Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2015.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 November 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

The Chairman made the following announcement:

1.         He had agreed to a request from Councillor Tony Ilott to change the order of the agenda and item 9, Safeguarding, would be taken as the first substantive item of business.

The following report(s) contain exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

3– Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Members are reminded that whilst the following item(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to resolve as follows:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part I, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

Resolved

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part I, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt report of Director of Operational Delivery

Resolved

(1)             That the internal review report be noted

(2)             That the Section 11 audit for 2015/16 submitted in December 2015 be noted

(3)             That the action plan arising from the review and the implementation progress made to date be noted

(4)             That an annual safeguarding report be received in November each year on safeguarding activities and progress to coincide with a draft Section 11 audit prior to submission;

(5)             That the requirements for Member training and improved awareness as per the internal review report recommendations 7 and 9 be noted.

(6)             That officers be requested to write to the Local Government Association requesting that they update their out-of-date National Guidance

The Committee considered an exempt report from the Director of Operational Delivery, relating to the Safeguarding Internal Review and Action Plan.

The Committee commented that it was an excellent report.

With regard to the action plan, the Committee urged officers to hold training sessions at a variety of times, in order to ensure as many Members as possible were able to attend.

It was proposed by Councillor David Hughes and seconded by Councillor Sean Woodcock that officers be requested to write to the Local Government Association requesting that they their out-of-date National Guidance. 

Resolved

(1)             That the internal review report be noted

(2)             That the Section 11 audit for 2015/16 submitted in December 2015 be noted

(3)             That the action plan arising from the review and the implementation progress made to date be noted

(4)             That an annual safeguarding report be received in November each year on safeguarding activities and progress to coincide with a draft Section 11 audit prior to submission;

(5)             That the requirements for Member training and improved awareness as per the internal review report recommendations 7 and 9 be noted.

(6)             That officers be requested to write to the Local Government Association requesting that they update their out-of-date National Guidance

Resolved

That the press and public be re-admitted.

Report of Head of Transformation

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to facilitate the development of the corporate business plan, its associated priorities and pledges for 2016/17.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider, discuss and offer feedback upon the proposed priorities and pledges for 2016/17 in order to ensure a transparent and engaging whole Council approach to the development of the priorities, prior to consideration by Executive and Full Council in February 2016.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

1.1         consider the draft corporate priorities, outcomes and pledges for 2016/17

1.2         identify any areas to be discussed for referral to Executive on 1 February 2016.

Resolved

(1)             That the draft corporate priorities, outcomes and pledges for 2016/17 be noted

(2)             That the comments detailed in the table below be referred to Executive for consideration at their meeting on 1 February 2016 

The Committee considered a report from the Head of Transformation relating to the Corporate Business Plan, Priorities and pledges for 2016/17.

The Head of Transformation explained that this was an opportunity for the Committee to consider and comment on the draft business plan for referral to Executive, who would consider the draft business plan at their meeting of 1 February and recommend its adoption to full Council.

The Committee discussed each section of the draft business plan and made comments and suggestions as detailed in the table below.

Resolved

(1)             That the draft corporate priorities, outcomes and pledges for 2016/17 be noted

(2)             That the comments detailed in the table below be referred to Executive for consideration at their meeting on 1 February 2016 

Report of Head of Law and Governance

Purpose of report

This report presents the Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme 2015/16 for consideration. 

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2015/16 as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

1.2         To select a service plan to review at an informal meeting (date to be arranged).

1.3         To note updates on the current reviews taking place.

1.4         To note any items of interest in the Executive Work Programme and consider whether to include them on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2015/16.

1.5         To consider if there are any other items Members would like to include on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.

Resolved

(1)             That, subject to the Project Manager – New Business & Systems Implementation and Interim Head of Shared ICT Service being invited to give a website update at the February meeting, the work programme be approved.

The Committee considered the work programme for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

The Committee felt that consideration of the draft annual report of the Committee should be moved to the February meeting, in order to give sufficient time for any amendments to be made and ensure that it was signed off by the 2015/16 committee membership prior to the end of the municipal year.

With regard to progress on the website upgrade, officers advised the Committee that following the departure of Balvinder Heran, Nicholas Thrustle had been appointed interim Head of ICT. A project brief for the website upgrade had been drafted and was awaiting sign-off, which would then form the basis of a project plan.

The Committee felt that Member involvement in the project was very important, and requested that both the Interim Head of IT and the website upgrade project manager Paul Nicol be invited to the February meeting of the Committee.

Youth Engagement Review

Councillor Williams advised the Committee that the working group were awaiting responses from secondary schools, and a further update would be given at the next meeting

Recycling Review

The Committee agreed that the remit of the Recycling Review had been met by the Strategic Review of Recycling, and therefore the group could be disbanded. 

Resolved

(1)             That, subject to the Project Manager – New Business & Systems Implementation and Interim Head of Shared ICT Service being invited to give a website update at the February meeting, the work programme be approved.