ITEM CG5CORPORATE GOVERNANCE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 6 MARCH 2003Minutes of
the Meeting commencing at 10.00 am and finishing at 12.40 pm Present: Voting
Members: Councillor
Liz Brighouse Other
Members in Attendance: Officers: Whole of meeting: G. Malcolm (Chief Executive’s Office).
Part of meeting: D. Bishop, C. Evans (Chief Executive’s Office); J. Bolam and V. Farmer (Strategy Directorate); J. Hydari (Business Directorate).
The Scrutiny Committee considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting together with a schedule of addenda tabled at the meeting and agreed as set out below. Copies of the agenda and schedule are attached to the signed Minutes.
6/03. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS
Apologies for absence and temporary appointments were received as follows:
7/03. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 5/16 December 2002 and 10 January 2003 were approved and signed.
8/03. COUNCIL COMMISSIONED SCRUTINY REVIEWS
(Agenda Item 5)
The Local Area Structures Review Panel had met on 28 January 2003 to discuss and review progress with the Pilot. The next Panel meeting had been arranged for 29 April.
The Head of Democratic Services circulated and introduced a briefing paper (a copy of which is attached to the signed Minutes) which had been prepared for the Executive. It outlined the County Council’s current consultation arrangements and developments to enhance and improve consultation activity across the Council.
The Scrutiny Committee was reminded that the Council would review the support provided to members in Autumn 2003. Members were urged to complete and return, if they had not done so, the questionnaire: ‘Political Management Arrangements’. The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to consider progress with these three matters at the next meeting.
9/03. SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMISSIONED REVIEW: SOCIAL INCLUSION
(Agenda Item 6) It was reported that the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group had approved the Social Inclusion Scrutiny Review for inclusion in the programme. There was no further progress to report at present.
10/03. WORK PROGRAMME
(Agenda Item 7)
Claire Evans, Oxfordshire Community Partnership Manager gave a short presentation on the Oxfordshire Community Partnership (OCP) which outlined its organisation, membership and purpose. The Partnership had identified eight key themes as priorities and established Ambition Groups to take them forward. A members’ seminar on 21 March 2003 would look at the development of the OCP, the development of a community strategy and the role of members and scrutiny. Key comments following the presentation focused on liaison with other local authorities to avoid duplication; engaging young people/the wider community/parish councils; the Partnership’s lobbying role; and monitoring the outcomes of delivery of Panel objectives. Ms Evans was thanked for her presentation and work.
At the last meeting Councillors Jean Fooks, Ken Harper and Brian Hodgson had undertaken to progress this matter with a view to reporting to this meeting. There was no progress to report at present. Councillor Harper withdrew from the group.
At the last meeting the Scrutiny Committee had identified Budget Scrutiny as a matter for inclusion in the future Work Programme. The Head of Democratic Services outlined scrutiny’s role in the budget setting framework/process. Member development/training with a facilitator was being arranged and the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group would consider the programme as part of the scrutiny development programme. Councillor Mitchell spoke about proposed improvements to the budget process and documentation. The Scrutiny Committee thanked Councillor Mitchell and Mr Bishop and AGREED to note the current position.
11/03. OUTCOME OF BEST VALUE REVIEW – DEVELOPING OUR STAFF
(Agenda Item 8) On 26 February 2003 the Best Value Committee had considered the outcome of the ‘Developing Our Staff’ Best Value review (CG8) and endorsed the Review report and Action Plans, referred the outcomes of the review to the Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee for them to make any observations on the review and action plan to the Executive, recommended the Review and Action Plans to the Executive and asked the Director for Resources to prepare a detailed action plan for the September 2003 meeting of the Committee. Councillor Wilmshurst and Ms Bolam introduced the paper and responded to members’ questions. The Scrutiny Committee’s key comments included the development of strategies to support CPA, the need for a detailed action plan, the development of a ‘top-down’ approach, the importance of implementing effective performance/staff appraisal, comparison with the private sector, the place of succession planning/internal promotion/staff exchange, training for customer care, and the value of regular employee surveys. The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to forward the above observations on the review and action plan to the Executive.
12/03. BUDGET MONITORING: MONTHLY REPORT
(Agenda Item 9) At their July 2002 meeting the Scrutiny Committee resolved to consider the Executive’s Budget Monitoring Report. The report for Executive consideration on 18 February 2003 updated the budget monitoring position for 2002/03 to the end of December 2002. The major variations since the last report were set out with potential variations for the rest of the year. Annexes 1 and 2 to the report set out the overall position on the programme area carry-forward reserves and the overall position on balances respectively. There was no change in the position on reserves as reported to the Executive in October 2002. The position for each of the programme areas was set out in the report. The Executive had received the report and reiterated strongly to Directors the continued need to proceed cautiously and to continue to monitor expenditure closely. Councillor Margaret Godden responded to questions and comments including the development of the broadband/OCP project within the Executive Forward Plan (ICT Strategy, topic number 2003/40), and the Council’s unallocated reserves. The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to note the report considered by the Executive on 18 February 2003
13/03. REVIEW OF EDUCATION, CULTURAL SERVICES AND SOCIAL SERVICES
(Agenda Item 10) At the last meeting it was agreed to retain this matter on the agenda but that in the event that there was nothing to report the Leader of the Council or his representative need not attend. There was nothing to report. The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to consider at the next meeting whether there were any outstanding matters from the review which would justify retaining this item on the agenda.
14/03. FORWARD PLAN
(Agenda Item 11)
Executive Area: Deputy Leader of the Council Topic: County Hall Phase 3 Decision: Proposed agreement with the Osborne Group to provide for the refurbishment and future shared use of accommodation in County Hall Timing: 27 May 2003 Consultation: - Documents: Report by Director of Environmental Services Contact: Neil Monaghan, Assistant Director, Property & Waste Management (01865 815712)
Executive Area: Leader of the Council Topic: Performance Management Decision: Quarterly performance monitoring report, including progress on the Raising Our Performance action plan and PSA targets Timing: 18 March 2003 Consultation: - Documents: Report by Director for Strategy Contact: David Lines, Head of Performance & Review (01865 810150) The Leader of the Council outlined proposals for training, support and monitoring in performance management. The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to support the Executive’s proposals.
b. The
Scrutiny Committee AGREED to note the topics and identified
in particular:
in the Chair Date
of signing 2003
|