Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting. 

Members declared interests in the following agenda items.

5. Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2012/13.

Councillor Nigel Randall, Personal, as a trustee of Cherwell Community & Voluntary Services Ltd.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There was no urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 13 March 2012 and 16 May 2012.

The Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 13 March 2012 and 6 May 2012 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of Head of Law and Governance

Summary

This report presents the draft Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme 2012/13 for consideration.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is recommended:

(1)               To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme 2012/13 as set out at Appendix 1 of the attached report.

(2)               To note any items of interest in the Executive Forward Plan and consider whether to include them on the work programme 2012/13.

(3)               To consider if there are any other items Members would like to include on the work programme.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Law and Governance which presented the draft Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2012/13.

Members discussed the existing and possible new items for inclusion on the Work Programme, with several service areas / topics being suggested:

·        Banbury Brighter Futures

The Chairman had suggested this as a possible work programme item for the Committee to consider if they could contribute to the project. The Lead Member for Banbury Brighter Futures and Director of Community and Environment would be attending the September Committee meeting to brief Members on the project.

·        Commissioning of Services to Banbury CAB

The Committee noted that in November 2011 a Contract for the Provision of the following Voluntary Services to Cherwell District Council: 1) Debt and Money Advice; 2) Services to Increase Volunteering; 3) Voluntary Driving Service, had been awarded to Banbury CAB for a period of 3 years from 1 April.

Members agreed that a review of this arrangement should be added to their work programme for the Committee to monitor performance, how that transition has taken place and the effect on residents in the district.

·        Crime and Disorder Partnership

The Committee commented that they were keen to know what CDC was doing to reduce crime, how measurable this was and to receive information on the Council’s role in the Crime and Disorder Partnership.

·        New Health Partnership Arrangements

Members requested that the Lead Member and officer be invited to a future meeting to provide an overview of the new health partnership arrangements to enable Members to have an understanding of the structure and the role CDC plays.

·        RAF Bicester

Members noted that this had previously been on the Committee work programme but there had been no developments.

The Chairman advised the Committee at their June meeting, the Executive had approved the establishment of a strategic partnership (Cherwell District Council, Bomber Command Heritage and other key agencies and interested parties) to investigate the potential of securing the site for heritage purposes, to enable the provision of an education centre and museum.   

The Committee agreed that it was important they monitor the involvement of CDC to ensure value for money and that the project was being managed properly. It was requested that key officers and the Lead Member be invited to a meeting to brief the Committee on the current position with regards to RAF Bicester.

It was also requested that the planning background and a briefing document be circulated to all Members.  

·        Eco Bicester: A Garden City of the Future.

The Chairman reported that at their May meeting the Executive had resolved to contact DCLG to explore the identification of Eco Bicester as a next generation garden city.  The Committee agreed it would be useful to receive a briefing on the proposal to enable consideration of any areas the Committee could add value.

·        Housing Strategy

The Chairman reported that at their April meeting the Executive had approved the Housing Strategy 2012-2017. An annual delivery plan for each year of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.