Agenda and minutes

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Board - Tuesday 23rd November 2010 6.00 p.m.

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

Contact: Michael Carr Amanda Scarce

Items
No.	Item
31.	Apologies Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A. N. Blagg, Mrs. M. Bunker and Mrs. R. L. Dent
32.	Declarations of Interest and whipping arrangements Minutes: No declarations of interest were received.
33.	Minutes PDF 76 KB View the background to item 33. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 5th October 2010 were submitted. RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as a correct record.
34.	Cabinet Response to the Inquiry into the Alvechurch Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) PDF 53 KB View the background to item 34. Minutes: An apology for absence was received from Cllr M. Webb, Portfolio Holder for Community, who was to present the Cabinet Response to the Inquiry on the Alvechurch Multi-Use Games Area. RESOLVED that the consideration of the Cabinet Response to the Inquiry on the Alvechurch Multi-Use Games Area be deferred to the next meeting of the Board.
35.	Worcestershire Hub Joint Scrutiny Task Group - Final Report PDF 60 KB View the background to item 35. Additional documents: FINAL REPORT _Rcd 10 Nov 10_ , item 35. PDF 559 KB Minutes: The Board received a report from Worcestershire County Council Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board on the Worcestershire Hub. The report outlined the review of the Worcestershire Hub and made 22 recommendations to Worcestershire County Council (WCC) Cabinet, including some which related to the County’s statutory partners, including Bromsgrove District Council. The Chairman asked the Head of Customer Services for a succinct definition of what the “Worcestershire Hub” was and its relationship to Bromsgrove District Council. She defined the Hub as “the partnership through which we provide joint access to council services”. It was the “umbrella” under which the County Council and district councils within the Worcestershire area provided access to their services. Within this umbrella, Bromsgrove District Council managed its own Customer Services Centre, at the Dolphin Centre. Malvern Hills, Worcester City and WCC had shared customer services accessed through the Hub. It was explained that the Worcestershire Hub call centre at Perry Wood dealt with customer enquires for those local authorities that had a shared services agreement; this did not include Bromsgrove District Council (BDC). Overview and scrutiny committees throughout the County had been invited to participate in the WCC Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board Task Group investigation, by nominating a representative to be co-opted onto the Task Group. Participating local authorities were: WCC, BDC, Malvern Hills District Council, Redditch Borough Council, Worcester City Council, Wychavon District Council and Wyre Forest District Council. Councillor Taylor was the BDC co-optee and gave a presentation on the investigation and commented on its effectiveness. The terms of reference for the Task Group were: • the development of the Worcestershire Hub, including the Worcestershire Hub Shared Service, • how to make the Worcestershire Hub fit for purpose in the future, • differences in provision across Worcestershire, what they are and why they exist, • what are the gaps in provision and what are the opportunities? The Task Group ran from 5th November 2009 and was due to report to WCC Cabinet on 25th November 2010. Evidence hearings had been held between January and July 2010, with 9 Task Group meetings and site visits. Overall the Task Group report had concluded that: • there was a need for clear evidence about the benefits to encourage the remaining district councils to join the Hub, • service transformation was essential and that the Hub should be at the heart of service transformation, and • a co-ordinated approach to customer service across the county to enable savings and minimise duplication should be encouraged. The Chairman asked the Head of Customer Services the cost to BDC of being part of the Hub umbrella, considering that it managed its own customer services. She said that it did not cost the Council anything and that it paid for its own call centre. WCC contributed to the running costs and some of the staffing costs of the Bromsgrove Customer Services Centre, as the centre dealt with customer enquiries relating to County services. Councillor Taylor commented that the governance of the ... view the full minutes text for item 35.
36.	Work Programme PDF 122 KB View the background to item 36. Minutes: The Board considered the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Board Work Programme. It was noted that the consideration of the Core Strategy as part of the planning topic may be delayed from 4th January 2011. The consideration of the Council Budget may also be deferred from that meeting. The Chairman reminded the Board there was an informal Budget briefing on 30th November 2010 at 6pm.
37.	Questions to Witnesses 4th January 2011 PDF 63 KB View the background to item 37. Minutes: The Board considered questions to witnesses for the next meeting on 4th January 2011. It was requested that a question be put on planning enforcement; to provide a summary outline of the process for enforcement and the performance of enforcement, for the consideration of the planning topic. It was also requested that any capital bids and revenue expenditure for Bromsgrove Urban and Rural Transport (BURT) be considered within the consideration of the Budget.