Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Sue Hills  01344 352060

Items
No. Item

44.

Substitute Members

To receive apologies for absence and to note the attendance of any substitute members.

Minutes:

The Committee noted the attendance of the following Substitute Member:

 

            Councillor Phillips for Councillor Ms Whitbread

45.

Minutes and Matters Arising pdf icon PDF 85 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 28 October and 1 November 2010.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings of the Commission held on 28 October and 1 November 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

Matters arising:-

 

Minute 29,Report on the Review of the Council’s Response to Severe Weather – members had been sent by email about working arrangements between the Council and the Town and Parish Councils.  Members had received a link to the Department of Transport guide and the Council had expanded their website to include advice on winter weather issues.

 

Councillor Ward informed the Commission that:

·         work on the salt barn was underway;

·         in December 2010 he had released £72k of funding for slough clearance equipment;

 

Minute 32, Report of the Review of Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies – Councillor McCracken had written to the Ambulance Service asking it to review its contingency arrangements with other strategic health authorities and had received a positive reply which would be submitted to the next meeting of the Health O&S Panel.

 

Minute 33, Executive Forward Plan, 1020064 Office Accommodation Strategy – The Director of Corporate Services advised that the decision had been deferred until June, and therefore there would not be a presentation at today’s meeting.

 

Minute 34, Performance Monitoring Reports, Chief Executive’s Office – Production of the ‘Welcome to the Borough’ booklet had been delayed but should be issued soon.

46.

Declarations of Interest and Party Whip

Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests and the nature of that interest, including the existence and nature of the party whip, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

Minutes:

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Part 4, Section 12 of the Council’s Constitution:

 

Councillor McCracken declared a personal interest in item 7, Safeguarding Children and Young People O&S Report, as the spouse of Councillor
Mrs McCracken.

47.

The Council's Budget Consultation pdf icon PDF 27 KB

To consider the Council’s draft budget proposals for 2011/2012:

 

a)                  Corporate Services Department

b)                  Chief Executive’s Office

c)                  Feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Panels and overall conclusions.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Borough Treasurer Designate presented his report on the draft budget proposals for 2011/12.  The proposals had been agreed by the Executive in December 2010 as the basis for consultation with the Overview and Scrutiny Commission and Panels and other interested parties. 

 

The proposals were prepared prior to receipt of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, details of which were received the day before the Executive met, and therefore did not take account of the settlement.  The Commission noted that it may be necessary to reduce spending next year by up to £2.25m, in addition to the £3.7m identified in the original budget proposals.  Around £1m had been fully anticipated as it related to grant funded work that had been due to end on 31 March, leaving just over £1m further savings to find from balances or further expenditure reductions.  Work on this was underway and the outcome would be fed into the budget consultation process as soon as possible.

 

The annexes set out the budget proposals in detail:-

Revenue Budget                    A          Commitment Budget

B          Budget pressures

C         Suggested savings

D         Proposed fees and charges

Capital Programme                A          Capital Programme   

B          Corporate Services/Chief Executive

C         Council wide

Extracts of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels’ consideration of the budget papers were also included.

 

The Commission scrutinised the budget proposals for Chief Executive’s Office,  Corporate Services Department and non-Departmental/Council wide items, including budget pressures, budget savings proposals, proposed fees and charges and capital programme.

 

The Commission noted that, following the spending review announcement, the Executive would look again at the Capital Programme, as a significant amount of grant funding had been made available to the Council.  The Director of Corporate Services referred to the committed items and budget pressures which had been kept to an absolute minimum, also to the maximisation of savings, and particularly different ways of providing technology to members and the Thin Client desktop refresh.

