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NOTICE OF MEETING

COMMITTEE:        SCRUTINY

                            (ORGANISATION)

DAY/DATE:           FRIDAY, 25TH MAY 2007

TIME:                   2.30PM

VENUE:                EAST COMMITTEE ROOM 

                            MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS

                            EARLE STREET, CREWE        

Despatch date:      17th May 2007  

Enquiries to:          Carol Jones

Tel: 01270 537598

Fax: 01270 537605

Chair :  Councillor A C Johnson

Tel : 01270 820124

Fax: 01270 628204

E-mail: agendas@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

To:       Members of the Performance and Overview Committee (Organisation)

(Councillors W T Beard, J A Beech (Deputy Chair), D H D Charlesworth,   H W Curran,  R E Dodd, B Evans, K Healey, A C Johnson (Chair), Z S Krizanac, J Lewis, A Moran (Deputy Chair), D J Straine-Francis), Chief Executive, Executive Directors, Assistant Chief Executive, Other recipients of the agenda, Local Press and Radio

Notes for Members of the Public

The Borough Council welcomes and encourages members of the public to attend its Committee, Board and Council meetings.

If you plan to attend, please report to the Reception Desk in the Municipal Buildings, where you will be provided with a Visitor’s Pass.

Car parking is not available at the Municipal Buildings, but there are several town centre car parks.  There is a disabled access to the rear of the Municipal Buildings, and this can be accessed through the side door on Vernon Way.  Please press the button for attention, and someone will meet you and escort you through to the main reception area. 

You are asked to remain quiet whilst the meeting is taking place, and to enter and leave the meeting room, or public gallery of the Council Chamber, as quietly as possible.  Please ensure that if you have a mobile phone or pager, it is switched off for the duration of the meeting.

You are not allowed to have drinks or food in the meeting rooms or in the Public Gallery, other than beverages offered by the Council during Committee breaks.  A “No Smoking” policy operates in the Municipal Buildings.

Fire Evacuation

If the fire alarm rings, you should make your way to the nearest exit with your belongings, as quickly as possible, and leave the building.  Please follow any instructions from staff about evacuation routes.         

Copies of the agenda will be available if you attend. Agendas are also made available on the Internet and can be accessed via the Council’s website – see front page for details.

On occasions, members of the press and public will be excluded from the meetings when the business to be transacted is of a confidential nature, for example, dealing with individual people, contracts and financial affairs of other parties.

If you require any further information, please contact Carol Jones the Committee Officer (details on front page).


AGENDA

1          Apologies

2          Declaration of Interests

Any Member present (including non-Committee Members) to declare any personal or prejudicial interest, and the nature of the interest, which they have in any item of business on the agenda and, if necessary, to leave the meeting prior to discussion of that item.

Members who also serve as County, Town or Parish Councillors, are reminded of the need to make declarations in respect of any item which directly concerns the business of the appropriate authority.

Declarations are a personal matter for each Member to decide.  Whilst Officers will advise on the Code of Conduct and its interpretation, the decision to declare, or not, is the responsibility of the Member, based on the particular circumstances.


3          Whipping Declarations

Members to declare in respect of items where the whip has been applied.


4          Record of Meeting

To approve as correct the Record of the Meeting held on 2nd April 2007.  (4)


5          Board Business

5.1       Board Meeting – 31st May 2007

The Committee is invited to comment on Board reports which fall within its remit.  

5.2       Provisional Items (Board’s Forward Plan)

To consider the Board’s Forward Plan for  June, July and September 2007.  (5.2)

5.3       Responses/Referrals from the Board or Council

There are no responses or referrals from the Board or Council on this occasion.


6.         Performance Monitoring – BVPIs and LPIs

The report provides out-turn performance against all statutory BVPIs and LPIs for the year 2006-2007 including a brief commentary on any variances. (to follow) See Performance Figures


7.         Work Programme

The Committee may wish to review its work programme.  The following were agreed for review during 2007/2008

7.1.       Delivery of Capital Schemes

At its meeting in April, the Committee considered a list of Capital Schemes and made a number of recommendations to the Board. (Minute No. 72.2 refers).

7.2.        Communications and Press and Media Relations

The Committee has agreed that In view of the recent appointment of a Communications Manager, it would be appropriate to examine this topic as it applied across the authority, from a policy and practice perspective and its links with Members.

7.3.        Asset Management Plan

As will be noted from the Provisional List of Board items, the Board will be considering the Asset Management Plan at its July meeting.  The Committee could examine this and give consideration to the appropriateness of suggesting the disposal of some assets. The principal purpose of receiving the schedule would be to raise Members’’ awareness of the extent of the Council’s assets, but it will also be an opportunity for the Committee to make recommendations to the Board.

7.4.       Member Support and Development

The Committee agreed that this could be reviewed during 2007/2008.  At the time it was included in the programme, reference was made to training sessions arranged in accordance with the approved Member Development Programme and the abortive costs which accrued to the Authority when sessions were cancelled at short notice.

7.5.        Other Potential Reviews - A-Z List of Portfolios

The Committee is invited to consider any other potential areas for review.  A copy of the A-Z of Portfolios and P & O Responsibilities 2007/2008 is attached, together with a Scrutiny Form. (7) For the benefit of new Members to the Committee and as a reminder to other Members, the scrutiny form is used to define the scope of any review, identifying perceived reasons for a review, the way in which the review should be conducted and the intended outcome.


8.         Date of Next Meeting

23rd July 2007