Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Sandford, North and Lowndes.

At this point Members must declare whether they have an interest, whether personal or prejudicial, in any of the items on the agenda. Members must also declare if they are subject to their party group whip in relation to any items under consideration.

No declarations of interest or whipping declarations were received.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2009 were approved as a true and accurate record. 

The Scrutiny and Performance Manager advised the Committee that the relevant Member of the Committee was still to contact her regarding dates to discuss the work required to resolve the issues raised in Item 7, Safe Access to the Voyager School.

The decision notice for each decision will bear the date on which it is published and will specify that the decision may then be implemented on the expiry of 3 working days after the publication of the decision (not including the date of publication), unless a request for call-in of the decision is received from any two Members of the Scrutiny Committee or Scrutiny Panels.  If a request for call-in of a decision is received, implementation of the decision remains suspended for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee.

No call-ins had been received.

To consider and comment on the review and refresh of the Local Area Agreement.

The Committee received a presentation and report on the Local Area Agreement (LAA) and the draft changes proposed to the document.  Updates were given on figures and performance indicators that were not previously available such as First Time Entrants to the Youth Justice System (NI111) and Social Care Clients Receiving Self Directed Support (NI130).  The Committee was requested to accept the proposed changes to the Local Area Agreement 2008/11.

Members were advised that it was only possible to present a draft version of the refreshed targets in the report as there were some outstanding negotiations that had not been completed – this was primarily due to a delay in the receipt of weighted Place Survey data and ongoing negotiations with central government (most notably, the Home Office) on some of the indicators.  However, Members were advised that although the LAA was due to be refreshed or renewed every three years, it was possible to review the changes in 2010.

Observations and questions were raised and responses given including:

• The Place Survey had not been finalised as more consultation was necessary.
• Work is ongoing to assess the economic downturn and the effects upon LAA targets that this could have including house building and job losses.
• There are financial implications for not meeting targets and the results will be known in 2010-2011.
• Plans to tackle each target have been dawn up.
• Some of the revised targets were proposed by Peterborough and some were the result of a compromise by the Government Office and Peterborough.
• The new Place Survey is a two year survey.
• Targets affected by the economic downturn can be taken back to Government Office East (GO East) if it is expected that they will see a big impact.
• Results of the Place Survey would be needed before allocating resources to tackle any problems raised.
• Costs involved to achieve each indicator are currently being assessed.
• Work towards determining which targets are most influential on others and most costly is under way.  When this has been achieved, it should be clear if improved resources in one are would negatively influence the work done in other areas.

ACTION AGREED:

1.         To add the Place Survey to a future agenda to include a breakdown of results.

2.         To receive information on migrant education mobility figures (linked to the economic downturn).

3.         To assess the impact on homeless numbers, especially migrants, of the economic downturn.

To consider and comment on how often and in what circumstances the suspension of call-in was used.

The Committee received a report in order to scrutinise decisions or actions taken in relation to any suspension of the call-in procedure during the period December 2007 to December 2008.  The Committee was recommended to:

(a)     Note the report in respect of the 12^th month period December 2007 to December 2008;

(b)     ask the Monitoring Officer to continue to monitor use of the suspension of call-in procedure; and

(c)     seek a further report from the Monitoring Officer in 12 months time for the period up to December 2009.

The Monitoring Officer advised that only one instance of the suspension of call in had been used.  This was to ensure that notification could be given to parents and students of the allocation of school places for September 2008 before children had broken up for the summer holidays in July 2008.

ACTION AGREED:

To agree the recommendations above.

To consider the latest version of the Forward Plan

The latest version of the Forward Plan, showing details of the key decisions that the Leader of the Council believed the Cabinet or individual Cabinet Members would be making over the next four months, was received.

There were no items specific to this Committee to consider.

To review the agenda plan for 2008-09.

The Performance Scrutiny Manager advised that the next agenda would also contain a report on an initiative titled “Councillor Call for Action”.  This initiative was to assist Ward Councillors raise the profile of ongoing issues in their ward and to help resolve them more effectively.

Members were advised that Officers were instructed to consult Ward Councillors regarding any work or developments in their Ward.

The Committee noted the current work programme.

Monday 6 April 2009 in the Bourges/Viersen Committee Rooms.

The date of the next meeting to be Monday 6 April 2009, 7pm.