 

Arising in discussion and from members’ questions:-

  • NHS learning disability budgets and associated commissioning responsibility for social care for adults had transferred to local authorities.
  • If there was no increase in Council Tax the Council would receive additional grant of £1.212m.  The Executive planned to accept this offer but may need to revisit in the light of the final settlement.
  • Budget assumptions had been based on low interest rates continuing throughout 2011/12.
  • A pay increase of £250 for employees earning less than £21,000, in line with the Chancellor’s budget statement.  A pay freeze for employees earning £21,000 and above.
  • The Council-wide pressures were in areas where the departmental allocation was not yet known but would be implemented in due course.
  • There was pressure on staff to review business processes in order to save money.
  • Regulations did not permit the Council to recover from schools the cost of the purchase of allowances to cover CO2 emissions by schools.  The government was, however, being pressed to introduce changes enabling Councils to pass on the cost to schools.
  • Roof work at Time Square had helped mitigate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

48.

Customer Contact Strategy

To receive a presentation on the draft Customer Contact Strategy 2011 – 2014.

Minutes:

The Director of Corporate Services informed the Commission of the refresh of the current Customer Contact Strategy.  Work had been undertaken with members and officers and the views of local residents had been sought.  The views of the Commission were welcomed to help determine the priorities for the next strategy. 

 

Keith Woodman, Chief Officer: Customer Services, gave a presentation on the issues involved in producing the draft strategy for 2011 – 2014.  He updated the Commission on:

·         progress to date of the 2007 – 2010 strategy

·         Customer enquiries

·         Customer Service support

·         Customer feedback

·         The public website

·         Use of other technologies

·         Key themes from the current strategy to take forward to the new one

·         Emerging themes to add to the strategy, particularly the channel strategy in which an attempt was made to channel people to communication ways that were less costly to provide.

 

Arising from questions or discussion:-

 

  • A suggestion was made to locate a customer service advisor in libraries as 28% of people surveyed in the Bracknell Forest 1500 and 23% surveyed in the Older People’s Communications Audit preferred contact in person.  The Commission noted that librarians do assist the public regarding customer service and the Benefits service did attend Sandhurst Library on one occasion but take up was so low that continuing it could not be justified.
  • Text alerts Would be considered as a means of communication but the officers explained that charges would be levied per text and it would be difficult to predict usage and cost.  In comparison, there was a monthly charge for email alerts.  A member suggested trying to negotiate a monthly charge for text alerts which she felt were an effective means of communication but it would be necessary to determine the correct business case.  Text alerts were specific to one person whereas email alerts were general.
  • Facebook and Twitter had been used to post information about the bad weather and good feedback had been received.
  • Channel preference had been analysed by age and this information could be provided to the Commission.

 

The Chairman thanked Keith Woodman for a very interesting presentation on the very important front-line face of the Council and the good work done to improve Customer Services.

49.

Safeguarding Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Report pdf icon PDF 18 KB

To consider and adopt the report of the Working Group of the Children, Young People and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Panel which reviewed Safeguarding of Children and Young People.

 

For reasons of economy, only the conclusions and recommendations from the report are included in these agenda papers.  The main body of the report can be viewed at item 10 of the agenda for the meeting of the Children, Young People and Learni8ng Overview and Scrutiny Panel on 12 January 2011, on the Council’s website at

 

http://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=560&MId=3567

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Councillor Jan Angell and Paula Ridgway, members of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Working Group.

 

Councillor Mrs McCracken, the lead member of the working group, presented the conclusions and recommendations of the draft ‘Being Safe’ report, which was agreed at the last Children, Young People and Learning O&S Panel.  The full report was available online at –

http://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?Cld=560&Mld=3567

 

This was an extensive piece of work, spanning six months, involving four councillors, one teacher representative and a voluntary sector representative, with good officer support from Children’s Social Care and Overview and Scrutiny.  The working group met a wide range of people and received written comments from others.  It attended the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) stakeholder conference and reviewed key safeguarding material, eg,Lord Laming’s report, safeguarding procedures.

 

Of the 36 conclusions, the key one was –

 

‘In overall terms, in all major respects we are very satisfied that the Council and its partners have done all they reasonably can to safeguard children and young people’ (conclusion 4.33).

 

The report contained 19 recommendations, mainly addressed to the Council’s Executive, including issues around assessment, resourcing, early intervention, publicity, NHS reorganisation, and building member understanding and commitment.

