MEMORANDUMDate: November 2009

To:All Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
AllChief Officers
cc: All officers named for 'actions'
Democratic Services / From:COUNTY SECRETARY'S
DEPARTMENT
Ask for:Elaine Shell
Ext:25565
Minicom:6611

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

13 NOVEMBER 2009

MINUTES

ATTENDANCE

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

B N W Hammond, F R G Hill, A F Hunter, J Lloyd,C A Mitchell (substitute for N K Brook),

R G Prowse (Vice-Chairman), S Quilty, E T Roach, P A Ruffles, D T F Scudder (substitute for S B A F H Giles-Medhurst), A M R Searing (Chairman), W A Storey (substitute for S O’Brien), C J White (substitute for M Cowan), A D Williams

*Parent Governor Representatives

* N Betteley, *S Milligan, *D Thomson

*Church Representatives

* Not present

*denotes members appointed for education scrutiny matters only.

CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

(A)Budget Meeting Of The Committee

The Chairman asked the Committee to consider commencing its meeting on 11 February 2010, at which the Committee would scrutinise the 2010/11 budget proposals, earlier than the usual time of 10.00am.

It was AGREED that the Committee’s meeting on 11 February 2010 would start at the earlier time of 9.00am. Members were asked to annotate their diaries accordingly.

(B)Joint Commissioning Partnership Board: Seminar On 7 December 2009

The Chairman reminded members that there would be a lunchtime seminar on the Joint Commissioning Partnership Board. The seminar, which was open to all members, would be held on Monday, 7 December 2009 in the Ballroom. The seminar would run from 1.00pm – 2.00pm with a buffet lunch provided from 12.00 noon. Members were asked to contact either Tom Hawkyard (telephone 01992 555300, email ) or Elaine Shell (telephone 01992 555565, email ) if they would like to attend.

(C)Members’ Training Sessions: Update

A training session for ‘scrutiny chairmen’ had been undertaken as well as two training sessions on ‘questioning techniques’. All had been well attended. Further training would be available in the New Year; details would be sent to members in due course.

(D)Student Of Politics

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman welcomed Ben Carless, studying politics at Richard Hale School, Hertford, to the meeting.

MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 September 2009 were confirmed as a correct record.

PART 1 ('OPEN') BUSINESS

1. / SCRUTINY RECOMMENDATIONS: UPDATE / Action
[Officer Contact: Tom Hawkyard, Tel: 01992 555300]
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5 / The Committee received a report providing the recommendations of the ‘Cycling Policy’ Topic Group. Members noted that the ‘Postal Services’ scrutiny had just concluded and that its recommendations would be presented to members at the next meeting. Members also noted that further scrutinies were currently underway and that the recommendations arising from these would be reported to the Committee in due course.
There were no Executive Member responses coming before members at this meeting.
As agreed in September 2009, actions taken on the recommendations arising from earlier scrutinies were considered by the ‘Review of Recommendations’ Topic Group and reported to the Committee. Members were pleased to note that the Topic Group had particularly wanted to draw to the Committee’s attention the good progress that had been made in implementing the recommendations of the ‘TW3’, ‘Winter Maintenance’, ‘Procurement and the E Market Place’, and ‘Workforce Planning’ Topic Groups.
Members were reminded that they were welcome to attend any/all meeting/s of the Review of Recommendations Topic Group.
A further report will be considered by the Committee at its next meeting.
1.6 / Conclusion
The Committee:-
(i)Received the report
(ii)Noted that a further report would be presented to its next meeting. / Tom Hawkyard/
Elaine Shell to note
2. / SCRUTINY WORK PROGRAMME SEPTEMBER 2009 – MARCH 2011
[Officer Contact: Tom Hawkyard, Tel: 01992 555300]
2.1 / Consideration was given to a report outlining a proposed work programme for the Committee for September 2009 – March 2011.
2.2 / Conclusion
The Committee:-
(i)Requested that officers establish whether and to what extent the proposed scrutiny of ‘Highways Maintenance’ could be brought forward;
(ii)Added a scrutiny of ‘Waterways Quality’ in the County to the programme;
(iii)Approved the scrutiny work programme for September 2009 – March 2011, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report and as amended in (ii) above;
(iv)Noted the scoping document for a scrutiny of ‘Integrated Practice’ within Children, Schools & Families Services; and
(v)Agreed that a further report on the work programme be presented to the Committee at its next meeting. / Tom Hawkyard/
Natalie Rotherham/
Elaine Shell to note all

REPORT TO COUNTY COUNCIL

A summary of all items of business will be reported to the County Council at its meeting on 24 November 2009.

KATHRYN PETTITT

CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER

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