Venue: Committee Room 2 Town Hall. View directions
Contact: J Bayley Overview and Scrutiny Support Officer
No. | Item | |
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Apologies and named substitutes To receive apologies for absence and details of any Councillor (or co-optee substitute) nominated to attend this meeting in place of a member of this Committee. Minutes: An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Mason.
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Declarations of interest and of Party Whip To invite Councillors to declare any interest they may have in items on the Agenda and any Party Whip. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest nor of any party whip.
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To confirm the minutes of the most recent meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as a correct record.
(Minutes attached) Minutes: RESOLVED that
the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14th February 2012 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
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To receive the annual report from the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Regeneration, Economic Development and Transport.
(Report attached oral report to follow) Minutes: Further to consideration of the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Regeneration, Economic Development and Public Transport written report at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 14th February 2012 and Members’ agreed questions to be put to the Portfolio Holder, Councillor Jinny Pearce, provided the following responses as part of her annual report.
1)
What is elected Members’ involvement in the governance
arrangements of the North Worcestershire Economic Development
Unit? 2)
What actions have been taken and what plans are
in place to grown the night-time economy in Redditch? 3)
How successful has the North Worcestershire Economic Development
Unit been in creating new jobs in Redditch? What arrangements are
in place of measure its effectiveness? 4)
The written report for your portfolio, which was considered by the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 14th February, stated that
“Worcestershire County Council (WCC) funding cuts to bus
services managed well and impact minimised in
Redditch.” a)
In this context what is your view of the recent removal of the 57
and 58 bus services to the Alexandra Hospital? |
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Communications Task and Finish Group - Monitoring Update Report To receive a monitoring update report regarding the implementation of recommendations proposed by the Communications Task and Finish Group in 2008.
(Report attached). Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee received a monitoring update report on the implementation of recommendations proposed by the Communications Task and Finish Group in 2008.
Officers outlined changes in the Communications Team since publication of the Task and Finish Group final report and the changing emphasis on how the media require news to be sent to them. Members received updates on the seven subject themes of the final report.
Members were given a full account of the current service provided by the Communications Team. In particular, this included: the production of three copies of Redditch Matters a year; the production of five press releases each week; daily updating of the Council website; the production of a monthly communications plan; the production of a daily e-update for staff and a monthly newspapers; and working with the Leader and senior Members, including Portfolio Holders, to ensure the Council’s corporate messages are promoted.
Officers were also pleased to report that the local BBC radio station had commended the team as the best Council media team in Worcestershire (May 2011).
Officers reported future work would include the production of: a joint media protocol; a joint brand and style guidelines; and of a joint communications strategy;
Members discussed the efficacy and cost effectiveness of the various methods of communication used by the Council when engaging with residents of Redditch, which included Redditch Website, Redditch Matters, Facebook and Twitter.
RESOLVED that
the report be noted. |
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Gritting Short, Sharp Review - Monitoring Update Report To receive a monitoring update report regarding the recommendations of the Gritting Short, Sharp Review Group and further information about gritting and road clearance processes in Redditch.
(Report attached) Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee received a report which provided further information on the recommendations made in the final report of the Gritting, Short, Sharp Review (May 2011) and on progress that had been made by Officers working with colleagues from Worcestershire County Council (WCC) to improve gritting and snow clearance service in the Borough.
Members welcomed the positive response from WCC including their financial contribution to the provision of additional snow clearing equipment.
RESOLVED that
1)
Members note the content of the report and the
partnership work with Worcestershire County Council to improve
gritting and snow clearing services in the Borough; and 2)
Members also note the feedback, attached at Appendix 1
of the report, to the recommendations made in the Gritting Short,
Sharp Review that Overview and Scrutiny completed in
2011. |
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To consider the content of the written report regarding the performance of services within the remit of the Portfolio for Community Leadership and Partnership and to propose a series of questions for the consideration of the Portfolio Holder.
