Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 31^st 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.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive setting out the Cabinet’s response to the comments of the Scrutiny Commission and Scrutiny Committees and the public consultation on the draft Medium Term Corporate Strategy 2001-2005.  A copy of the report marked ‘B’ is filed with these minutes.

 

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting, Mr. H. Barber CC, the Leader of the Council who had kindly agreed to attend the meeting during consideration of the draft, Strategy and the Hinckley and Bosworth County Strategy.

 

During the discussion the following further comments were made:

 

(i)         the Cabinet should consider further the need to include in the Strategy a commitment to a comprehensive community based education;

 

(ii)        the strategy should contain a commitment that the County Council would wish to see that schools play an active role and are at the centre of the communities they serve;

 

(iii)       with regard to the reference to membership of the Fair Funding Campaign, the view was expressed that it would be more appropriate to state the purpose of the membership of this body which is to achieve a fairer share of Government funding for Leicestershire schools.

 

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

 

“That the Cabinet be advised as follows:

 

(a)       That the Commission welcomes the amendments made in response to the consultation exercise;

 

(b)       That the Commission wishes to expresses its unreserved support for the revised document.”

 

An amendment was moved by Mr. Jones and seconded:

 

“That parts (a) and (b) of the motion be deleted and the following be inserted in their place:-

 

‘(a)      That the Medium Term Corporate Strategy is generally welcomed as a formal strategy to guide the work of the County Council over the next four years;

 

(b)       That the changes in response to the consultation exercise be particularly welcomed;

 

(c)        That the Scrutiny Commission be advised at an early stage, should any changes be envisaged in the future.’ ”

 

The mover of the motion, with the concurrence of the seconder and the consent of the Commission accepted the amendment.

 

The motion as amended was moved and carried.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet be advised as follows:

 

(a)       That the Medium Term Corporate Strategy is generally welcomed as a formal strategy to guide the work of the County Council over the next four years;

 

(b)       That the changes in response to the consultation exercise be particularly welcomed;

 

(c)        That the Scrutiny Commission be advised at an early stage, should any changes be envisaged in the future.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the Hinckley and Bosworth Community Strategy.  A copy of the report marked ‘C’ is filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the Cabinet’s preliminary recommendations to the County Council as set out in paragraph 16 of the report be supported and, in particular, recommendation (i), which advises Hinckley and Bosworth that the Strategy is at present incomplete;

 

(b)       That it be noted that the Commission at its meeting on 5^th September, agreed to establish a five member panel to monitor the development of Community Plans/Strategies of the County Council and the District Councils;

 

(c)        That the Scrutiny Reference Group be asked to consider and determine the terms of reference of the five member panel referred to above;

 

(d)       That the officer group established between the County and District Council be asked to report its findings, with particular reference to the ‘fit’ between County and District Council Community Strategies, to the five member panel referred to above;

 

(e)       That, in future, Community Strategies prepared by District Councils and submitted to the County Council for approval be referred, in the first instance, to the five member panel.

The Commission considered a report of Chief Executive concerning the membership and proposed terms of reference for the five member review panel established to investigate the difficulties at Leicestershire Record Office and to identify lessons to be learnt.  A copy of the report marked ‘D’ is filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the terms of reference suggested by the Scrutiny Reference Group for the five member panel to consider the difficulties experienced at the Leicestershire Record Office, be endorsed;

 

(b)       That membership of the Panel as set out in paragraph 4 of the report be noted.

RESOLVED:

 

That the next meeting of the Commission be held at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 12^th December, 2001.

 

 

 

 

 

 

14^th November, 2001                                                                      CHAIRMAN

2.30 p.m. – 3.35 p.m.