Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive the apologies of any Member who is unable to attend this meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To invite Councillors to declare any interests they may have in items on the agenda.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

1.         To give notice of any items for future meetings or for the Forward Plan, including any scheduled for this meeting, but now carried forward or deleted; and

2          any other relevant announcements.

(Oral report)

The Chair advised that the following item of business, scheduled on the Forward Plan to be dealt with at this meeting, had been rescheduled to a later meeting of the Committee:

• Business Centre Review;
• Church Green Improvements;
• Redditch Borough Council Logo; and
• Provision of New Accommodation for Gypsies, Travellers and Show People.

The Chair advised that the following item of business, scheduled on the Forward Plan to be dealt with at this meeting, had been rescheduled to a later meeting of the Committee:

• Business Centre Review;
• Church Green Improvements;
• Redditch Borough Council Logo; and
• Provision of New Accommodation for Gypsies, Travellers and Show People.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 10th March 2010

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10th March 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10th March 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To seek approval of Local Development Scheme No 4 which sets the timetable for the production of Local Development documents.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

1)        the timescales detailed within the Local Development Scheme No. 4 for a range of Development Plan Documents be agreed; and

RECOMMENDED that

2)        Local Development Scheme No.4 be submitted to the Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM) for approval.

The Committee considered a report that outlined the timescales for the production of a range of Development Plan Documents for the Local Development Scheme (LDS) No 4.

Officers were congratulated for their professionalism in the production of the LDS No 4.

RESOLVED that

1)        the timescales detailed within the Local Development Scheme No. 4 for a range of Development Plan Documents be agreed; and

RECOMMENDED that

2)        Local Development Scheme No.4 be submitted to the Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM) for approval.

To receive and consider Officer responses into the Preferred Draft Core Strategy consultation.

(Report attached.  Appendix A available via the Council’s internet and as a hard copy in the Group Rooms.)

RESOLVED that

the Officer responses to the Preferred Draft Core Strategy be approved.

(Officers were asked to ensure that all Members of the Joint Planning Advisory Panel (PAP) be made aware when further discussion would take place on specific sites and that a further report be made to Executive Committee following the meeting.)

Members considered a report which sought endorsement of the Officer responses to the Preferred Draft Core Strategy consultation.

Officers were asked to ensure that all Members of the Joint Planning Advisory Panel (JPAP) be made aware when further discussion would take place on specific sites and that a further report be made to Executive Committee following that meeting.

RESOLVED that

the Officer responses to the Preferred Draft Core Strategy be approved.

To seek approval for a Communications Strategy 2010 - 2013.

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that

the Communications Strategy 2010 – 2013 be adopted and added to the Council’s policy framework from April 2010.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval of a Communications Strategy and Action Plan for 2010 to 2013.

Officers reported that the Communications Strategy was needed to provide effective internal and external communications for the Council and that the Action Plan would be updated annually.  Members were informed that a separate Community Engagement Strategy would be produced jointly by Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils.

Members felt it important to measure and assess the value and success of communications.

RECOMMENDED that

the Communications Strategy 2010 – 2013 be adopted and added to the Council’s policy framework from April 2010.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24th February 2010.

There are recommendations to consider.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

1)                 the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24th February be noted; and

2)                 Councillor J Pearce be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel.

RESOLVED that

1)                 the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24th February be noted; and

RECOMMENDED that

2)                 Councillor J Pearce be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel.

To consider a referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee detailing a number of interim recommendations that have been concluded by the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Task and Finish Group.

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that

the recommendations listed below be referred to the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) for consideration at its next meeting:

Engagement

1)                 following pre-scrutiny by the LSP Task and Finish Group, the proposed format and content of the Redditch Partnership’s revamped website coverage, to be hosted by Redditch Borough Council, be endorsed;

2)                 an event, along the lines of the ‘We are Redditch’ exhibition, be held every year in a form determined appropriate by Officers;

3)                 the Redditch Partnership and appropriate partners publicise their work and invite public reaction by providing regular updates in Redditch Matters;

4)                 the Redditch Partnership hold and advertise an Annual Meeting, as required by the terms of the Partnership’s protocol, which partners, potential partners and members of the public be positively encouraged to attend;

Accountability

5)                 a copy of the minutes of the LSP Board’s minutes be attached to the full Council agenda as part of Leader’s Items to deliver regular updates on the work of Redditch Partnership;

6)                 the Leader of the Council formally provide an Annual Report to the last scheduled full Council meeting of the municipal year covering the work of the Redditch Partnership by formalising the current practice of delivering an annual “State of the Borough” address;

7)                 information about the Redditch Partnership and LSPs be provided to for Members’ consideration as part of the Member induction process; and

8)                 a training event focusing on LSPs be provided as a standard part of the Member training programme each year.

Councillor Norton, Chair of the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Task and Finish Group, presented an Interim Report to the Committee.

He explained that the recommendations that had been suggested by the Task and Finish Group on Engagement and Accountability, if approved, could be implemented for the new municipal year.

Members were informed that the recommendations had been designed to increase local Councillors’ familiarity and involvement with the Redditch Partnership.

A further report that would include recommendations for improving performance management of the Redditch Partnership would be made to the Executive Committee in June 2010.

RECOMMENDED that

the recommendations listed below be referred to the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) for consideration at its next meeting:

Engagement

1)                 following pre-scrutiny by the LSP Task and Finish Group, the proposed format and content of the Redditch Partnership’s revamped website coverage, to be hosted by Redditch Borough Council, be endorsed;

2)                 an event, along the lines of the ‘We are Redditch’ exhibition, be held every year in a form determined appropriate by Officers;

3)                 the Redditch Partnership and appropriate partners publicise their work and invite public reaction by providing regular updates in Redditch Matters;

4)                 the Redditch Partnership hold and advertise an Annual Meeting, as required by the terms of the Partnership’s protocol, which partners, potential partners and members of the public be positively encouraged to attend;

Accountability

5)                 a copy of the minutes of the LSP Board’s minutes be attached to the full Council agenda as part of Leader’s Items to deliver regular updates on the work of Redditch Partnership;

6)                 the Leader of the Council formally provide an Annual Report to the last scheduled full Council meeting of the municipal year covering the work of the Redditch Partnership by formalising the current practice of delivering an annual “State of the Borough” address;

7)                 information about the Redditch Partnership and LSPs be provided to for Members’ consideration as part of the Member induction process; and

8)                 a training event focusing on LSPs be provided as a standard part of the Member training programme each year.

To receive and consider any outstanding minutes or referrals from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Executive Panels, Neighbourhood Groups, etc. since the last meeting of the Executive Committee, other than as detailed in the items above.

There were no referrals.

There were no minutes of referrals.

To consider, for monitoring / management purposes, an update on the work of the Executive Committee’s Advisory Panels and similar bodies, which report via the Executive Committee.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

Members received an update on the activity of the Council’s Advisory Panels and other bodies.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider an update on the actions arising from previous meetings of the Committee.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

Members considered the latest Action Monitoring report.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider confidential matters not dealt with earlier in the evening and not separately listed below (if any).

There were no confidential minutes or referrals.

There were no confidential minutes or referrals.