Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 26 June 2002 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 Orders 7(3) and 7(5).

The Chairman indicated that he had agreed to consider as an urgent item a report on the Leicestershire Community Strategy.

There were no declarations of interests.

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 report to be considered by the Cabinet on 3 September 2002 is attached.  The decision of the Cabinet will be reported at the meeting.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive considering a suggested response to the Government’s White Paper on Regional Governance, taking into account the East Midlands Regional Assembly’s proposed position on Regional Governance.  A copy of the  report marked ‘A’ is filed with these minutes.

 

The Commission was advised that the Cabinet had considered this matter on 3^rd September and decided as follows:

 

“(a)      That subject to (b) below approval be given to the preparation of a response based on the contents of paragraphs 21-23 of the report of the Chief Executive;

 

(b)       That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, be authorised to agree:

 

(i)         any minor amendments to the response; and

 

(ii)        any other amendments to the response in the light of consideration of comments by the Scrutiny Commission on 4 September and the East Midlands Regional Assembly on 6 September.

 

before it is reported to the County Council prior to submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.”

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That, subject to (b) below, a proposed response to be based on the contents of paragraphs 21-23 of the report of the Chief Executive, be supported.

 

(b)       That further consideration be given to the wording of the fourth bullet point in paragraph 23 so as to make it clear that in areas where a voluntary based assembly exists the responsibility for regional planning should rest with those members of the Assembly representing democratically elected local authorities.

A copy of the report to be considered by the Cabinet on 3 September is attached.  The decision of the Cabinet will be reported at the meeting.  This report is also being considered by the Resources Scrutiny Committee on 29 August.  The views of the Committee will also be reported at the meeting.

The Commission considered a report of the Director of Resources concerning a response to the Government’s consultation paper on changes to the Revenue Support Grant (RSG) system.  A copy of the report marked ‘B’ is filed with these minutes.

 

The Committee was advised that the report had also been considered by the Resources Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 30^th August and by the Cabinet at its meeting on 3^rd September, 2002.  The decisions taken at these meetings were circulated at the meeting and copies are filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the comments of the Resources Scrutiny Committee be endorsed and the Cabinet’s response thereto be welcomed.

The Commission considered a joint report of the Chief Executive and Director of Resources concerning the position with regard to the development of a local Public Service Agreement for negotiation with the Government.  A copy of the report marked ‘C’ is filed with these minutes.

 

The Commission also considered a supplementary paper setting out a summary of the Draft Target Proposals.  A copy of the supplementary paper is filed with these minutes.

 

The Commission was advised as follows:-

 

(i)            discussions were taking place with all District Councils regarding their involvement and participation in the local target relating to Waste Recycling and with the Police on vehicle crime reduction;

 

(ii)        there was likely to be slippage in the timetable set out in paragraph 12 of the report and the Cabinet would now consider the shortlist of targets in early October.  The shortlist would also be discussed at the meeting of the Leicestershire Local Strategic Partnership.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the current position with regard to the development of a local Public Service Agreement for negotiation with the Government, as now outlined, be noted.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the County Council’s draft Race Equality Scheme.  A copy of the report marked ‘D’ is filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the draft Race Equality Scheme be welcomed; and

 

(b)       That a further report be made to the Commission following the outcome of consultation.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the response of the Cabinet to the findings of the Review Panel established to investigate the problems at the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Record Office.  A copy of the report marked ‘E’ is filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the response of the Cabinet to the findings of the Review Panel as outlined in paragraph 4 of the report be noted;

 

(b)       That the Community Services Scrutiny Committee be requested to monitor the progress of:

 

(i)         the current negotiations with Leicester City Council with a view to concluding a formal agreement;

 

(ii)        the issue of the need for and funding of an extension to the existing Record Office.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the deliberation of Scrutiny Committees regarding their work programmes.  A copy of the report marked ‘F’ is filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED;

 

(a)       That subject to (c) below the proposed work programmes of Scrutiny Committees set out in the Appendices to the report be noted;

 

(b)       That the request from the Education Scrutiny Committee to establish a five member panel to consider the issue of school attendance be approved;

 

(c)        That the Highways, Transportation and Waste Management Scrutiny Committee be advised of the following in relation to its work programme:-

 

(i)         the Commission notes with concern that the Committee may wish to undertake a review of Rural Public Transport.  Given that the matter has recently been the subject of a best value review the Committee should justify its decision to review this issue at this point in time;

 

(ii)        the Commission is of the view that a review of the effectiveness and on-going maintenance of various traffic calming and road safety schemes is best undertaken by a five member panel.

The Commission considered this matter, the Chairman having agreed that it was of an urgent nature, on the grounds that, if agreed, the report could be submitted to Cabinet so that it could take the comments into account when it considers the consultation draft of the Community Strategy towards the end of September.

 

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the comments of the five member panel on the draft Leicestershire Community strategy and the process for considering District Community Strategies.  A copy of the report is filed with these notes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the initial comments of the Panel on the first draft of the Leicestershire Community Strategy be noted and submitted to the Cabinet for consideration;

 

(b)       That the proposals for inviting Scrutiny Chairmen and Spokesmen of Scrutiny Committees to comment on the Community Strategy be approved;

 

(c)        That the process by which the panel proposed to discharge its remit in relation to District Community Strategies be noted.

The Chairman and Spokesmen of the Commission have suggested the following meetings programme (all meetings commence at 2.30 p.m.)

           

            Wednesday 6^th November 2002

            Wednesday 8^th January 2003

            Wednesday 5^th March 2003

            Wednesday 30^th April 2003

            Wednesday 18^th June 2003

RESOLVED:

 

That the following programme of meetings be agreed for the period up to June 2003.

 

Wednesday 6 November 2002 at 2.30 p.m.

Wednesday 8 January 2003 at 2.30 p.m.

Wednesday 5 March 2003 at 2.30 p.m.

Wednesday 30 April 2003 at 2.30 p.m.

Wednesday 18 June 2003 at 2.30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

4 September 2002

2.30 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.                                                                          CHAIRMAN