 

The review was carefully structured and organised and the working group thought there were points of learning that could be applied to other reviews, such as the approach to obtaining the views of service users, research, setting and regularly monitoring a detailed work programme and having a workshop at the end to draw out the conclusions and recommendations.

 

Positive feedback had been received on the report from the Executive Member for Children and Young People and the Director, Young People and Learning.

 

Mrs McCracken recorded her personal thanks to everyone involved in the review.

 

Arising from discussion and questions –

 

  • The effect of the reduction of the teenage pregnancy service on teenage pregnancies in the borough.  The possibility of reviewing that decision when the outcome of reducing the service was known.
  • The Police would be looking into the lack of provision of safe and secure overnight accommodation for children from 10 to 17 in custody overnight.  It was suggested that the possibility of using the Partnership to encourage this provision should be pursued through the Children, Young People and Learning O&S Panel. 
  • A new Chief Officer: Children’s Social Care would be appointed later in the year.  It was suggested that the new officer be given a copy of the working group report  and invite them to the Children, Young People and Learning O&S Panel.
  • Councillor Mrs McCracken would be interviewed by Heart Radio tomorrow, Friday 28 January.  The Commission noted that it was the usual practice for the radio station to put interviews on their website.
  • Councillor Mrs Shillcock thought this was one of the best review reports presented, both very interesting and informative.

 

The Chairman thanked all involved with the working group for a very informative piece of work.

 

The Commission adopted the report of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

50.

Review of Overview and Scrutiny Activity pdf icon PDF 48 KB

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive providing an update on Overview and Scrutiny activity following the reduction in the Overview and Scrutiny Officer team from March 2010.

Minutes:

The Head of Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) presented the Assistant Chief Executive’s report updating the Commission on O&S activity following the reduction in officer resources in March 2010.  The report highlighted a range of measures that could improve efficiency and address the reduced level of officer support.  In the current financial climate proposed reductions in funding meant that allocating additional resources to the O&S function would be increasingly difficult.

 

The Commission noted key developments since January 2010 and the impact of changes to O&S.  The Commission considered the possible measures to sustain O&S outputs, set out in paragraph 3.8 of the report, and agreed as follows:-

 

 

Area of activity

 

Possible measure

Decision

1

Structure of O&S

 

1.1

 

Cease involvement in Joint East Berks Health O&S Committee only to be reactivated in the event of a statutory consultation requirement.

Yes.  The Committee had reached the end of its useful life.  Councillors Edger and Leake would explore how to withdraw.

1.2

 

With the move of the public health function to local authorities, align with the departmental structure, possibly combining Health and Adult Social Care Panels.

For future discussion when the Government had issued regulations.

1.3

 

Restore previous frequency of meetings of Commission and Panels to improve the continuity of member involvement.

Yes, the Commission should meet 6 times a year and the Panels four times.

2

Public meetings

Cease off-site O&S meetings.

 

Yes

3

Approval of working group reports

Commission to delegate power to approve reports to respective Panel.

No.  The Commission had an important role in commissioning O&S reviews and in approving O&S reports.

4

Agenda management

Chairmen of Commission and Panels, advised by Directors, to reverse some of the ‘creep’ in agendas, so as to be able to concentrate time on the most important topics.

Yes

5

Working Groups

 

5.1

 

If members were to ‘level up’ their input to reviews it would reduce officer requirements and enable more reviews to be carried out.

 

Yes

5.2

 

Exercise tighter control over taking on new reviews.

Yes

5.3

 

Respond flexibly to run short focussed reviews on matters of topical interest and concern.

 

Yes

5.4

 

Reduce number of O&S reviews and refocus more towards contributing to policy development.

 

Yes

5.5

 

Adopt different approach to the format and operation of reviews, particularly in terms of reducing research, evidence gathering and analysis.

For future discussion.  The current approach worked well.

6

Miscellaneous

 

6.1

 

All members to use Outlook calendar and appointment function to save officer time in arranging meetings.

Members to look into further.

6.2

 

Members be more discerning in their requests for officer assistance.

Noted and agreed.

6.3

 

Tighter control over informal or additional meetings requiring O&S officer support.

Noted and agreed.

