Agenda and minutes
Venue: Warspite Room, Council House
Contact: Ross Johnston, Democratic Support Officer Email: ross.johnston@plymouth.gov.uk
No. | Item | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TO NOTE THE CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR The panel will note the appointment of the Chair and Vice Chair for the municipal year 2012 - 2013. Minutes: The panel noted the appointment of Councillor Murphy as Chair and Councillor Bowyer as Vice-Chair. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
CHAIR'S INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME Councillor Murphy, Chair will give an introduction to the panel and welcome all members. Minutes: The Chair welcomed all those present to the first meeting of the new municipal year for the Support Services Overview and Scrutiny Panel. She commented that she was looking forward to the year ahead and was confident that, working together, the panel would be able to deliver successful and effective scrutiny. In order to get the best out of meetings members were asked to –
In addition, the Chair drew members’ attention to the glossary of abbreviations that had been circulated at her request advising that that this would now be a regular feature on the panel’s agenda. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Members will be asked to make declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the code of conduct. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
APPOINTMENT OF CO-OPTED REPRESENTATIVES The panel will consider the appointment of co-opted representatives and/or confirm existing co-opted representatives. Minutes: Agreed that co-opted representatives would be appointed as and when required. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
To confirm the minutes of the Support Services Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 15 March 2012. Minutes: Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2012. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration. Minutes: There were no items of Chair’s urgent business. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
The panel will review its Terms of Reference. Additional documents: Minutes: The panel noted its terms of reference, as submitted, subject to the replacement of “production of quarterly progress reports” with “production of bi-annual progress reports” being recommended to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SICKNESS ABSENCE PDF 498 KB The panel will receive a report from the Assistant Director for HR and Organisational Development reviewing other authorities’ occupational health and sickness absence. Minutes: Councillor Peter Smith, Deputy Leader, and Emma Rose, Head of Health Safety and Wellbeing were in attendance to present a report on Occupational Health and Sickness Absence. The report provided –
The Deputy Leader commented that sickness absence was recognised as having a negative impact on productivity and staff morale and work was in hand to improve attendance in a number of ways, such as –
He further added that whilst sickness levels had reduced by an average of 3.8 days, from 12.8 days per year per full-time equivalent to 9 days, this was still thought to be too high and work would continue to drive this figure down.
In response to questions raised, the panel heard that –
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXTRACT FROM PERFORMANCE AND FINANCE REPORT (INCLUDING CAPITAL PROGRAMME UPDATE) PDF 228 KB To receive an extract from the Performance and Finance report. Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance, was in attendance to present an extract from the Performance and Finance Report, along with Simon Arthurs, Strategic Finance Manager (Lead Officer). The report detailed how the Council had delivered against its key indicators in terms of performance and its financial measures using its capital and revenue resources.
Members were informed –
In response to questions raised, the panel heard that –
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW PDF 276 KB The Director for Corporate Services will provide an update to the panel showing the structure of Corporate Services as well as highlighting future projects and plans. Minutes: Councillor Peter Smith, Deputy Leader, Councillor Lowry, Cabinet Member for Finance, Adam Broome, Director for Corporate Services, Malcolm Coe, Assistant Director for Finance, Efficiencies, Technology and Assets, and Martine Collins, Revenues and Benefits Service Manager, were in attendance to present the panel with an overview of the Corporate Services Department functions and challenges.
Members heard details of -
The Director for Corporate Services reported that Welfare Reform had also been identified as a possible work programme item by the Customers and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel. Councillor Mrs Aspinall advised that Welfare Reform would be looked at by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.
The Chair thanked the Cabinet Members and the officers for their attendance advising that the panel would not be asking questions at this time but would instead use the information presented to help inform the panel’s discussions around setting its work programme. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXECUTIVE OFFICE DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW PDF 67 KB The Head of Policy, Performances and Partnerships will provide an update to the panel showing the structure of the Executive Office as well as highlighting future projects and plans. Minutes: Councillor Evans, Leader of the Council, Giles Perritt, Head of Policy, Performance and Partnerships, and Richard Longford, Head of Communications, were in attendance to provide the panel with an overview of the Chief Executive’s office functions and challenges.
Members were informed that –
The Chair thanked the Leader of the Council and the officers for their attendance advising that the panel would not be asking questions at this time but would instead use the information presented to help inform the panel’s discussions around setting its work programme. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
TRACKING RESOLUTIONS AND FEEDBACK FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY MANAGEMENT BOARD PDF 48 KB To receive a copy of the panel’s tracking resolutions and any feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on issues which concern this panel. Minutes: The panel noted its tracking resolutions document. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
WORK PROGRAMME 2012 - 2013 PDF 26 KB To receive the panel’s draft work programme for 2012 - 2013. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair commented that she would welcome input from the whole panel with regard to populating the Support Services’ work programme. Members were advised that they could put forward issues at any time outside of the business meetings by contacting the Chair direct via e-mail, telephone or in person outside of meetings or Democratic Support who would then arrange for their consideration at the next agenda setting meeting.
Having considered the issues presented to the panel in respect of Health and Sickness Absence, Corporate Services and the Council’s Executive Office, the panel’s Lead Officer summarised the key areas of concern which had been identified. This information is attached as a supplement to these minutes.
Agreed that the panel’s work programme for 2012-13 is recommended to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board for approval as follows –
· Shared Services – Task and Finish; · ICT – update; · Accommodation – update; · HR Workforce – update (see minute 8 above); · Community Engagement – update; · Revenues and Benefits Service – update (as part of performance monitoring report); · Carbon Management – update. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
FUTURE DATES AND TIMES OF MEETINGS Minutes: The panel noted the dates of future meetings for the municipal year 2012-13 as follows –
Monday 6 August 2012 Monday 1 October 2012 Monday 19 November 2012 Monday 11 February 2013 Monday 8 April 2013
All meetings commencing at 3.30 pm. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXEMPT BUSINESS To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Minutes: There were no items of exempt business. |