had now met twice and asked for approval of the draft scoping document that was presented at the meeting.

(b)       Asset Mangement

Councillor Alan Cullens reported that Group had now met on three occasions, at the last meeting they had looked at different ways of using the Lancastrian room and a site visit had been arranged to look at the Bengal Street and Yarrow Depots to assess what depot provision would be needed in the future.

RESOLVED

1.         That the reports be noted.

2.         That the scoping document for the Allotments Task and Finish Group be approved.

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and the Council’s Forward Plan for the four month period September to December (documents enclosed).

To consider the enclosed Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2010/11

The Committee received a copy of the updated Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2010/11 following the changes made to the reporting of performance monitoring information.

Following earlier discussions that had taken place in the meeting the Work Programme would be updated as follows:

• To include a Scrutiny Inquiry on Tourism upon the conclusion of one of the present reviews.

RESOLVED – That the changes to the Work Programme be approved.

To consider the enclosed Forward Plan for the Council for the period September to December 2010.

The Committee received the Forward Plan for the period 1 September 2010 to 31 December 2010.

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan be noted.