Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 30 January 2014.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 30 January 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

There were no matters arising.

Members are requested to declare any disclosable pecuniary or affected interest, including the existence and nature of the Party Whip, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

Any Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or an affected interest in a matter should withdraw from the meeting when the matter is under consideration and should notify the Democratic Services Officer in attendance that they are withdrawing as they have such an interest. If the Disclosable Pecuniary Interest is not entered on the register of Members interests the Monitoring Officer must be notified of the interest within 28 days.

Councillor Mrs Birch declared an interest as the spouse of the Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing.

Councillor Mrs McCracken declared an interest as the spouse of the Executive Member for Culture, Corporate Services and Public Protection.

Any other items which, pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman decides are urgent.

There were no urgent items of business.

To receive submissions from members of the public which have been submitted in advance in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme for Overview and Scrutiny.

There were no representations submitted under the public participation scheme.

To receive an update from David Cook, Chairman, and Victor Nicholls, Assistant Chief Executive on the work of the Economic and Skills Development Partnership, and progress in implementing the Economic Development Strategy.

David Cook, Chairman, presented a report setting out the work of the Economic and Skills Development Partnership since the Partnership’s last update to the Commission in March 2013.  The report included updates on key actions, an overview of its current priorities, a summary of future plans and a summary of key performance data relating to the local economy.

It was noted that the Partnership was business led with representation from 3M, Waitrose, Bracknell Chamber of Commerce and the Transport Research Laboratory on its membership. It was reported that the Partnership had made considerable progress over the past year.  Of the Group’s 46 agreed actions, 35 were either complete or on track however due to resource issues some of the outstanding actions had been reshaped or postponed until such time as resources were available for example the roll out of a marketing plan intended to raise awareness of Bracknell Forest as a place to do business had been delayed.  The business community was aware of Bracknell Forest and wanted to engage more with the Council.

Key priority areas for the Partnership were;

• Business retention
• Engagement with businesses
• Attracting new businesses to the area
• Supporting small businesses, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs
• Encouraging people to recognise that supporting businesses was everyone’s job

Arising from the Commission’s questions and comments the following points were noted:

• Recruitment for a new Economic Development Team was taking place and it was hoped that once the Team was in post work would progress
• The Government definition of ‘Superfast’ Broadband speeds specified speeds of 24 megabytes however this was significantly lower than the general public’s expectation of speeds in excess of 100 megabytes
• The Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership, which had received increased funding, looked at the economics of the Berkshire Thames Valley region as a whole while the Partnership focused on Bracknell Forest.  The two organisations worked together to encourage business growth, investment and economic development in the region
• The proposed development of a co-ordinated impartial centre for careers advice would take the form of a ‘one-stop’ shop in the town centre with advisors from a range of organisations including NACRO, Advizor, Job Centre Plus and Bracknell and Wokingham College
• Encouraging South West Trains and Network Rail to install reliable wi-fi on their trains would help those using the service
• Provision of free wi-fi internet access in the regenerated Bracknell town centre would be a key piece of work to encourage people to Bracknell
• There needed to be greater focus on the STEM subjects, Science, Maths, Technology and Engineering in educational settings
• Softer skills for example team working, project working and communications skills were considered by employers to be as important as formal qualifications
• A Sub-group of the Partnership had been exploring the subject of apprenticeships and were trying to ascertain what business requirements were
• A key aspect of the City Deal project would be the creation of 1,500 work experience placements and 300 new apprenticeships across Berkshire
• The Borough had received a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

To appoint Catherine Barrett as a non-voting co-optee member, representing children’s social care interests, on the Children, Young People and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Panel, for a period expiring on 31 May 2015.

The Commission received a report seeking approval to co-opt a Children’s Social Care representative on to the Children, Young People and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

In 2010, it was decided that it would be appropriate for the externally drawn membership of the Panel to reflect the scope of the Panel’s work and it was agreed that the Panel’s membership would include a children’s social care representative.  The previous co-optee had resigned on 6 September 2013.  Following a subsequent recruitment exercise one nomination had been received and the Commission were invited to consider her nomination to the vacancy.

RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Commission co-opt Catherine Barrett as a non-voting co-optee member on the Children, Young People and Learning Overview and Scrutiny panel, for a period expiring on 31 May 2015.

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

The Commission received, and noted, a report summarising the Executive Key and Non-Key decisions relating to corporate issues.

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Reports for the third quarter 2013/14 (October to December) relating to:

·                     Chief Executive’s Office

·                     Corporate Services Department

Please bring your copies of the previously circulated Quarterly Service Reports to the meeting.  Copies are available on request and attached to this agenda if viewed online.

The Chairman has asked that any questions arising from the Quarterly Service 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.

The Commission noted the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Reports for the third quarter of 2013/14 (October to December) relating to the Chief Executive’s Office and the Corporate Services Department.

To consider the Chief Executive’s Corporate Performance Overview Report covering the third quarter (October to December) of the 2013/14 financial year.

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.

The Commission considered the Corporate Performance Overview Report detailing Council performance during the third quarter of the 2013/14 financial year (October to December 2013). Arising from Member’s questions and comments the following points were noted:

• Bracknell Forest Voluntary Action had completed their reorganisation and it was considered that the level of risk attributed to a potential failure of the voluntary sector umbrella was now reduced
• The Local Government Association Equality Framework Peer Review was a four yearly review that examined and measured how well the Council met the standards contained within the Equalities Framework.  It was an important review process that informed key inspections in other areas of the Council’s work.  Once the review had been completed an action plan would be developed to address any concerns identified.  It was agreed that the Review Report would be circulated when it was available
• The figures for Indicator L035: Income from Leisure Facilities were cumulative figures
• The issues raised by Children, Young People and Learning staff in their exit interviews would be followed up , and more information would be provided to members on the level of staff turnover

To note the progress against the Overview and Scrutiny work programme for 2013-14, and the reports from Overview and Scrutiny Panel Chairmen on each Panel’s progress against the work programme.

The Commission received a report providing an update on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2013-14 and Panel activity, with particular reference to the Working Groups of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission.

It was noted that the work stream activity of all Panels was on track.  It was expected that the Commission Working Group reviewing the Re-Localisation of Business Rates would hold their first meeting in May 2014.

The Commission noted the report.

To receive an oral update on the production of the annual report of Overview and Scrutiny for 2013/14.

The Commission was informed that the first draft of the 2013/14 Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report had been circulated to Commission Members for comments prior to consultation with the Corporate Management Team and the Executive.  It was due to be submitted to the Full Council meeting on 30 April 2014.