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.
4. Housing Priority Task and Finish Group, Chair - Councillor B. Passingham
Future Reviews (in current priority order):
5. Gypsy and Travellers Task and Finish Group, Chair - Councillor P. Hill
(Oral reports and / or reports attached)
Minutes:
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.
The Chair of this Group reported that the Members had made good progress.
Members were informed that the Group would be visiting Stevenage Borough Council to discuss best practice in corporate communications for local authorities representing purpose built towns.
The Chair reported that the Group was preparing to report the initial findings from stage one of the exercise to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 16th January 2008. The Chair requested that this meeting take place in Committee Room Three to suit the style of the presentation. This was approved.
b) District
Centres Task and Finish Group
– Chair Councillor A. Fry
The Chair reported that there had been few developments since the previous meeting but that the Members would be meeting to consider information produced by Officers.
c) Fees and
Charges Task and Finish Group
– Chair Councillor C. MacMillan
The Chair of the Group reported that the Members had made good progress.
Members were informed that the Group was considering fees and charges on a service by service basis. The Group had also agreed to produce recommendations on a service by service basis.
The Chair explained that at the previous meeting Members had received a presentation from Officers in relation to Planning Services and had identified an area where the Council could introduce an additional charge. Members were informed that Members would be considering land charges at the following meeting of the Fees and Charges Task and Finish Group.
d) Housing
Priority Task and Finish Group
– Chair Councillor B. Passingham
Members were informed that the second meeting of the Housing Priority Task and Finish Group had been postponed due to the Chair’s illness. Officers suggested that the Chair of the Group should be consulted about the progress of the exercise. Members agreed to postpone further consideration of this Review until the following meeting of the Committee.
e) Gypsies
and Travellers Task and Finish Group
– Chair Councillor P. Hill
Officers informed Members that the members of the Task and Finish Group would be Councillors Hill (Chair), Brunner, Clayton, Fry and Hunt.
f) Joint Scrutiny on Flooding
Officers informed Members that a Joint Scrutiny exercise into Flooding had been proposed by Worcestershire County Council. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny had been informed of the proposal and agreed that Redditch Borough Council should contribute to the exercise.
Officers confirmed that the Redditch Borough Council nominees for this exercise would be Councillors Chalk and Fry. Officers explained that a number of the district authorities in Worcestershire were conducting reviews of the floods which could impact on the joint scrutiny exercise.
Members discussed the joint scrutiny exercise and agreed that Redditch Borough Council scrutiny Members would be in favour of a joint exercise. Councillor Fry was asked to convey the sentiments of the Committee to the joint Scrutiny Group.
RESOLVED that
1) the Committee note the reports and agree the proposed action; and
2) adjustments to reporting deadlines and Committee meeting room arrangements be accepted;
all as detailed in the preamble above.