Agenda and minutes

Overview Board - Tuesday 30th March 2010 6.00 p.m.

Venue: The Council House, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove. View directions

Contact: Michael Carr Amanda Scarce

Items
No.	Item
59.	Apologies for absence Minutes: An apology for absence was received from Councillor D. L. Pardoe and the Board. The Chairman requested that the Board’s good wishes for a speedy recovery be sent.
60.	Declarations of Interest and whipping arrangements Minutes: Councillor Mrs. M. Bunker declared a personal interest in Minute No. 65/09 (Overview and Scrutiny Proposal Form, Railway Station Development) in her role as County Councillor. Councillor Mrs. C. J. Spencer declared a personal interest in Minute No. 65/09 (Overview and Scrutiny Proposal Form, Railway Station Development) in her role as Ward Member.
61.	Minutes PDF 52 KB View the background to item 61. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Overview Board held on 2nd March 2010 were submitted. RESOLVED that the minutes be confirmed as a correct record.
62.	Cabinet Response to the Older People's Task Group PDF 81 KB View the background to item 62. Minutes: The Chairman thanked Councillor Mrs. M. Sherrey, Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, Older People and the Vulnerable for attending the meeting in order to present the Recommendations agreed by Cabinet on 3rd March 2010, to the Overview Board. The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, Older People and the Vulnerable thanked the Task Group for the hard work that had been involved in preparing the report which contained achievable recommendations. The Board discussed the Cabinet Response in detail. The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, Older People and the Vulnerable, together with the Director of Policy, Performance and Partnership provided updates on several recommendations and the Board made the following comments: Recommendation 1(a) UK Older People’s Day – The Member/officer working group would be set up in early April 2010 by the Director of Policy, Performance and Partnerships, in preparation for UK Older People’s Day which would be held in October 2010. Recommendation 2 Free Swimming at the Dolphin Centre – the Scrutiny Officer was asked to check with the Head of Leisure and Cultural Services as to when work would commence on the funding bid. Recommendation 3 Gym Facilities at the Dolphin Centre – the Scrutiny Officer was asked to contact the Head of Leisure and Cultural Services for confirmation of the implementation date. Recommendation 4 Community Transport Services (BURT) & Recommendation 5 The Trunk – The Head of Community Services now had responsibility for these items. Recommendation 6 Older People’s Strategy for Worcestershire – After discussion it was agreed that there would be some slippage on this item and the implementation date was moved to June 2010. It was agreed that when the draft Strategy goes out to consultation, it would be brought before the Overview Board to provide the Council’s response. Recommendation 7 Mapping Exercise – This would be picked up by the working group as detailed at Recommendation 1. Recommendation 8 Older People’s A-Z Directory – Funding had been agreed for this project and the Directory would be launched at an Older People’s Day event in October 2010. Recommendation 9(b) Information Management – This would be picked up when the new Head of Customer Service was appointed. Recommendation 10 Older People’s Champions – Further research on funding of this item would be undertaken and then go live in October 2011. Director of Policy, Performance and Partnerships would be the lead officer. Recommendations 11 and 12 Older People’s Housing Strategy for Worcestershire and Housing – It was agreed the Scrutiny Officer would check the implementation dates with the Lead Officer, the Strategic Housing Manager. Recommendation 13 Lifeline – This item was discussed in detail and Members were advised that information on the Performance Indicator for this was provided to the Performance Management Board on a regular basis. Recommendation 14 Benefit Service – The Mosaic would be used to target specific segments of the population and information on the Benefits Service would also be included in the Older People’s A-Z Directory. Recommendation 15 Employment ... view the full minutes text for item 62.
63.	Verbal update on progress of Community Involvement in Local Democracy Task Group (Task Group Chairman: Councillor L. J. Turner) View the background to item 63. Minutes: The Chairman of the Community Involvement in Local Democracy Task Group advised Members that the Task Group had held a further 3 meetings and the following witnesses had been questioned: Parish Council Chairman Representatives from the Artrix Centre Portfolio Holder for Resources A representative from County Council Extended Services County Council Citizens Advisor Portfolio Holder for One Community It was anticipated that the draft report would be presented to the Task Group at a final meeting in mid April and then brought before the Overview Board at the meeting to be held on 27th April 2010. The Board discussed the areas covered by the Task Group and possible outcomes from it. Members thanked the Chairman for the comprehensive update.
64.	Forward Plan of Key Decisions PDF 298 KB View the background to item 64. Minutes: The Board considered the Forward Plan of Key Decisions 1st April to 31st July 2010 and noted that item 23, Benefit Take-Up Strategy would link in to Recommendation 14 of the Older People’s Task Group. Members also discussed item 8, Write-Off - Housing Benefit.
65.	Overview & Scrutiny Proposal - Railway Station Development (Councillor Mrs. J. M. L. A. Griffiths) PDF 55 KB View the declarations of interest for item 65. View the background to item 65. Additional documents: Proposal Form - Bromsgrove rail development , item 65. PDF 114 KB Minutes: The Board considered the report relating to an Overview and Scrutiny Proposal on the Railway Station Development, completed by Councillor Mrs. J. M. L. A. Griffiths. Members noted that a major concern in respect of the development would be neighbourhood car parking. The Director for Policy, Performance and Partnerships advised that the Executive Director for Planning and Regeneration, Housing Services had recently attended a meeting which had provided an update on the current position of the development. Members discussed this in detail and were concerned that a further delay was likely due to a funding shortfall. Members agreed that this matter was of high priority and after discussion it was RESOLVED that Officers arrange for a relevant representative from the County Council and Network Rail to be invited to attend the next Overview Board meeting to be held on 27th April 2010, together with relevant County Councillors and the Executive Director for Planning and Regeneration, Housing Services in order for the Board to establish the current position and before deciding whether or not further investigation is required.
66.	Work Programme PDF 128 KB View the background to item 66. Minutes: The Board considered the Work Programme and noted that due to staff changes, Members were advised that the implementation of the Civil Parking Enforcement proposals item on the work programme may be delayed pending the outcome of negotiations between the Council and the County Council. RESOLVED that the Overview Board Work Programme be noted.
67.	To consider any other business, details of which have been notified to the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services prior to the commencement of the meeting and which the Chairman considers to be of so urgent a nature it cannot wait until the next meeting