 

The Commission also noted that –

 

(i)                  the Commission outputs had been largely maintained since March 2010;

(ii)                under the current structure and processes, the O&S outputs could be expected to decline in the future; and

(iii)               it was unlikely  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

51.

Updates from Panel Chairmen

To receive oral updates from the Overview and Scrutiny Panel Chairmen and the Chairman of the Joint East Berkshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Minutes:

Adult Social Care O&S Panel

 

Councillor Turrell updated the Commission on the Panel, including

·         a positive budget meeting.

·         A positive response from the Executive to the review of Personalisation – Safeguarding Adults.

 

Environment, Culture and Communities O&S Panel

 

Councillor Finnie updated the Commission on the work of the Panel, including

·         the budget meeting.

·         The working group reviewing Highway Maintenance.

·         A positive response had been received to his letter sent to South East Water about the flooding in London Road.

 

Children, Young People and Learning O&S Panel

 

Councillor Mrs Birch updated the Commission on the work of the Panel, including 

·         The budget meeting.

·         The review of Safeguarding Children & Young People.

·         The continuing review of school meals.  Visits planned to Kennel Lane Special School and hopefully all secondary schools.

·         Some work on exclusions.

·         A follow-up of 14-19 education.

 

Health O&S Panel

 

Councillor Leake updated the Commission on the work of the Committee which included

·         The report on hospital car park charges had been sent to the Hospital Trust.

·         The report on Bracknell Healthspace had been completed and would be submitted to the next meeting of the Panel.

52.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 40 KB

To consider the draft Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2011/2012.

Minutes:

The Commission considered and agreed the draft work programme for Overview and Scrutiny in 2011/12.  The work programme would be added as an appendix to the Annual Report for 2010/11 and submitted to Council in April 2011.

 

The Commission noted that there were currently insufficient resources to carry out ‘future proposed reviews’.

53.

The Review of Partnership Scrutiny pdf icon PDF 260 KB

To consider the responses by the Executive and the Board of the Bracknell Forest Partnership to the Overview and Scrutiny report resulting from the review of partnership scrutiny in Bracknell Forest.

Minutes:

The Commission noted the report of the Assistant Chief Executive on the Review of Partnership Scrutiny and considered the responses of the Council’s Executive and the Bracknell Forest Partnership Board.  Of the 14 recommendations to the Partnership Board, The Board accepted 10, partly accepted two and did not agree two.

 

The Commission noted that the Assistant Chief Executive could not see that the Localism Bill would impact to any great extent on the Partnerships.

 

The Commission specifically confirmed that, as additional resources had not been provided, -

 

  • The Partnership O&S Group would henceforth exist in a reference capacity only, meeting exceptionally if required.
  • Future O&S reviews of partner organisations’ activities should only be carried out when they form an integral part of an O&S review of the Council’s own activities, or the NHS services.

54.

Review of Personalisation - Safeguarding Adults pdf icon PDF 42 KB

To consider the response of the Executive to the report of the Working Group of the Adult  Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Panel which reviewed adult safeguarding  in the context of Personalisation of adult social care.

 

 

Minutes:

The Commission noted the report of the Assistant Chief Executive on the review of safeguarding adults in the context of the personalisation of Adult Social Care and considered the Execuitive’s response to the report.  The Chairman asked that progress on the recommendations should be monitored by the Panel.  Ten review recommendations had been accepted by the Executive.

 

The Chairman thanked Councillor Turrell for leading the review.

55.

Executive Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 16 KB

Forthcoming items on the Executive Forward Plan of a corporate nature are attached for consideration.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Commission noted the Forward Plan relating to corporate issues.  The following issues were raised –

 

I026329, Voluntary Sector Core Revenue Grants 2011/12

 

The Assistant Chief Executive would ensure that Councillor Finnie was kept informed of this decision which was delegated to the Executive Member for Culture, Corporate Services and Public Protection.

 

I025936, Customer Contact Strategy 2011/14

 

The decision was likely to be made in July 2011, not March.

