Issue - meetings

(As Mr. Bateman, a representative from the Older People’s Forum, was present specifically to hear the outcome of agenda item number 8, Scrutiny Proposals, it was agreed that this would be considered as the first main item.)

Members of the Scrutiny Steering Board discussed two scrutiny requests. The first scrutiny request had been submitted by Mr. Bateman which related to the removal of the concessionary parking passes for the over 60’s.

The Board welcomed public interest in scrutiny, however, there was some concern as to whether or not sufficient reliable data was available to carry out an in?depth scrutiny at the present time.  It was, therefore, suggested by the Vice?Chairman that as the decision to remove concessionary parking passes for the over 60’s had only been implemented in March 2008, the Board could wait until there was 6 months worth of data and request that an officer report be submitted to the Board for further consideration when the necessary evidence was available to scrutinise.  There was also a concern that this did not link to the Council’s priorities.

However, an alternative view was that a Task Group needed to be established straight away and this was discussed at length.  Members were also reminded at this point that the topic “Older People” was already on the work programme which might include car parking as part of its scrutiny investigation.  It was also stated that an alternative option was for the Board itself to scrutinise the subject matter rather than a Task Group carrying out an in?depth scrutiny.

The second scrutiny request was from the Chairman of the Board, which had originally been a motion for the Council Meeting on 23rd April 2008 but had been referred to the Board by the Monitoring Officer in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  The second scrutiny request related to establishing a Senior Citizens’ Task Group to review the quality of service to older people given by Bromsgrove District Council.  It was pointed out that this topic was virtually identical to the subject “Older People” which was already on the work programme.  Councillor Mrs. Bunker stated that Focus Groups were to be established, one rural and one urban, to find out what older people themselves believed should be scrutinised.

RESOLVED:

(a)    that a Car Parking Task Group be established to look at the removal of the concessionary parking passes for the over 60’s and specifically the justifications for the decision, as stated in Mr. Bateman’s scrutiny request; and

(b)    that the second scrutiny request, relating to establishing a Senior Citizens Task Group, be deferred until the next meeting of the Scrutiny Steering Board.