Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Members and officers to the first meeting of the Committee in the 2007/08 municipal year, and paid tribute to the hard work and contribution of the previous Chair, Councillor Driver, and other Members who were no longer on the Committee – Councillors Bale, Cleasby, Lancaster and Leadley.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 13 of the Members Code of Conduct

No declarations of interest were made.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meetings (2) held on 16^th May 2007.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the two meetings held on 16^th May 2007 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive, for information purposes only, the attached minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 16^th May 2007.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 16^th May 2007 be received and noted.

(a)  Extension of ALMO Management Agreements (Minute No 246 refers)

  Further to Minute No 246 of the Executive Board meeting, 16^th May 2007, at a Member’s request, it was agreed that the decision to extend the management agreements with the housing Arms Length Management Organisations by a further five years, to 31^st January 2013, should be referred to the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) with a view to that Board considering conducting a formal review of that decision.

(b)  Services based at Terry Yorath House (Minute No 240 refers)

  Further to OSC Minute No 109, 16^th May 2007, and Minute No 240 of the Executive Board meeting, 16^th May 2007, and in response to a Member’s query, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development reported that the Director of Adult Services had now reconsidered her decision, taking into account the views of OSC expressed on 16^th May, and had made another delegated decision to continue the contract with The Disabilities Trust for the provision of care services at Terry Yorath House for a further 12 months, with the option of two further 12 month extensions, and including a 4 month notice period in the contract.  Following the previous Call-In, this latest decision could not be called-in.

  It was agreed that the Scrutiny Board (Health and Adult Social Care) should be requested to monitor the ongoing consultation arrangements with residents and their carers which formed part of the wider review and consultation process relating to the provision of adult residential care services.

To receive, for information purposes only, the attached minutes of the Scrutiny Board (City Services) meeting held on 18^th April 2007.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the minutes of the above meeting be received and noted.

(b)  That the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development be requested to obtain and circulate to OSC Members details of the outcome of the Crown Cuisine Inquiry referred to in Minute No 105(a).

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report setting out the formal terms of reference of the Committee.

In response to Members’ queries, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development undertook to ascertain and circulate to OSC Members further information about the present situation regarding Corporate Priority Boards.  He also undertook to refer to the Scrutiny Board (Health and Adult Social Care), on a recommendation monitoring basis, the issue of progress on the previous Board’s Inquiry into hospital cleanliness, MRSA etc.

RESOLVED – That the Committee’s terms of reference be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Committee considered a report submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development regarding the Action Plan associated with the 2006/07 Scrutiny Annual Report to Council, due to be considered by the Council on 20^th June 2007.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development reported that further guidance from the Government was awaited on issues such as ‘community calls for action’ and the extension of scrutiny arrangements to external partner organisations, and the Committee would receive update reports as appropriate.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement.

The Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement submitted a summary report relating to key performance indicators for each area covered by an officer from Corporate Priority Board, and highlighting key areas of under - performance which OSC or the other Scrutiny Boards might wish to tackle in greater depth.  The impact of under - performance in key areas on the Council’s overall Corporate Performance Assessment (CPA) score was emphasised.

The key areas highlighted at the meeting were:-

• Planning performance, and whether or not this was improving – The Chair stated OSC would be receiving an update report at its September meeting, following its Inquiry in 2006/07;
• VC11c – Percentage of top 5% of earners that are disabled (excluding schools) and BV16a – The number of staff declaring that they meet the DDA disability definition as a percentage of the total workforce;
• BV12 – The proportion of working days/shifts lost to sickness absence – and the variations between Departments;
• BV126 – Domestic burglaries per 1,000 of the population – and BV127b – Robberies per year per 1,000 of the population – and the variations between different parts of the City;
• BV203 – The percentage change in the average number of families placed in temporary accommodation;
• BV201 – Direct payments per 100,000 of the population;
• Children and Young People – issues relating to weaknesses in management information and the allocation of resources across the City.
• CP-AS50 – provision of out of hours services – Members requested details regarding the 55 services referred to in the report.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted, and Scrutiny Chairs, in consultation with the Scrutiny Support Unit and their Boards, decide which key areas of under - performance to investigate during 2007/08.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report regarding establishing the Committee’s work programme for 2007/08, together with a relevant extract of the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st June to 30^th September 2007.

The Committee decided to add reviews of various previous issues to its work programme – When Contracts Go Wrong, Direct Payments and Elections and Electoral Arrangements – to refer a review of the previous Waste Strategy Inquiry to the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) and also requested an update on the Grass Cutting Service contract.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development gave notice of two Scrutiny training sessions – one for Scrutiny Chairs on 3^rd July, 9.30 am to 12.00 noon, and one for Scrutiny Members on 6^th July, 9.30 am– 12.00 noon.

To receive and note the following information regarding the 2007/08 schedule of OSC meetings (subject to approval at the Annual Council Meeting on 24^th May 2007) :-

Monday 2^nd July 2007

Monday 3^rd September 2007

Monday 1^st October 2007

Monday 5^th November 2007

Monday 3^rd December 2007

Monday 7^th January 2008

Monday 4^th February 2008

Monday 3^rd March 2008

Monday 7^th April 2008

All at 10.00am ( Pre-Meetings at 9.30am).

Monday 2^nd July 2007

Monday 3^rd September 2007

Monday 1^st October 2007

Monday 5^th November 2007

Monday 3^rd December 2007

Monday 7^th January 2008

Monday 4^th February 2008

Monday 3^rd March 2008

Monday 7^th April 2008

All at 10.00 am (Pre-Meetings at 9.30 am).

At the request of a Member, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development  undertook to canvass OSC Members regarding OSC meetings always being on a Monday.