 

I020064, Office Accommodation Strategy

 

It was likely that the planned decision date, 7 June 2011, would be deferred.  Some members expressed concerns about the lack of input from members.   The Director of Corporate Services explained that this item was tied to the Town Centre development but that she would be happy to bring it to the Commission for its view.  However officers were unable to give an undertaking that the item would be brought to the Commission before it went to the Executive but the Director would consult the Chief Executive and the Executive.

56.

Performance Monitoring Reports pdf icon PDF 230 KB

To consider the performance monitoring reports for quarter two (July to September) of the 2010/2011 financial year for the:

 

·                     Chief Executive’s Office

·                     Corporate Services Department

 

In view of the size of the agenda, the Chairman has asked that any questions arising from the reports should be referred to either the Assistant Chief Executive or Director of Corporate Services in advance and only raised in the meeting if you consider the issue requires wider discussion.

 

Please bring your copies of the performance monitoring reports to the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Commission considered the Performance Monitoring Reports for the second quarter, July - September 2010 for the Chief Executive’s Office and the Corporate Services Department.

 

Chief Executive’s Office

 

The Assistant Chief Executive reported highlights from the PMR.  Annex C provided details of performance against relevant National Indicators, as well as an update on the operational risks identified in the Service Plan.

 

In section four, Forward Look, he drew attention to –

 

  • the preparation of the draft Economic Development Strategy
  • securing Council approval  of the Homes and Communities Agency Local Investment Plan
  • completing the Local Economic Assessment for the Reading Diamond authorities
  • Engaging with Government and other councils/partners to develop the Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership.  This would be a significant piece of work which was business-led and had input from the Council’s Small Business Champion.

 

Corporate Services

 

The Director of Corporate Services drew attention to progress on civic accommodation, the Big Society and the Town Centre and answered a question on the nature of Town Centre Regeneration underspend.  The Director undertook to send Councillor McLean a full breakdown.

 

The Chairman thanked the officers for their reports.

 

57.

Corporate Performance Overview Report pdf icon PDF 196 KB

To consider the Chief Executive’s Corporate Performance Overview Report for quarter two (July to September) of the 2010/11 financial year.

 

In view of the size of the agenda, the Chairman has asked that any questions arising from the report should be referred to the Assistant Chief Executive in advance and only raised in the meeting if you consider the issue requires wider discussion.

Minutes:

The Commission considered and noted the Chief Executive’s Corporate Performance Overview Report (CPOR) for the second quarter, July to September, of the 2010/11 financial year.

 

The Assistant Chief Executive highlighted –

 

  • Paragraph 3.2 – activity continued on the Town Centre regeneration.
  • Paragraph 3.3 – Coral Reef and Bracknell Leisure Centre had achieved the national Customer Service Excellence Award and had held the Charter Mark continuously since 1993.
  • Paragraph 3.5 – the Council’s registration on the mandatory Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme.
  • Paragraph 3.7 - the opening of the newly built Garth Hill College and the completion of the Edgbarrow Post 16 Centre.  The best A level results ever achieved in the Borough.
  • Paragraph 3.9 – Crime reduction targets had already been met.
  • Paragraph 3.10 – the Dementia Team had recently supported a person with end-stage dementia to fulfil their long-stated wish to die at home, and continued to offer this service.

 

Councillor McCracken referred to changes in Police organisation.  Under recommendations soon to be put to the Police Authority the current five Basic Command Units would be replaced by 15 units aligned to local authority areas with a degree of autonomy.  Each unit would have a Chief Inspector.

 

Arising from questions – the Department for Communities and Local Government website lists Bracknell Forest as having already published expenditure, Chief Officers’ salaries and procurement information.

 

58.

Members' Meeting on 23 February 2011

Minutes:

Referring to this facilitated session to review overview and scrutiny over the past four years, the Chairman asked members to complete the questionnaires and return them to Democratic Services.

59.

Councillor Bob Edger, OBE

Minutes:

As this was the last formal meeting of the Commission in this municipal year, on behalf of the Commission, the Vice Chairman placed on record the members’ appreciation and sincere thanks for Councillor Edger’s four year stewardship as Chairman of the Commission.

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk