Agenda and minutes

Mr. H. Barber CC – Leader of the Council.

Prof. M.E. Preston CC – Deputy Leader of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd October, 2001 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations made under Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 16.

The Chief Executive reported that there were no petitions to be presented.

A copy of the Council’s draft Medium Term Corporate Strategy for 2001-2005 has been circulated to all members of the County Council.  Members are asked to bring their copy along to this meeting.

 

The strategy is also being considered by the following Scrutiny Committees:

 

·              Education and Heritage

·              Health and Social Care and

·              Planning and Environment.

 

The views of these Committees will be circulated to members of the Committee in due course.

The Commission considered the draft Medium Term Corporate Strategy for 2001-2005.  A copy of the draft Strategy is attached to these minutes.

 

The Commission also considered the views of the following Scrutiny Committees on the Medium Term Strategy, copies of which are also filed with these minutes:

Education and Heritage                        (marked 1)

Health and Social Care                        (marked 2)

Planning and Environment                        (marked 3)

 

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting, Mr. H. Barber, CC, the Leader of the Council and Professor M.E. Preston CC the Deputy Leader of the Council, who had kindly agreed to attend the meeting during the consideration of the draft strategy.

 

It was moved by Mr. Rhodes and seconded by Mr. Osborne:

 

‘That the Cabinet be advised that this Commission supports the draft Medium Term Strategy and considers it will be a comprehensive and useful guide for the County Council for the next four years.”

 

It was moved by Mr. Rushton and seconded:

 

“That the proposition under discussion be now put.”

 

The Chairman indicated that in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) he was of the view that the proposition to which Mr. Rushton sought to apply the closure had not been sufficiently discussed.  Accordingly he declined to put the matter to the vote.

 

During the ensuing debate on the Strategy various points were made by individual members of the Commission to which the Leader and Deputy Leader responded.  The details are summarised below:

 

General

 

·        The Strategy was a statement of where the Administration hoped to be achieved within four years.  The document did not contain detailed implementation proposals and targets as these would need to be developed, following the Council’s agreement to the Strategy. Specific proposals would be brought to the Cabinet/Council for approval.

 

·        The Strategy did not set out in detail all the previous policies agreed by the Council, as it was assumed that these would continue to apply i.e. existing Council policies and strategies within the policy framework.  The Strategy should be seen in this context, though it was recognised that there might have been some benefit in including in the draft specific references to existing commitments to Agenda 21 and equal opportunities.

 

Working Together to Deliver Quality Services

 

·        The discussions with Leicester City Council, emda and other partners regarding the LeicesterShire Strategic Sub-Regional Partnership were progressing well and it was hoped that the details of the proposed Partnership Board could be announced soon.  The concerns expressed by members of the Commission regarding the limited elected member representation on the Partnership were noted and endorsed.

 

Achieving Excellence in Education and Learning

 

·        With regard to anti-bullying, the intention was to seek to ensure that the current policy was being implemented across the County.  Following this, if it was considered necessary to amend the policy, a report would be made to the Cabinet and/or County Council;

 

·        With regard to Youth and Community Education provision, the Cabinet would need to have regard to the policies adopted by the Learning and Skills Council  and the impact of these on existing service provision so as to ensure that, at the very least, the current level of service was not reduced.  The comments from members about the need to clarify and define the term ‘Youth and Community’ and the role of the Council in relation to such provision, was noted as was the suggestion that in the preamble, the word ‘develop’ rather than ‘maintain’ should be used;

 

·        The concerns now expressed regarding comprehensive community education special educational needs and mobile classrooms, which mirrored the views of the Education and Heritage Scrutiny Committee were noted;

 

·        Consideration would be given to the use  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 31^st October, 2001 at 10.30 a.m.

RESOLVED:

 

That the next meeting of the Commission be held at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 31^st October, 2001.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.00 p.m. – 5.45 p.m.

17 October 2001                                                                                 CHAIRMAN