Overview and Scrutiny Committee
25 January 2012
Agenda Item No____16________
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY UPDATE
Summary:
This report updates the Committee on progress with
topics in its agreed work programme (attached at
Appendix B) and invites Members to identify any
arising items for future meetings. The Scrutiny
Committee’s working style and role is attached at
Appendix C.
Conclusions:
That progress is being made in some areas, others
need to be monitored and opportunities for scrutiny
should be discussed.
Recommendations:
That Members should consider any follow-up
actions required on these topics.
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
Mr T J FitzPatrick
All
Contact Officer, telephone number and email: Mary Howard, Democratic Services
Team Leader, Tel.01263 516047, mary.howard@north-norfolk.gov.uk
1.
Introduction
1.1
The Scrutiny Update report is a standing item on all Overview and Scrutiny
Committee agendas. The report updates Members on progress made with
topics on its agreed work programme and provides additional information
which Members may have requested at a previous meeting.
1.2
The report is prepared by the Democratic Services Team Leader whose role
includes that of Scrutiny Officer.
2.
Progress on topics since the last meeting
2.1
Recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 13
December 2011 to Full Council 14 December 2011
(Extract from the minutes of Full Council 14 December 2011)
“The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee praised the
constructive dialogue on the Cabinet recommendations for the Council’s
approach to Localism and the establishment of a Big Society Fund. He
explained that the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee reflected their concerns but also looked forward to the future. The
Committee welcomed the proposal from the Portfolio Holder for Localism to
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
25 January 2012
work together on the governance and operational processes and criteria. He
added that he could see no reason why the LAPs could not apply for funding
from the Big Society Fund.
RESOLVED
a) That all major policy proposals should be subject to timely consultation
and engagement with key stakeholders before decisions are formulated
and taken by Cabinet and Council.
b) To approve the ring-fencing of the money for the Big Society Fund.
c) That a further report should be brought to Cabinet and Full Council in
February, and to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for pre-scrutiny in
January”
2.2
Special meeting on 31 January 2012
Members are reminded that there is a special meeting of the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 31 January 2012 at 9.30 in the Council
Chamber. This is for pre-scrutiny of a report on the Big Society Fund before it
goes to Cabinet on 6 February 2012. It will be recalled that the Council’s
Approach to Localism and the Establishment of a Big Society Fund was the
subject of a call-in by Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in
December.
2.3
Planning Fees
At the meeting of 16 November 2011 the Committee recommended that the
Portfolio Holder for Planning should write to the Government on behalf of the
Council urging a quick decision on the proposal to permit local planning
authorities to set their own fee levels, as envisaged in the 2010 consultation
exercise by the DCLG. The letter was written and is attached at Appendix D
2.4
February Meeting
Members are reminded that the February meeting of the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee has been moved forward a week to 15 February 2012.
This was because Full Council was brought forward for Council Tax reasons.
2.5
Review of the Constitution
Members have flagged up that the Constitution is overdue for review. It is
essential that this work is not overlooked in the changes that are taking place
in the management structure. The Chief Executive designate has been asked
to provide the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with a likely timescale.
3.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme
3.2
Annual Plan (Corporate Plan)
This item was originally on the Work Programme for 25 January 2012 but it is
believed that the timescale may have changed. Further information has been
sought from the Deputy Chief Executive.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
3.3
25 January 2012
Housing Strategy
At the meeting of 20 September 2011 Members received a report on
Affordable Housing and expressed concern regarding the level of progress in
some areas. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee wanted to be
constructive and it was agreed that the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman
would meet with the Portfolio Holder – Strategic Housing and report back to
the Committee at a future date. This meeting is still to take place. When the
Chair of Overview and Scrutiny followed this up he was asked to wait until the
Housing Strategy was produced.
The Housing Strategy was originally on the Work Programme for 25 January
2012 but, to date, no information can be obtained regarding its status. It is
hoped that this information can be reported to Members at the January
meeting.
3.4
Flooding at Walcott
David Kemp, a representative from the Environment Agency will be attending
the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 25 January to address concerns.
County Councillor Paul Morse and the Chairmen of Walcott and Bacton
Parish Councils have also been invited to attend as well as District Members
with coastal wards.
3.5
Overview and Scrutiny Workshop
There is no scheduled meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in
April. Following discussion with the Chairman it has been decided to use this
as an opportunity to hold the Scrutiny Workshop. It will take place on Tuesday
17 April 2012 from 10.30 – 12.30. This will allow Members time, free from the
constraints of other business, to review their Work Programme, springcleaning where necessary and adding new topics should they consider this
relevant. The timing is ideal as it means that the revised Work Programme
can be included in the Annual Report of the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee which will go to Full Council on 6 June 2012, as required by the
Committee’s Terms of Reference.
3.6
Task and Finish Group
At the November meeting it was resolved to establish a Task and Finish
Group to review the work programme template and the witness protocol and
to appoint Mr P Moore, Mr R Reynolds, Mr B Smith and Mr G Williams to
serve on it. The group will meet on 24 January 2012 and it is intended that an
oral report should be made to the Committee at their meeting on the following
day, with a written report for discussion in February.
4.
Public Transport Time and Task Limited Panel
The Public Transport Time and Task Limited Panel met on 11 January 2012.
A report will be made to Members in due course.
5.
Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
At the November meeting a concern was expressed about ambulance
response time in rural areas. Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds volunteered to pursue
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
25 January 2012
this query via the Norfolk Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. She has
since received a response from the Scrutiny Support Manager (Health),
Norfolk County Council:
“I have received the following response from the East of England
Ambulance Service NHS Trust:
Month
Apr-11
May-11
Jun-11
Jul-11
Aug-11
Sep-11
Oct-11
Nov-11
Cat A Average Response Times
(Mins)
6.29
6.21
6.53
7.09
6.52
5.24
4.59
5.34
They have 8 vehicles available in North Norfolk and the average
response time for emergency, life-threatening calls is within the 8
minute target (Category A). I don't think this tells the whole story. The
relevant standard is that the service should reach 75% of category A
calls within 8 minutes and the attached info doesn't tell us anything
about that.”
The Scrutiny Support Manager (Health), Norfolk County Council, has sought
further information from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust:
“The 'relevant standards' we had in mind were about the service
reaching 75% of category A calls within 8 minutes. Can you tell me how
the service performed against that standard month by month from April
2011 - November 2011? (i.e. what percentage of category A calls were
reached within 8 minutes in each month)”.
Members will be updated when further information has been received.