Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Alan Cain, Anthony Gee, Michael Davies, Miss Margaret Iddon, Roy Lees, Edward Smith and Shaun Smith.

Members of the Committee 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 Members declared any interests in relation to matters under consideration at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 8 June 2006 (enclosed) 

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 8 June 2006 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Panel received the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for the 2006/07 Municipal Year and discussed the items relating to the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

The Panel has been requested to carryout a Scrutiny Inquiry on the subject of ‘Neighbourhood Working’.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 27 June agreed that this be a first priority inquiry for the Panel for this Municipal Year

A blank copy of the Scoping document and project plan to be complete are enclosed

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 27 June 2006 requested this Panel to undertake an inquiry into ‘Neighbourhood Working’.  The Committee requested that the Panel complete the necessary Scrutiny Inquiry Project Outline document for this first priority inquiry.

The Panel received a draft Inquiry Project Outline for the inquiry and the following was agreed:

Objectives

1.      To identify the area Neighbourhoods.

2.      To what extent do Directorate plan services on a Neighbourhood basis and develop recommendations for future development of localised services.

3.      To identify the relevant issues relating to neighbourhood working.

4.      To compare best practices for other districts and elsewhere.

5.      To identify relevant areas relating to funding budgets and capacity.

6.      The ability to deliver.

Desired Outcomes

1.      To generate services and activities appropriate for neighbourhood delivery.

2.         Recommendations for selection criteria to identify suitable neighbourhoods.

3.      To explore the potential options in the Government’s White Paper to be published in November 2006.

4.      To deliver recommendations which complement neighbourhood and engagement strategy.

5.      To explore the possibility of a priority pilot neighbourhood action plan and service delivery to be manageable.

Terms of Reference

1.      To conduct an investigation into improvements into neighbourhood working in Chorley.

2.      To report the inquiry’s findings and recommendations initially to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

3.      To explore best practice elsewhere from both inside and outside Chorley.

Key Issues

1.      In relation to the Corporate Strategy a project to prepare on neighbourhood management and engagement strategy.

2.      Work to build on the recommendations of the Area Forums.

3.      Improve customer feedback and services.

Risks

1.      Raising expectations beyond capacity to deliver.

2.         Differential services for the Council.

3.         Implication on resources.

RESOLVED – 1)  That the draft Project Outline for the Neighbourhood Working Scrutiny Inquiry be approved.

2)  That to enable the Inquiry to progress, Members of the Panel be put into Sub-Groups at the next meeting on 14 September 2006.

3)  That the newly appointed Director of Policy and Performance be invited to the next meeting of the Panel on 14 September 2006.