Executive Scrutiny Committee Minutes

Date:
Tuesday, 28th October, 2008
Time:
09.30am
Place:
Lecture Hall, Stockton Library, The Square, Stockton-on-Tees
 
Please note: all Minutes are subject to approval at the next Meeting

Attendance Details

Present:
Cllr Robert Gibson (Chairman); Cllr Mrs Ann Cains, Cllr Dick Cains, Cllr Mick Eddy, Cllr Colin Leckonby, Cllr Lee Narroway, Cllr Mrs Maureen Rigg, Cllr Mick Stoker, Cllr Bill Woodhead.
Officers:
Dave Kitching (DNS);Peter Mennear, Fiona Shayler, Judith Trainer (LD).
In Attendance:
Mr Frank (Diocesan Representative); Mrs Judith Robson (Parent Governor Representative)
Apologies for absence:
were submitted on behalf of Cllr David Harrington, Cllr Mrs Liz Nesbitt, Cllr Maurice Perry, Cllr Mrs Jean O'Donnell, Cllr Andrew Sherris, Cllr Michael Smith, Cllr Mrs Trainer, Cllr Mick Womphrey. Paul Connaughton.
Item Description Decision
Public
EXC
47/08		 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 None
EXC
48/08		 MINUTES FOR SIGNING - 2ND SEPTEMBER 2008
 The minutes of the meeting held on 2nd September 2008 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
EXC
49/08		 MINUTES - 30TH SEPTEMBER 2008
 The minutes of the meeting held on 30th September were agreed as a correct record.
EXC
50/08		 HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SAFETY FINAL REPORT - REGISTERED SOCIAL LANDLORDS
Preamble
RESOLVED that the report of the Housing and Community Safety Select Committee Review of Registered Social Landlords be forwarded to Cabinet.
EXC
51/08		 ENVIRONMENT SELECT COMMITTEE FINAL REPORT - REVIEW OF CUSTOMER FIRST
Preamble
RESOLVED that the report of the Environment Select Committee - Review of Customer First be forwarded to Cabinet.
EXC
52/08		 SCRUTINY REVIEW OF TAXIS
Preamble
RESOLVED that the Review of Taxis be undertaken by the Regeneration and Transport Select Committee.
EXC
53/08		 FORWARD PLAN
Preamble
RESOLVED that the Forward Plan be noted.
EXC
54/08		 REPORT ON CHAIRMEN'S UPDATES
Preamble
RESOLVED that the updates be noted.
9.30am - 10.30am

Preamble

ItemPreamble
EXC
50/08		Members were provided with the final report by the Housing and Community Safety Select Committee - Registered Social Landlords.
EXC
51/08		Members were provided with the final report of the Environment Select Committee - Review of Customer First.
EXC
52/08		Further to the meeting of the Executive Scrutiny Committee on 8th July 2008 (minute no EXC 23/08 refers) Members agreed to be consulted during Officers review of the taxi licensing policy and procedures and were requested to consider whether a Scrutiny Review was required once this Review was complete. Members also requested that as part of Officers review that consideration be given to further training for taxi drivers to include history of town to promote tourism and further training on disability awareness. Members felt that a taxi driver’s role should be as an 'ambassador’ for the Borough.

The review of Policy and Procedures had now been completed and various options for change were considered by the Licensing Committee on Monday 13 October 2008 and a final draft Policy and Procedures document was to be consulted upon. A copy of that document was provided to Members.

Members were provided with a list of areas that had been covered by the Policy and Procedures review and Members were requested to consider if it would be appropriate for a Select Committee or Task and Finish Group to undertake a review of the areas listed that had not been included which were Staffing, Funding of Service and Transport Planning.

Members were provided with a copy of the current Select Committee work programme schedule to identify whether there was any capacity for the Committees to undertake a further Review.

Members held discussion and felt that a Scrutiny Review of Taxis was a priority and it would be appropriate for the Regeneration and Transport Select Committee to begin a time limited review. It was anticipated that the review would commence in February 2009 upon completion of the review of Highway Management and Pavement Parking and would be completed by September 2009.
EXC
53/08		Members were provided with the Statutory Forward Plan from 1st October 2008 - 31st January 2009.
EXC
54/08		The Chairman/Vice Chairman of the following Select Committees provided an update on their current reviews/work programme:-

Corporate, Adult Services & Social Inclusion Select Committee-Review of Older People Strategy

The Committee would also be receiving an Action Plan based on proposed implementation of the recommendations put forward during the Voluntary and Community Sector Review.

Arts, Leisure & Culture Select Committee-Review of Tees Active

The anticipated completion date for this review was now January 2009 in order to build in enough time to consider the results of benchmarking against leisure centre provision in other areas. It was also reported that Members wanted to include the results of the Tees Active Staff Survey within the evidence for the review, but that this may not be available until after Christmas, therefore the timescale for the Committee’s work was being kept under review. It was requested that the Trainee Scrutiny Officer investigate this matter further.

Housing & Community Safety Select Committee-Review of Registered Social Landlords

It was noted that the above review was completed and would be submitted to the next Cabinet meeting. The Committee would be commencing its next review topic - Neighbourhood Policing/Neighbourhood Watch/Outward Facing Aspects of CCTV.

Environment Select Committee-Review of Customer First; Review of Animal Welfare Service & Dog Fouling

As part of Local Democracy Week, a group of young people had been invited to take part in initial discussions by the Committee on the review of the Animal Welfare Service/Dog Fouling as demonstration of the opportunities available for people to contribute to the work of scrutiny reviews. The Committee felt that the young people gave a massive contribution to the review. It was also reported that as part of this visit, St Marks Church of England Primary School, Elm Tree would be undertaking a project on this matter and would submit it to the Select Committee.

Regeneration & Transport Select Committee-Review of Highway Network Management & Pavement Parking

The review would report to Cabinet in February 2009 and then undertake a Review of Taxis.

Children & Young People Select Committee-Review of Obesity

Further meetings to obtain evidence had been scheduled into the work programme of the Committee. Councillor Mrs Cains reported that she had visited Sunderland City Council as they were a Beacon Authority for their work on Obesity and she would be providing a report to the Committee.

Health Select Committee-Review of Audiology/Momentum

The scoping and project plan for the review of Audiology was due to be undertaken.

The Momentum Panel had met and agreed Site A.

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