Agenda item

Report of Head of Law and Governance

Summary

To provide the Board with the draft Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board work programme for 2012/13, to update Members on work programme items from the 2011/12 overview and scrutiny work programme and to consider items for inclusion on the 2011/12 work programme.

Recommendations

The Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board is recommended:

(1)               To consider the Resources & Performance Scrutiny Board work programme 2012/13 as set out at Appendix 1 of the attached report.

(2)               To nominate two Members to work with officers on the development of a Concessions Policy for the Council.

(3)               To note the proposed work programmes of the Performance Scrutiny Working Group and Finance Scrutiny Working Group.

The Board considered a report of the Head of Law and Governance which presented the draft Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board work programme 2012/13 for consideration.

The Chairman reminded the Board that one of the conclusions of the Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board budget scrutiny 2011/12 was that a Concessions Policy for the council should be developed however the budget 2012/13 process has determined that this will now feed into the budget 2013/14 process. The Board agreed that Councillors Lawrie Stratford, Maurice Billington and Nigel Randall be nominated to work with officers to develop the Policy. Councillor Sean Woodcock also expressed an interest in being involved in the policy development and that he be kept informed of progress to enable him to also contribute to the development of the policy.

Members noted that the Head of Finance and Procurement would be attending the 17 July 2012 meeting of the Board to brief Members on the Local Government Resources Review. This would also be an opportunity for Members to give consideration to the 2013/13 budget scrutiny process. The Board commented that they reviewed fees and charges bi-annually and that this was due to be included as part of the budget scrutiny programme this year.

In considering potential work programme items, Members suggested that a review of dial-a-ride and the commissioning of the provision of voluntary services (debt and money advice, services to increase volunteering and voluntary driving services) be reviewed at the appropriate time. The Board noted that this fell within the remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and that the Team Leader – Democratic and Elections be requested to advise the Chairman of the Committee of the Board’s view.

The Board noted that during consideration of agenda item 5, Chairman of the Council’s Allowance, they had resolved that the 10 July 2012 meeting of the Performance Scrutiny Working Group would be changed to a full Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board meeting to enable timely further consideration of the proposal and recommendations to be submitted to the 16 July 2012 Council meeting. Members noted that the Head of Environmental Services was due to attend the Performance Scrutiny Working Group meeting to provide an update on the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership and agreed that he be requested to submit this to the Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board meeting. Additionally, Members agreed that the Head of Environmental Services be requested to also submit an update on the Landscape Maintenance contract and a briefing on street cleansing to this meeting.

Resolved

(1)               That the Resources & Performance Scrutiny Board work programme 2012/13 be noted.

(2)               That the Head of Environmental Services be requested to provide an update on the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership, the Landscape Maintenance contract and a briefing on street cleansing to the 10 July 2012 Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board meeting.

(3)               That Councillors Lawrie Stratford, Nigel Randall and Maurice Billington be nominated to work with officers on the development of a Concessions Policy for the Council and that Councillor Sean Woodcock be kept informed of the development of the Policy.

(4)               That the proposed work programmes of the Performance Scrutiny Working Group and Finance Scrutiny Working Group be noted.

(5)               That the Team leader – Democratic and Elections be requested to advise the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairman of the Board’s view that a review of dial-a-ride and the commissioning of the provision of voluntary services (debt and money advice, services to increase volunteering and voluntary driving services) be undertaken at the appropriate time as part of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme.