Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Henry Caunce, Michael Davies, Mrs Doreen Dickinson, Pat Haughton, Thomas McGowan and Mrs Joyce Snape. 

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.

There were no declarations of interest by Members relating to the items on the agenda.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate and Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 25th September 2007 (enclosed). 

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate and Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 25 September 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item(s) 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 or her allocated 3 minutes.

No members of the public requested to speak at the meeting.

Report of Corporate Director (Business) (enclosed).

Agreed.  

The Panel received the report of the Corporate Director (Business) updating Members on the progress made in improving and developing Chorley Markets following the inquiry into their performance during 2004.

Members noted the progress made with the Market Steering Group and that many of the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Inquiry had been incorporated into the Markets Action Plan. 

Members discussed the content of the report with Councillor Malpas, the Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, who clarified several queries.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and a further update be presented to the Panel in six months. 

The two Sub-Group Chairs will present the minutes of the respective Sub-Groups as an update to the Panel on the ongoing Scrutiny Inquiries (enclosed). 

Agreed. 

Councillor Mike Devaney presented the minutes of the Absence Management Sub-Group held on 3 October 2007. 

Councillor Terry Brown advised that the Corporate Director of Human Resources would be attending a conference on work place listeners in November and the information from this conference would be presented to the next meeting of the Sub-Group in January 2008. 

The Chair presented the minutes of the Efficiency Gains Sub-Group held on 26 September 2007.  The Panel noted the commendable achievements of the Council on the efficiency agenda as demonstrated by the documentary evidence presented to the Sub-Group. 

The next meeting of the Sub-Group in November 2008 would consider further evidence and questions for the feedback session with the Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation and Improvement) at a later meeting. 

RESOLVED - That

1.                  Progress on the Scrutiny Inquiries be noted and

2.                  Best wishes be sent to Councillor Mrs Walsh for a speedy recovery. 

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2007 2008 (enclosed).

Agreed.

The Panel received and noted the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2007 2008 and in particular the items relating to the Panel.

RESOLVED – That the Work Programme be noted.