(Report attached). Minutes: The Committee received a written report which detailed the performance of services within the remit of the Portfolio Holder for Leisure Community Leadership and Partnership, Councillor Carole Gandy.
On the basis of the information contained within the report Members requested that the following questions be addressed by the Portfolio Holder in her Annual Report to the Committee, which has been scheduled to be delivered on 27th March 2012:
1) As Portfolio Holder, what are you planning to do to help ensure that the Redditch Partnership remains adequately funded in future?
2) Are there any plans to widen the successful use of focus group exercises, such as the Budget Jury, to provide direct public feedback to other areas of Council policy?
3) Is there any flexibility for increasing the maximum size of a voluntary sector grant if, in particular instances, this increase could likely benefit a significant number of people?
4) Are there any plans to re-introduce the register of activities document which informs residents of what local community activities and events are to be held and whom they can contact to obtain more information?
RESOLVED that
the content of the written performance report be noted.
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Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) Parliamentary Seminar Series Training - Feedback Report To consider a report on the subject of the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) Parliamentary Seminar Training session, attended by councillor Stephens on Tuesday 14th February 2012, and the implications for scrutiny in Redditch.
(Oral report) Minutes: Councillor Stephens gave an oral report on the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) Parliamentary Seminar Training session that he had attended on 14th February 2012. Whilst he did not return any specific implications for scrutiny in Redditch, he found the event to be extremely useful, especially the opportunity to witness a Select Committee session in action.
RESOLVED
that the report be noted.
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To note the contents of the Overview and Scrutiny Actions List.
(Report attached) Minutes: The Chair reported
that he had received a response to Item 5 on the Action List on the
effect of a 5% rather than a 7% increase in actual rent in
2012/13. He had been advised that this
would have reduced the funds for the Housing Revenue Account by
£450,000. RESOLVED that
subject to the amendments detailed in the preamble above, the actions list be noted.
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Executive Committee Minutes and Scrutiny of the Forward Plan To consider the minutes of the latest meetings of the Executive Committee and also to consider whether any items on the Forward Plan are suitable for scrutiny. (Minutes attached). Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee received the minutes of the Executive Committee meetings that took place on 20th and 21st February 2012. The Chair reminded members that these minutes had been approved at the full Council meeting held on 5th March 2012.
Members considered the latest edition of the Forward Plan and were advised that Item 17 (Roxboro House – Disposal Options) had been removed because the Executive Committee at their meeting on 23rd August 2012 had declared the site surplus and had agreed the method of disposal.
RESOLVED that
1) the minutes of the Executive Committee meetings held on 20th and 21st February be noted; and
2) subject to the amendments detailed in the preamble above, the Forward Plan be noted.
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Task & Finish Reviews - Draft Scoping Documents To consider any scoping documents provided for possible Overview and Scrutiny review.
(No reports attached)
Minutes: There were no draft scoping documents for consideration.
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Task and Finish Groups - Progress Reports To consider progress to date on the current reviews against the terms set by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The current reviews in progress are:
a) Access for Disabled People – Chair, Councillor Alan Mason;
b) Improving Recycling – Chair, Councillor Gay Hopkins
c) Promoting Sporting Participation – Chair, Councillor Luke Stephens; and
d) Youth Services Provision – Chair, Councillor Simon Chalk.
(Oral reports) Minutes: The Committee received the following reports in relation to current reviews:
a)
Access for Disabled People – Chair, Councillor A Mason
b)
Improving Recycling – Chair, Councillor Gay Hopkins
c)
Promoting Sporting Participation – Chair, Councillor Luke
Stephens
d)
Youth Service Provision |
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Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee To receive a verbal update on the recent work of the Worcestershire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
(Verbal report) Minutes: Councillor Quinney advised that she had nothing to report.
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Referrals
Minutes: There were no referrals.
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Minutes: There were no changes to the Work Programme.
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