Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest or of any party whip..

The Chair explained that he wished to raise an additional issue under this item.  The Chair informed Members that he had asked Officers to produce a list of actions that had been requested at recent meetings of the Committee.  Members agreed the need to note the actions that had been completed as well as actions that remained to be completed on a regular basis.

Members agreed that consideration of the ‘Overview and Scrutiny Actions List’ should be added as a standard item on the Committee’s Agenda.

RESOLVED that

1)     the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 19th of December 2007 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

2)     The Overview and Scrutiny Actions List be added as a standard item on the Committee’s Agenda.

Members received the Decision Notice from the meeting of the Executive Committee held on Wednesday, the 9th of January 2007, with a view to considering the need for any Call-ins.

RESOLVED that

no action be taken to initiate call-in procedures on any of the Key Decisions contained in the Executive Committee Decision Notice. 

The Chair explained that he had produced a draft scoping for a piece of review work that would examine methods for scrutinising the Council’s Service Plans and the Council’s priorities.  Members were informed that this draft scoping document was being circulated among senior officers for comment.  

Officers explained that this draft scoping document would be made available for consideration at the following meeting of the Committee. 

RESOLVED that

the draft scoping document be made available for consideration at the following meeting of the Committee. 

To consider progress to date on current scrutiny reviews against the terms set by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

The current reviews in progress are:

1. Communications Task and Finish Group (Stage One), Chair - Councillor J. Brunner.

2. District Centres Task and Finish Group, Chair - Councillor A. Fry.

3. Fees and Charges Task and Finish Group, Chair - Councillor C. MacMillan.

(Oral reports and / or reports attached)

The Committee considered update reports in relation to current and pending reviews.

The following oral reports were given:

a)    Communications Task and Finish Group (Stage One)
– Chair Councillor J. Brunner.

Members agreed that no update was necessary as the Group had presented the Stage One findings at an informal session preceding the Committee meeting.

b)     District Centres Task and Finish Group
– Chair Councillor A. Fry

The Chair of the Task and Finish Group explained that the Group would be meeting on Thursday the 31st of January.  Members were informed that the Group was working towards making final recommendations.

c)   Fees and Charges Task and Finish Group
– Chair Councillor C. MacMillan

The Chair explained that the Group had held a number of meetings investigating the fees and charges levied by Planning Services, Land Charges and the Council’s Fitness Suites.  Members were informed that a short report had been prepared by Officers detailing recommendations relating to these three areas.  The Chair explained that Members had not identified opportunities to change fees and charges in these areas because they were either set at a statutory level or appeared to have been set in accordance with an affective pricing strategy.  Members approved the recommendations detailed in the report and recommended that they be considered by the Executive Committee.

Members were also informed that the members of the Group had investigated local authority powers to trade.  The Chair explained that upon consideration of the evidence Members had agreed that use of these powers would not be suitable for Redditch Borough Council.

RESOLVED that

the Committee note the reports and agree the proposed action, all as detailed in the preamble above.

RECOMMENDED that

the Executive Committee be asked to consider the recommendations made by the Fees and Charges Task and Finish Group (Appendix A).

To consider further developments in the joint scrutiny exercise on flooding.

 (Report attached)

Officers explained to Members that Redditch was the first Council to agree arrangements for the joint scrutiny exercise and that this process had not been completed by all Worcestershire authorities.  Members were informed that for this reason a second meeting of the Group had not yet taken place.

Members were informed that Officers from Worcestershire County Council had provided a draft scoping document for the Committee to consider.   Members discussed and approved the draft scoping document.

Members requested that more information be made available to them regarding the impact of the July 2007 flooding in Redditch.  Officers explained that another Member had made a similar request to which the relevant Officer had responded.  Officers agreed to make this information available to Members of the Committee. 

RESOLVED that

1)     the Committee approve the draft joint scrutiny on flooding scoping document.

2)     Officers to circulate information regarding the July 2007 floods in Redditch for consideration of Members of the Committee.

To consider an explanation of the performance data for Housing discussed at the previous meeting of the Committee.

(Report to follow)

There were no referrals.

The programme of future work was received and accepted
without comment.

Officers informed Members that the following meeting of the Committee would take place on Thursday the 7th of February 2008.

RESOLVED that

the Committee Work Programme be noted.