Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors M Lees and Malpas.

Members of the Panel are reminded of their responsibility 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 a discussion on the matter and must withdraw from the room and not seek to influence a decision on the matter.

No interests were declared.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 7 September 2005 (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 7 September 2005 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Panel received the Business Plan Monitoring Statements for April to July 2005 for Property Services, Information Communications Technology Services and Customer, Democratic and Office Support Services.  The respective Service Unit Heads gave a summary for their Unit and responded to queries from Members.

RESOLVED – That the Business Plan Monitoring Statements for April to July 2005 for Property Services, Information Communications Technology Services and Customer, Democratic and Office Support Services be noted.

Report of Head of Corporate and Policy Services (enclosed)

The Head of Corporate and Policy Services presented a report to the Panel providing an analysis of complaints referred to the Chief Executive and the Local Government Ombudsman in 2004/2005. 

The Panel considered the complaint s procedure and noted that complaints made to individual Services would be recorded by the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to be introduced as part of the ongoing development of the Contact Centre. 

Members noted that there had been no findings of maladministration and highlighted that the timescales for dealing with complaints had improved.  Some complaints were of a complex nature increasing the time needed to investigate the complaint.

RESOLVED

1. That the report be noted,
2. That a further report be presented to the Panel in six months.

A guide to responding from the Smoke Free Alliance and a draft response formulated by the Choosing Health in Chorley and South Ribble Group (enclosed)

The Panel considered a consultation paper on the “Smokefree elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill” as requested by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  A draft response to the paper was enclosed with the Panel’s agenda.

The Panel AGREED to note the draft response.

The Panel considered the following items as part of the ongoing Decriminalisation of Parking Enforcement Inquiry.

This item was deferred to a future meeting of the Panel with the consent of the Chair.

The Parking Manager presented information on the patrol beat undertaken by the mobile Parking Attendant.  Requests could be made for the mobile patrol to visit specific locations.  People who had parked in contravention did move their vehicles if they saw the mobile patrol. 

The Panel noted that zig zag areas in front of schools could not currently be enforced.  

RESOLVED –

1. That the Panel recommend that a blanket Traffic Regulation Order be passed to make parking on zig zag lines in front of schools enforceable,
2. That the Panel recommend a letter be sent to all Parish Councils querying if they have any areas they wish the mobile patrol to visit,
3. That a further report be presented to the Panel outlining how often areas were visited by the mobile patrol.

The Panel discussed the arrangements for the upcoming site visit to Sefton Borough Council and considered several questions to be asked.

RESOLVED – That the Democratic Services Officer write and confirm the details of the site visit to the Panel Members.

This item was deferred to the next meeting of the Panel with the consent of the Chair.

RESOLVED – That the Inquiry documentation be noted.

Work Programme (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the Work Programme be noted.