Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the Cabinet’s Forward Plan which contained the key decisions scheduled to be made over the next few months.

Members were reminded that the Cabinet’s Forward Plan would be developed and improved in the near future to make it more meaningful to the Scrutiny Steering Board.  It was explained that Heads of Service would be expected to incorporate information required for the Forward Plan into Business Plans and that through the constitution review a ‘key decision’ would be defined and agreed by full Council in March 2008.  It was anticipated that the newly developed Forward Plan would be available to the public and the Scrutiny Steering Board by June 2008.

The Board was informed that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman had invited Councillor Webb (Portfolio Holder for Customer Care and Customer Service, and Revenue Generation) to attend to explain why the report relating to the Customer Panel 2 Results (item number 7 on the Forward Plan) had been delayed by a month by officers. 

Councillor Webb responded that the delay had been due to the time taken to compile suitable questions.  It was believed that it was important that questions within the survey covered all necessary areas in a clear and concise way, as it was believed that the quality of feedback was linked with the quality of questions.  Councillor Webb informed the Board that he had a meeting scheduled with the Assistant Chief Executive the following week and would be discussing: (i) the progress of the report; and (ii) ensuring further delays would be avoided.

More information was requested on item number 15 which related to a write?off.  However, it was believed that this was a confidential item and officers might not be able to provide any further information.  It was also stated that it was unlikely to be a key decision.

RESOLVED:

(a)    that the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services be requested to provide either further details in relation to item number 15 on the Forward Plan or an explanation as to why more information could not be disclosed, including details on the relevant legislation.

(b)    that the comments received from Councillor Webb (Portfolio Holder for Customer Care and Customer Service, and Revenue Generation) in relation to item number 7 on the Forward Plan be noted; and

(c)     that the Cabinet’s Forward Plan be noted.