Venue: Sparkenhoe Room, County Hall, Glenfield
Contact: Mr. M.I. Seedat (Tel: 0116 305 6037) Email: mseedat@leics.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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Attendance under the Sensitive Issues Procedure. Mr Max Hunt CC for item on the Leicestershire Sustainable Community Strategy. (minute number 96). |
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By Invitation. Mr D R Parsons CC –
Leader of the Council (for minute number 94) Mrs M L Sherwin CC
– Chairman of the Scrutiny Review Panel on the County Council’s Environment
Policies and Programmes (for minute number 95) |
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Minutes: The minutes of the
meeting held on |
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Question Time. Minutes: The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35. |
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Questions asked by members under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5). Minutes: The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5). |
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Urgent Items. Minutes: There were no urgent items for consideration. |
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Declarations of interest. Minutes: The following
members declared personal non prejudicial interests as members of District
Councils in relation to the reports on the CPA Corporate Assessment and the
Leicestershire Sustainable Community Strategy:- Mr
Galton, Mr Hart, Mr Lewis, Mr Shepherd, Mr Snartt and Dr O’Callaghan. |
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Declarations of the Party Whip in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 16. Minutes: There were no
declarations made under Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 16. |
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Presentation of Petitions under Standing Order 36. Minutes: The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been
received under Standing Order 36. |
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CPA Corporate Assessment - Final Report and Corporate Improvement Plan. PDF 130 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Commission
considered a report of the Chief Executive on the results of the corporate
assessment of the Council by the Audit Commission; the report sought the
Commission’s comments on the draft CPA Corporate Improvement Plan to be
considered by the Cabinet on 8th April. A copy of the report marked ‘B’ is filed with
these minutes. In response to
questions, the Commission was advised as follows:- i)
the recent
decision by all District Councils to participate in the new LAA
efficiency target was to be welcomed. Nevertheless, overall progress on the
shared services agenda with Districts was slower than desired. The County
Council had identified for the benefit of all District Councils those areas of
activity/service where it considered joint working could lead to efficiencies and/or
better service provision. To date, the only Councils to have responded
positively to specific proposals were Melton and Blaby Councils. It was,
however, noted that some District Councils were exploring opportunities for
shared services without involving the County Council; ii)
the
County Council was working closely with neighbouring top tier authorities,
particularly Nottinghamshire, on the shared services agenda; iii)
the Council had
recognised that progress towards achieving Level 3 of the Equality Standard had
been slower than expected and the revised Action Plan target dates recognised
this. The problem had been, in part, a resource issue; iv)
whilst
it was recognised that the performance management framework and reporting
arrangements had improved significantly, there still remained challenges
particularly in relation to the new requirements of LAA2 and the CAA and in the context of partnership working; v)
the low take-up
by members of training opportunities was an issue of concern and all political
groups would need to address this. RESOLVED: That the positive
inspection report which highlighted the excellent performance and achievements
of the County Council and its partners be welcomed. |
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Minutes: The Commission
considered a report of the Scrutiny Review Panel on the County Council’s
Environment Policies and Programme. The
report outlined the Panel’s recommendations arising from its second block of
work on ‘Leadership and the Environment’ A copy of the report, marked ‘C’, is filed
with these minutes. Members noted the
actions taken by the Panel to seek the views of interested groups and outside
witnesses. In response to
comments regarding paragraph 13 of the report, members were advised that the
Environmental Strategy Action Plan would provide a more comprehensive list of
investment and activities undertaken by the County Council. Members were also
advised that the County Council had obtained resources from the Carbon Trust to
measure the carbon footprint of the County Council and measures that could be
taken. The issue of reducing business travel by officers would be addressed as
part of this initiative. RESOLVED: a)
That
the report of the Review Panel be welcomed and commended; b)
That
this report and future reports of the Panel be submitted to the Environment
Scrutiny Committee. |
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Leicestershire Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS), Second Local Area Agreement (LAA2) and Multi-Area Agreement for Leicester and Leicestershire. (Members are requested to bring to the meeting the Members’ Information Item circulated on 18 March which was attached these reports). Minutes: The Commission
considered a report of the Chief Executive on the draft Sustainable Community
Strategy (SCS) 2008 – 2013, which set out the high
level outcomes that partners wished to achieve in Leicestershire and the second
Local Area Agreement (LAA 2) 2008 – 11 which provided
the delivery framework for the most important of these outcomes. Alongside the LAA
developments, agreement had been reached with partners in The Commission also
considered written comments that had been received from Mr M. Hunt CC which
expressed concern at how the issue of access to services was being addressed
within the strategy and that the Strategy as currently drafted failed to have
proper regard to the role of the internet in enhancing access to services. A
copy of the comments is also filed with these minutes. In the ensuing
discussion the following suggestions were put forward by members as issues that
needed to be addressed before the Strategy was finalised:- i)
the
name of the Thurmaston, Syston
and Wreake Villages Forum should be changed back to
‘South Charnwood Forum’ in accordance with the wishes of that Forum ; ii)
the
role of the internet in enabling people to access services should be
strengthened in the Access to Services chapter; iii)
the findings of
the Review Panel on the Arts should be reflected. This demonstrated how the
arts and cultural activities could contribute to a number of the themes in the SCS and LAA; iv)
inclusion
of a reference to rail transport in the transport section; With regard to the
section on Children and Young People and priority outcome 2.8.1, Mr Galton advised the Commission that his Group would be
preparing a paper for circulation to the Cabinet setting out their views on how
this might be addressed. (A copy of the paper which was received following the
meeting of the Commission is attached to these minutes for information). Members were
advised that many of the issues raised by Mr Hunt had been recognised and taken
into account in redrafting the Strategy. Members were advised that detailed
delivery plans for each of the themes of the SCS
would be prepared and the issues now identified would be addressed within those
plans. With regard to ‘pump priming’ funds, the Commission was advised that
whilst some reward funding should be available this would be significantly less
that that received in LAA1. RESOLVED: a)
That
the comments now made be drawn to the attention of the Cabinet; b)
That
the officers responsible for the producing the draft Sustainable Community
Strategy be commended and thanked for their work. |
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Fourth Review of the Capital Programme 2007/08. PDF 89 KB Minutes: The Commission considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources concerning progress on the delivery of the Annual Capital Programme. A copy of the report marked ‘E’ is filed with these minutes.
That the overall position, showing 95% of programmed expenditure is forecast to be completed by the year end, be noted. |
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Date of next meeting. The next meeting of the Scrutiny Commission will take place
on Wednesday 18 June at Minutes: RESOLVED: That the next meeting of the Committee be held on |