Agenda item

Due to the change in membership of the Scrutiny Steering Board and the need to clarify how the Board would like to progress items on the work programme, Members considered all topics included on the work programme.

Anti-Social Behaviour and Alcohol Free Zones Task Group

It was explained that due to confusion at the last meeting, it was uncertain whether Members had received the opportunity to evaluate all the candidates fully or consider other available options such as having a slightly larger group.

Various options relating to the future of the Anti-Social Behaviour and Alcohol Free Zones Task Group were discussed including splitting the Task Group back into two separate Task Groups (Anti-Social Behaviour Task Group and an Alcohol Free Zones Task Group) as originally agreed, amending the terms of reference or disbanding the Task Group altogether and scrutinising a different issue.

With regard to the membership of the Task Group, the Board was informed that since the report had been compiled, both Councillor Mrs. McDonald and Councillor McDonald had contacted the Committee Services Officer stating that they wished to withdraw from the Task Group.

Although it was acknowledged that Task Groups did not have to be politically balanced, both Members of the Board and officers believed that cross-party working was important.

Refuse and Recycling Task Group – Value for Money (VFM)

The Board agreed that the additional piece of work relating to VFM was a key scrutiny exercise as VFM was one of the Council’s priorities.  Therefore, it was felt that the Task Group Members should be contacted to ensure they were willing to undertake the investigation.

The suggested terms of reference were also discussed and it was questioned whether customer satisfaction levels needed to be included.

Concessionary Parking for the over 60s

Mr. Bateman’s comments, relating to the need to collect six months worth of data before the issue could be properly investigated, was considered.  It was also discussed whether or not this issue was better placed on the work programme for the Performance Management Board.

‘Older People’ and ‘Senior Citizens’

Councillor Mrs. Bunker informed the new Members of the Board that, with the help of the Assistant Chief Executive, a rural and an urban focus group were being set up by the Policy and Performance Team to find out the views of older people.  It was intended that this would enable Members to better decide the issues to be scrutinised.

It was believed by the Board that there was no distinction between the topic ‘Older People’ which was already on the work programme and the topic ‘Senior Citizens’ which had been put forward at the last meeting of the Board.

Climate Change

The Board was informed that Members had previously decided to include the topic of Climate Change on the work programme.  However, to avoid duplicating the work of the Energy Efficiency Project Group, it had been agreed that the Board would request a progress update report to assist them in determining whether or not further scrutiny of this topic was required.  As the Board had considered the Energy Efficiency Group Progress Update Report earlier in the meeting, Members discussed whether or not climate change needed to remain on its work programme.

Joint Countywide Scrutiny on Flooding

There was a brief discussion relating to the Joint Countywide Scrutiny on Flooding in relation to the Council’s representative.

It was confirmed that Councillor Pardoe, as the new Scrutiny Steering Board Chairman, would be expected to attend meetings of the Worcestershire Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen Network.

RESOLVED:

(a)    that the Anti-Social Behaviour and Alcohol Free Zones Task Group continue as one Task Group with the terms of reference as agreed at the previous Board Meeting and with the following Members:  Councillors K. Taylor (Chairman), Mrs. M. Bunker, Mrs. H. Jones, Mrs. C. J. Spencer and C. J. Tidmarsh;

(b)    that, on behalf of the Board, a letter be sent to all Members emphasising the importance of cross-party working and requesting that if any Member would like to join the Anti-Social Behaviour and Alcohol Free Zones Task Group they inform the Board via the Committee Services Officer;

(c)     that Members of the Refuse and Recycling Task Group be contacted to find out if they are willing to undertake the additional piece of work relating to Value for Money;

(d)    that it be noted that the Value for Money Training for Members is scheduled to be held on 11th June 2008;

(e)    that the suggested terms of reference (attached as appendix 3 to the report) be approved, subject to customer satisfaction levels being included;

(f)      that due to the need of appropriate data relating to the concessionary parking for over 60s, the Task Group be disbanded;

(g)    that the topic relating to Older People remain on the work programme and the topic ‘Senior Citizens’ be removed;

(h)     that the Assistant Chief Executive be requested to update Councillor  Mrs. Bunker on the progress of the Older People Focus Groups;

(i)      that the topic Climate Change be removed from the work programme;

(j)      that, due to the change in the Board’s Chairman, Councillor Pardoe be nominated as the Council’s representative on the Joint Countywide Scrutiny on flooding; and

(k)     that the work programme for the Board be updated accordingly.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet request that the Performance Management Board considers a report on concessionary parking for over 60s once six months worth of data has been compiled (as requested by a member of the public, Mr. Bateman).