Agenda and minutes

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

Councillor Ron Grahame declared a personal interest in relation to Agenda Item No. 7, Financial Health Monitoring 2011/12 – Month nine report, in his capacity as a Director of East North East Homes ALMO, and as a Member of the GMB Union. (Minute No. 69 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence and notifications of substitutes.

There were no apologies for absence

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th January 2012

(Copy attached)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9^th January 2012 be confirmed as a true and correct record

To consider a report by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which provides details of the financial health of the authority as of month nine of the 2011/12 financial year.

(Cover report attached, main report to be circulated following the publication of the Executive Board agenda)

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which provided details of the financial health of the authority as of month nine of the 2011/12 financial year.

Dough Meeson, Chief Officer (Financial Management) attended the meeting and responded to Members questions and comments

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• Costs associate with foster caring/ children in care
• The generation of income through Council Services
• The projected overspend at month 9 of £0.5m, an improvement of £1.9m from the position at month 8
• Reductions in staffing through the early leavers initiative
• Refuse collection back up service

RESOLVED – To note the projected financial position of the authority after nine months of the financial year 2011/12

To consider a report by the Chief Officer ICT which provides an update of the Best Value Review of ICT

(Report attached)

The Chief Officer ICT submitted a report which provided an update of the

Best Value Review of ICT

Ian Jones, Senior ICT Consultant attended the meeting and responded to Members questions and comments

In addressing the report Mr Jones explained the background in appointing a Consultant to undertake a more detailed review of Children’s Services.

A report from the appointed consultant was included in the report provided to the Board. The report described the proposed approach of the review, timescale, deliverables, resources and costs

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• Users of any new system to be consulted on the design and delivery of the system
• Any new system would need to be compatible with other City Council IT systems
• Assurances that adequate training would be provided
• A desire to have commercial package/ proven system, not a bespoke system
• The use of a Consultant and further details and background about the procurement process 
• A desire for reports to be written in plain English, more user friendly

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the contents of the report be noted

(ii)  That the comments of the Board be made known to the project team

(iii)  That further details be obtained about the appointed Consultants and the procurement process

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the Board’s draft work schedule, together with the latest Executive Board minutes and Forward Plan

(Report attached)

A report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the current municipal year.

Appended to the report for Member’s information was the current version of the Board’s work programme, the minutes from the Executive  Board meeting held on 4^th January 2012, together with an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st February to 31^st May 2012

RESOLVED – That the work programme, as amended, be approved

Monday 5^th March 2012 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds (Pre –Meeting for Board Members at 9.30am)

RESOLVED – To note that the next meeting will take place on Monday 5^th March 2012 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds (Pre- Meeting for Board Members at 9.30am)