Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Michael Davies, Mike Devaney, Pat Haughton, Keith Iddon, Kevin Joyce, Thomas McGowan, Mick Muncaster and Stella Walsh. 

The Chair reported that the Deputy Chief Executive, Paul Morris, who would be retiring before Christmas.  The Chair expressed his thanks to Paul for his support and help to the Panel over the years.  

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 consider the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate and Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 23 October 2007 (enclosed).  

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate and Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 23 October 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.

The Business Plan and Performance Monitoring Reports is enclosed for the period July 2007 to September 2007 for Human Resources.    

Noted.

The Panel received the Business Plan Monitoring Statements for the period July 2007 to September 2007 for Human Resources, Information, Communication Technology Services, Customer, Democratic and Legal Services and Financial Services.

The report of the Corporate Director of People is enclosed. 

Noted.

The Panel received the report of the Corporate Director (People) updating Members on the progress made to the Executive Cabinet in May 2007.

Members noted the excellent progress made and raised several points with Councillor John Walker, the Executive Member for Customer, Democratic and Legal Services. 

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

The Chair of the Efficiency Gains Sub-Group will present the minutes of the meeting held on 6 November as an update to the Panel on the ongoing Scrutiny Inquiry (enclosed).

The Chair of the Absence Management Sub-Group will update the Panel on the briefing held with the Corporate Director of Human Resources on 8 November. 

Noted.

The Chair updated the Panel on the two ongoing Inquiries into Efficiency Gains and Absence Management.  

It was noted that the evidence gathered would be presented to the next meeting of the Absence Management Sub-Group in January 2008 to enable recommendations, if any, to be made and the final report to be drawn up.

The Efficiency Gains Sub-Group would be receiving feedback from the Directors before Christmas and would be meeting in January 2008 to draft their findings and recommendations into a final report.

RESOLVED – That progress on the Scrutiny Inquiries be noted. 

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

Noted.

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.