Agenda and minutes

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following members each declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in respect of Item 10 as members of district/borough councils (Minute 68 refers):

Mr. A. D. Bailey CC

Mr. R. Blunt CC
Mr. G. A. Boulter CC

Mrs. R. Camamile CC
Mrs. J. A. Dickinson CC
Mr. S. J. Galton CC
Mr. Max Hunt CC
Mr. P. G. Lewis CC

Mrs. R. Page CC

Mrs. P. Posnett CC

Mrs. J. Richards CC
Mr. R. J. Shepherd CC

The following members each declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in respect of item 13 as concessionary travel pass holders (Minute 70 refers):

Mr. A. D. Bailey CC

Mr. G. A. Boulter CC

Dr. R. K. A. Feltham CC

Mrs. J. Richards CC
Mr. R. J. Shepherd CC

There were no declarations of the party whip.

The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been received under Standing Order 36.

The Chairman sought and obtained the consent of the Commission to vary the order of business from that set out in the agenda.

The Commission considered the final report and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Panel on Road Safety Measures. A copy of the report, marked ‘B’, is filed with these minutes.

The Chairman of the Panel, Mr. R. J. Shepherd CC, introduced the report and commended its recommendations which would assist in improving further the Council’s road safety record.

The Commission considered the comments of Mr. J. T. Orson CC which outlined reasons why the Council’s policy for not allowing the use of blind spot mirrors on the highway should be reinvestigated. A copy of the submission from Mr. Orson is filed with these minutes.

The following points arose from discussion:

• The Panel looked at a number of techniques to limit speed, such as Vehicle Activated Signs, 20 mph speed limits and speed humps. The Panel had worked on the basis that one was not necessarily more effective than another, but that each should be used on its merits in each case;
  
  
• It would be increasingly important going forward that a focus be placed on the education of drivers through, for example, the introduction of green driver and fleet driver defensive programmes both within the County Council and the wider local business sector in an effort to change driving trends, reduce speeding and have a positive effect on the environment;
  
  
• In regard to Mr. Orson’s comments, the Commission considered that this issue had now been fully explored as part of the Review and that it was fully supportive of the proposals included in the report.
  
  

RESOLVED:

That, subject to taking account of the comments made above, the conclusions and recommendations of the Review Panel be endorsed and that the report be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 15 June.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the proposed 2010/11 Enforcement Programme for Under Aged Sale of Tobacco and Aerosol Products. A copy of the report, marked ‘C’, is filed with these minutes.

In response to concern raised by members that, arising from test purchasing in relation to tobacco products, too few illegal sales had led to prosecutions, the Chief Executive reported that the Council’s was required to be considered in its approach and work productively with businesses to publicise the law and improve practice, rather than ensure that the majority of breaches of the law went before the courts.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet be advised that this Commission supports and welcomes the proposed Enforcement Programme outlined in the report.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the Medium Term Delivery Plan. A copy of the report, marked ‘D’, is filed with these minutes.

It was questioned why, in the absence of the Leader, the Cabinet Lead Member - Mr. M. B. Page CC - had not been in attendance to present the report, given that it was a major document on which the Authority had identified its key corporate priorities up to 2013. The Chairman indicated that he and the other Commissioners had enquired with the Lead Member as to his availability, but he unfortunately had a prior engagement.

Arising from consideration of the document, the following points were noted:

General

• A paginated contents would be a useful addition;
  
  
• There was general concern expressed in relation to a number of targets, given the Authority’s recently agreed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) which included efficiency savings in a number of areas in which the document included delivery targets. A view was expressed that these targets would need to be closely monitored against the MTFS and that it would be necessary to take into account the savings requirement to be achieved by other agencies;
  
  

“Children and Young People”

• The target to reduce bullying (as referred to on page 24) should be strengthened, with a particular focus on ensuring a consistent approach to reducing racist attitudes and other forms of discrimination, as bullying was only one aspect of this wider issue;
  
  

“A Prosperous, Innovative and Dynamic Community”

• A number of the targets contained in the document, such as those to improve the lives of vulnerable people (as referred to on page 13) appeared to be at odds with the recently agreed MTFS, which had included a cut in the Breaking the Barriers Team, which located employment opportunities for those with learning difficulties. It was highlighted that much of the document had been stress-tested within the context of the MTFS, particularly those that involved partners as part of the LAA, however some targets outside the remit of the LAA had not;
  
  
• The use of the Community Infrastructure Levy and Tax Incentive Fund (as referred to on page 13) as an avenue of exploration in regard to the support of infrastructure investments was questioned, given that the Fund had yet to receive full approval by the Government;
  
  

“Climate Change and Attractive Environment”

• Some members felt that the reference to climate change (as referred to on page 16) as being scientifically definitive was too strong. It was felt that reference should be made to the fact that scientific evidence now ‘appeared’ to be overwhelming;
  
  
• The evidence used to indicate that temperatures would increase by 2.2°C in winter and 2.5°C in summer should be cited;
  
  

“Voluntary and Community Sector and Volunteering”

• The references to use of the voluntary and community sector to delivery a number of activities to empower communities was questioned given the Council’s cut in financial contribution to Voluntary Action Leicestershire which had led to a reduction in hours of service for community hubs.

RESOLVED:

That the comments of the Commission be forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 10 May.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the Youth Offending Service’s (YOS) Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2010-11. A copy of the report, marked ‘E’, is filed with these minutes.

In response to questions, the Commission was advised as follows:

• There were risks to delivery in relation to a number of targets contained within the document, particularly given the Authority’s budget position and the Service’s multi-agency funding, however it was pleasing that annual funding contributions had remained unaffected thus far;
  
  
• The YOS had a large and increasing volunteering workforce providing critical work towards the targets contained within the Plan. It was suggested that the volunteering arrangements could be more strongly highlighted in the Plan, given the excellent contribution they made to youth justice in Leicestershire.
  
  

RESOLVED:

That the Plan and the performance of the YOS, particularly in relation to its increase in recruitment of volunteers, be commended to the Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 10 May.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the draft Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Strategy 2010-13. A copy of the report, marked ‘F’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the draft Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Strategy 2010-13 be commended to the Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 10 May.

The Commission considered the final report and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Panel on Concessionary Travel. A copy of the report, marked ‘G’, is filed with these minutes.

The Chairman of the Panel, Mr. G. A. Boulter CC, introduced the report and commended its recommendations which would assist in providing a more cohesive concessionary travel scheme.

It was reported that the Department for Transport (DfT) wished to simplify the guidance on reimbursement of bus operators, but that this was threatened by the possibility of some bus operators taking the matter to judicial review. It was therefore expected that the process would be delayed.

There remained uncertainty over how many people would in future sign up to the concessionary scheme. The reimbursement to bus operators and the subsequent financial contribution from the Authority would therefore remain unpredictable.

RESOLVED:

(a)               That the conclusions and recommendations of the Review Panel be endorsed and that the report be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 15 June;

(b)               That the Commission concurs with the view of the Panel that, it would be beneficial to reconvene the Panel when the outcome of consultation carried out by the DfT in relation to the reimbursement of bus operators became available.

The following dates are proposed for future meetings of the Commission:

Wednesday 9 June 2010

Wednesday 1 Sept 2010

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Wednesday 20 April 2011

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Wednesday 9 November 2011

(All meetings to start at 2.00pm)

The following programme of meetings for 2010/11 was NOTED:

Wednesday 9 June 2010

Wednesday 1 Sept 2010

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Wednesday 20 April 2011

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Wednesday 9 November 2011

(All meetings to start at 2.00pm)