Venue: Sparkenhoe Committee Room, County Hall, Glenfield
Contact: Mr. M.I. Seedat (Tel: 0116 265 6037) Email: mseedat@leics.gov.uk
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By Invitation Mr. D.R. Parsons – Leader of the Council, for minute number 20. |
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 28th May having been previously circulated were taken as read, confirmed and signed. |
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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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Any other items the Chairman has decided to take as urgent elsewhere on the agenda. 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 District Councillors in relation to Item 8 – The Leicestershire Community Strategy:
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Declarations of the Party Whip in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 16. Minutes: Mr. Hyde was declared the Party Whip on behalf of the Labour Group in relation to the commitment in the Medium Term Corporate Strategy concerning the transfer of residential care homes to the private sector. (Item 9 – Paper C Page 10). |
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Presentation of Petitions under Standing Order 36. Minutes: The Chief Executive reported that there were no petitions to be presented. |
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Change in Order of Business. Minutes: The Chairman sought and obtained the agreement of the Commission to vary the order of business from that set out on the agenda. |
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Medium Term Corporate Strategy. PDF 60 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Commission
considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning revisions to the Medium
Term Corporate Strategy. A copy of the report marked ‘C’ is filed with these
minutes. The Chairman
welcomed the to the meeting the Leader, Mr Parsons, who had kindly agreed to
attend the meeting to answer questions in relation to this item. Mr. Parsons
introduced the report and stated that the review had enabled the Administration
to concentrate on a smaller number of Corporate Objectives and smaller number
of Priority Issues which were intended to improve the County Council’s
performance in service delivery and the wider role of community
leadership. The Strategy now set out
targets against each of the Priority Issues.
He went on to state that although the Strategy now clearly focused on
the key priorities, the Administration remained committed to improving all of
the Council’s services. In response to
comments and questions the Commission was advised by the Leader that :- (i) the
Best Value Performance Plan should be a separate document from the Medium Term
Corporate Strategy, but there was a need to maintain a link between the two
documents. The Strategy was intended to
set out clearly the priorities of the Council.
The Performance Plan followed the structure of the strategy. Performance would be regularly monitored and
reported to the appropriate scrutiny body. (ii) the
performance targets in the document were intended to be challenging and
measurable. However, it was recognised
that in relation to certain measures such as the availability of bus services,
targets would have to be refined over time and that it would not be sufficient
to rely upon existing policy commitments. (iii) the
Administration recognised that the National Equality Standard Target it had set
itself would be particularly challenging.
To acknowledge this one member of the Cabinet had for the first time
been given a particular brief to progress work in this area. (iv) the
reference to private sector provision in relation to the Common Admission Date
for young people was a response to Government guidance to take account of such
provision. It was recognised that
progress on a Common Admission Date was dependent on the Council finding additional
resources, something which was extremely difficult given the underfunding by
the Government of Leicestershire Education. (v) the
reference to the ‘unfair government grant system’ for education in
Leicestershire reflected the views of the Administration and the Leader
believed many others. He, therefore,
considered that it should not be amended. (vi) the
figures quoted in relation to the reporting of incidents of domestic violence
were those agreed with the Home Office as part of the Public Service Agreement. (vii) consultation
undertaken had shown that one of the highest local priorities was a reduction
in crime and improvements in community safety.
