Agenda and minutes

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.

Councillors D Edgerley and Mrs I Smith declared a personal interest in Minute 06.05.33 (Future of Mental Health Services in Lancashire - Consultation).  Both Members remained in the meeting but took no part in the discussion.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2 March 2006 (enclosed)

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2 March 2006 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider any reports on the agenda for the Executive Cabinet meeting to be held on 29 June 2006.

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

As part of the revised scrutiny process the Committee was requested to consider any reports on the agenda for the Executive Cabinet meeting that was to be held on 29 June 2006.

Under the item of ‘Draft Provisional Capital Outturn 2005/06 and 2006/07’ Monitoring’ the Chair raised the subject of the Capital Outturn 2005/06 and the overspending for the Town Hall Disabled Access and Refurbishment Scheme as well as the Housing Maintenance Capital Programme.

A review was currently taking place on the issues surrounding the Town Hall project and the possibility of receiving some of the costs from the contractor due to the delays.

Report of Director of Streetscene, Neighbourhoods and Environment (enclosed)

Mr David Herne from the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care NHS Trust will give a short presentation to the Committee.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Streetscene, Neighbourhoods and Environment to which was attached the ‘Chorley and South Ribble Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy 2006.

The Strategy had been the result of collaboration between Chorley Community Safety Partnership and the Chorley and South Ribble PCT.

The Committee received from David Herne of the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care NHS Trust, a short presentation summarising the key alcohol related public health issues and the attitude to alcohol use.

RESOLVED - That the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy with Chorley be supported with its introduction through the work of the Council’s MAPS team as well as the use of the Council’s Licensing Liaison Panel in getting the message over to the licensing trade.

The Lancashire Joint Primary Care has requested the Council’s views on proposals for changes to the way mental health services are provided in Lancashire. . A copy of the consultation document is attached separately for Members of the Committee and other copies are available for perusal in the Members Room.

The Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel at its meeting held on 8 June 2006 received a presentation from the Chief Executive of Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care NHS Trust on the proposals and a brief summary and views of the Panel are attached.

The comments of the Committee on the proposals are requested for submission to the Executive Cabinet on 29 June 2006.

The Committee’s views were requested on the proposals for changes in the way mental health services are provided in Lancashire.

Members received the consultation document on the proposals as well as a brief summary and views of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel which had received a presentation from the Chief Executive of the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care NHS Trust.

RESOLVED - That the proposals be supported and that a comment be submitted on accessibility for those attending the new mental health hospitals.

To consider the enclosed Inquiry report of the former Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel and its recommendations

The Committee received the final report from the former Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel on their investigation into the effectiveness of the Decriminalisation of Parking  Enforcement.

This Committee had requested the Panel to carry out the inquiry and to assess the impact the introduction of the Parkwise Scheme had on residents, visitors, traders and businesses in Chorley and to identify any future improvements for customer service.

RESOLVED - That the former Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel’s report on its scrutiny inquiry into the Decriminalisation of Parking Enforcement and the recommendations contained in the report, be approved and that they be forwarded to the Executive Cabinet for its approval.

To consider the 2005/06 Annual Report (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2005/06 which outlined and commented on the areas of work and scrutiny inquiries undertaken by the Committee and the three Overview and Scrutiny Panels during the last municipal year.

RESOLVED - That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2005/06 be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive (copy enclosed).

The Committee received a report of the Chief Executive enclosing the proposed Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme fore 2006/07 which identified the proposed areas of work to be undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its two associate Panels during the municipal year.

The Committee was requested to prioritise the planned scrutiny inquiries to be undertaken by the Committee and the Panels.

RESOLVED 1) That the following scrutiny inquiry be undertaken during 2006/07 in the order set out and complete the Scrutiny Inquiry Project Outline document for the first priority inquiry at its next meeting.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Ÿ       The Council’s current performance against the key lines of inquiry to be assessed by the Audit Commission during the Comprehensive Performance Assessment and Direction of Travel.

Ÿ       Job Evaluation

Ÿ       The effectiveness of the Community Safety Partnership in the delivery of reduced levels of crime within the Borough.

Corporate and Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel

Ÿ       Contact Centre Efficiencies and Partnership with Lancashire County Council

Ÿ         Gershon Efficiencies

Ÿ       Staff Sickness Absences

Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel

Ÿ         Neighbourhood Working

Ÿ       Town Centre Strategy

Ÿ         Inequalities in the Borough

2) That the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2006/07 be approved.

3) That the Executive Cabinet be recommended to note the content of the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2006/07 and agree to the order of priority of the inquiries.

To consider the Councils Forward Plan for the four month period 1 July to 31 October 2006 (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the Council’s Forward Plan setting out the details of the key decisions which the Executive Cabinet, individual Executive Members and Officers were expected to take during the four month period 1 July 2006 to 31 October 2006.

The Committee noted the details of the decision to be taken in respect of approval of terms for acquisition of property required to construct the Gillibrand Link Road which was expected by 5 October 2006.

The Chair urged Members to look at the items on the Forward Plan as this was an area the Committee and Panels could look at.

RESOLVED - That this Committee receives before 5 October 2006 a report on the subject of land acquisition for the Gillibrand Link Road with the responsible Executive Member present at the meeting.

Report of Head of Corporate and Policy Services (enclosed)

The Committee received a monitoring report setting out performance against the Council’s key and Best Value Performance Indicators for the year ending 31 March 2006.

The Performance Indicator falls into the three main types of Corporate KPI’s, Best Value KPI’s and Local KPI’s and related to the measuring of performance for each service unit.

The report identified, in respect of each service area, whether the performance was (i) achieving or exceeding its target for 2005/06, (ii) within a tolerance level, or (iii) significantly worse than planned or worse than the previous year.  The data also indicated whether performance was improving, worsening or remaining static during the reputed periods and included explanatory comments from the officers on similar selected areas.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

To receive the Business Plan Monitoring Statements for the period January to March 2006 (copy enclosed). The report contains information on the Corporate and Policy Services, which falls within the responsibility of this Committee.

The Committee received the Business Plan Monitoring Statement relating to Corporate and Policy Services which identified the progress against the key action included in the Unit’s Business Plan for 2005/06.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.