Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Judith Boothman, Kevin Joyce, Roy Lees, Mick Muncaster and Shaun Smith.

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.

No Members declared an interest 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 22 November 2007 (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 22 November 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 Panel. Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one supplementary question within his/her allocated 3 minutes.  

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

Report of Director of Corporate Governance (enclosed)

That the draft Project Outline for the Chorley Town Centre Audit and Design Strategy be approved.

Recommendations

2.       That the attached project outline for the scrutiny inquiry of the Chorley Town Centre Audit and Design Strategy be approved.

Reasons

The review meets with the criteria for scrutiny in that it will add value to a project  which the Council is undertaking and contribute to worthwhile outcomes for local people. Town centre development is a key issue for local people and is at the heart of the economy and prosperity of the Borough, linking directly with our strategic objectives.

Options

N/A

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation) (to follow)

It was AGREED that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be recommended to submit the following suggestions to the Executive Cabinet as part of this year’s budget consultation exercise.

1.      To increase the number of Environmental Wardens.

2.      To provide another vehicle for the Environmental Wardens.

3.      That the hours of the Environmental Wardens be made flexible as currently they work to a restrictive core time pattern.

4.      To improve the process of requesting the cleaning of footpaths, clearing of hedgerows and ditches outside the urban core and reporting of faulty street lights.  Currently there can be confusion as to where the responsibility for this lies and how best to deal with Lancashire County Council when the responsibility lies with them.

5.      To increase the use of the machine that removes chewing gum throughout the Borough.

6.      To distribute to Members the schedule of work for street cleaning and grass cutting for their information and comment.

7.      To identify areas where there is a lack of recreational facilities and either provide additional facilities or improve transport links to existing facilities nearby.

8.      To explore concessionary arrangements with South Ribble where residents would be entitled to concessions within Chorley but South Ribble recreational facilities are closer.

9.      That the proposed increase for grant of right of burial fees be phased.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation) submitted a report setting out the spending and performance context for key spending areas at the Council, details of the rationale between the Executive draft budget proposals and the details of the key budget prospects for 2008/09.

The analysis of comparative data had shown that in the main the Council continued to drive down costs as measured by our relative performance against our nearest neighbours whilst continuing to improve both performance and in the main satisfaction with services.

The budget proposals aimed to achieve the key targets and increase in terms of the Council’s Corporate Strategy with some of those requiring additional resources whilst others required working in a different way.  New targets included climate change and older and younger people activities.

The Council continued to demonstrate good value for money resulting in maximum scores for both the use of its resources and value for money in the annual use of resources assessment.

The report set out an analysis of service costs against our nearest neighbours using the value for money profile tool for the following services within this Panel’s remit, planning, waste management, street cleansing, Economic and Community Development, parking, community safety and sport and recreation.

Members of the Panel were requested to consider the Executive’s draft budget proposals in the context of current spending and the Council’s corporate priorities and make appropriate representations to the Executive for consideration during the finalising of the budget proposals.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation) reported that the Corporate and Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 22 January 2008 had put forward several suggestions for the Executive Cabinet to consider and Members noted that a majority of them related to this Panel.

Members also considered the Capital Programme 2008/09 to 2010/11 and noted that the priorities were town centre investment, affordable housing, sustainability and climate change and investing in the Green Corridor.  These priorities were based upon the key objectives contained in the Council’s refreshed Corporate Strategy and upon a measure of our performance to date against that plan.

It was AGREED that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be recommended to submit the following suggestions to the Executive Cabinet as part of this year’s budget consultation exercise.

1.      To increase the number of Environmental Wardens.

2.      To provide another vehicle for the Environmental Wardens.

3.      That the hours of the Environmental Wardens be made flexible as currently they work to a restrictive core time pattern.

4.      To improve the process of requesting the cleaning of footpaths, clearing of hedgerows and ditches outside the urban core and reporting of faulty street lights.  Currently there can be confusion as to where the responsibility for this lies and how best to deal with Lancashire County Council when the responsibility lies with them.

5.      To increase the use of the machine that removes chewing gum throughout the Borough.

6.      To distribute to Members the schedule of work for street cleaning and grass cutting for their information and comment.

7.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for this Municipal Year with the items relating to this Panel is enclosed.

That the report be noted.

The Panel received the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2007/08 Municipal Year and in particular the item relating to the Environmental and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.