To that end a separate corporate objective “Seeking a Safer County” was
now included in the Strategy and a Member of the Cabinet had been assigned to
progress this. The Leader acknowledged
that progress in this area was dependent upon establishing a good working
relationship with a range of other partners, particularly the Leicestershire
Constabulary and District Councils. The
production of a Strategy was a first step and consideration would then be given
to producing more, or more closely defined, targets in relation to this
objective. (viii) the
Cabinet would be receiving a report in the near future on proposals for
investing the additional resources agreed in the current budget for Crime
Reduction Initiatives including improvements to facilities for young people. (ix) the Leader had stated within the Strategy that Administration remained committed to improving all Council Services. In ... view the full minutes text for item 20. |
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Leicestershire Community Strategy. PDF 51 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Commission
considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the Leicestershire
Community Strategy which had been agreed by the Leicestershire Local Strategic
Partnership following a second round of consultation. A copy of the report
marked ‘B’ is filed with these minutes. The Commission
noted that the majority of comments made by the five member Scrutiny Panel
during the consultation process had been accepted and incorporated in the final
draft. RESOLVED That the Cabinet be
advised that the Commission would support a recommendation to the County
Council to adopt the Leicestershire Community Strategy. |
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Best Value Performance Plan 2003/04. PDF 64 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Commission
considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the draft Best Value
Performance Plan for 2003/04. A copy of the report marked ‘D’ is filed with
these minutes. In reply to a question
the Chief Executive advised that the issue of member involvement in the Best
Value Review Programme would be discussed at the forthcoming Leaders’ Meeting. RESOLVED: That the Cabinet be
advised that the Commission supports the contents of the Best Value Performance
Plan for 2003/04. |
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Arrangements for Inward Investment, Tourism and Promotion Services. PDF 84 KB (Item placed on the agenda at the request of Mr.
Galton CC). Minutes: The Commission
considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning proposed arrangements for
the delivery of Inward Investment, Tourism and Promotion Services. A
copy of the report marked ‘G’ is filed with these minutes. In reply to
questions, the Chief Executive advised the Commission that discussions were
taking place with Leicester Shire Promotions on the issue of pensions. The staff affected had been given an
assurance that the proposed transfer would only take place when a satisfactory
resolution of the pension arrangements had been reached. RESOLVED: (a) That
the proposed arrangements for Inward Investment, Tourism and Promotion Services
be noted. (b) That
the Cabinet be asked to satisfy itself that appropriate mechanisms are in place
to monitor the new arrangements so as to ensure that the particular interest of
the County areas are safeguarded. (c) That
a detailed report be submitted to a future meeting of the Commission on the
implementation of the new arrangements, the effectiveness of the delivery of
inward investment and the marketing of the area. (d) That
in relation to (c) above, appropriate representatives of the Cabinet, Leicester
Shire Promotions and the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership be invited to
attend. |
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Annual Report on behalf of Overview and Scrutiny Bodies. PDF 90 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Commission considered a draft of the Annual Report to the County Council on behalf of Overview and Scrutiny bodies. A copy of the report marked ‘E’ is filed with these minutes. RESOLVED: That the draft Annual Report be noted and submitted to the next meeting of the County Council. |
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Overview and Scrutiny of the Health Service. PDF 69 KB (Item placed on the agenda at the request of Mr.
Galton CC). Minutes: The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive setting out the current position with regard to the implementation of the provisions in the Health and Social Care Act 2001 enabling Social Services Authorities to scrutinise the actions of NHS bodies. A copy of the report marked ‘F’ is filed with these minutes. RESOLVED: That the Constitution Committee and Cabinet be advised that the Scrutiny Commission: (a) favours the establishment of a joint committee in Leicestershire including representatives from the County Council, Leicester City Council and Rutland Council as the most appropriate vehicle for scrutiny of the countywide responsibilities of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and the Primary Care Trusts (PCT’s). (b) recognises the need to seek the views of District Councils and PCT’s on the arrangements for the scrutiny of area based activities of PCT’s. (c) expects its Chairman and Spokesmen to be actively involved in discussions with other bodies in relation to developing proposals for scrutiny of health bodies. (d) given the complexity of NHS structures and services notes that the scrutiny process will not be effective or meaningful until such time as members have acquired, through training and professional support, an appropriate level of understanding and familiarity with the issues. |
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Dates of Future Meetings. a) The Commission is asked to consider the following programme of meetings (all meetings to be held on a Wednesday commencing at 2.30pm). 27th August 2003 5th November 2003 7th January 2004 3rd March 2004 28th April 2004 b) The Commission is asked to note that a programme of meetings for scrutiny of the budget would need to be agreed nearer the time. Minutes: RESOLVED: (a) That meetings of the Commission be held at 2.00 p.m. on the following dates in 2003/04: 27 August 2003 5 November 2003 7 January 2004 3 March 2004 28 April 2004 (b) That it be noted that a programme of meetings for scrutiny of the budget would need to be agreed nearer the time. 18th June 2003 CHAIRMAN 2.30pm – 4.26pm |