Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will be asked to agree the minutes of the meetings held on 24 November and 22 December, 2010, and 5, 12 and 17 January, 2011.

With the permission of the Chair, the minutes of the budget scrutiny meeting on 12 and 17 January, 2011, were tabled for Members’ consideration.

Agreed the minutes of the meetings held on 24 November and 22 December, 2010, and 5, 12 and 17 January, 2011.

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service

The Chair reported that Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service had invited scrutiny to participate in consultation on its Corporate Plan.  Members welcomed the invitation and noted that, as the consultation time-frame was 12 weeks, the Board would have to meet before the next scheduled meeting in March.

Agreed that –

(In accordance with Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 the Chair brought forward the above item of business because of the need to consult Members).

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will monitor progress on previous decisions.

The Board noted the schedule of previous decisions made.  Concern was expressed at the delay in progressing post-decision scrutiny on the ‘Final Sign Off of Devonport Regeneration Company Partnership (DRCP) Succession Strategy)’.  Whilst it was noted that the item was listed on the Board’s work programme, no date had yet been identified.

Members will be advised of any executive decisions that have been called in.

Members were aware that there had been two call-ins since the last meeting, namely –

(a)               Transfer of Freehold for Nomony Children’s Centre

(b)               To agree to the Disposal of Land at Rocky Park Road

With regard to (a) above (minute no. 72 refers), Members were advised that the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People was due to meet with ward members next week.

There were no further call-ins to report.

Members will be advised of executive decisions that have been deemed urgent with the agreement of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

The Board noted that urgent executive decisions had been taken in regard to –

• Proposals for Changes to Planning Application Fees in England – Consultation Response
• Local Decisions: A Fairer Future for Social Housing Consultation

Discussion took place on the fact that the decisions had been urgent because of narrow consultation margins.  Members were concerned that they had not been invited to participate in the consultations and that, in light of the change in Government, there could be many more of these consultations over policy changes in the pipeline.  Members were reminded that the Growth and Prosperity Overview and Scrutiny Panel received regular updates on Government Policy and these concerns should be addressed there.

Agreed that a copy of the consultation response relating to ‘A Fairer Future for Social Housing’ Consultation be circulated to Members of the Board.

To receive new items from the Forward Plan with a view to identifying items for scrutiny.

The Board noted that there had been two additions to the Forward Plan since the last meeting, namely –

(a)         Award of Contract for the Renewal of Insurance Policies

(b)        Award of Leisure Management Contract

With regard to (b) above, discussion took place on whether the scope of the consultation was wide enough along with the budgetary implications of undertaking consultations in general.  Members heard that the focus of the consultation was limited to those directly affected by the operational management of the Life Centre.  They were further advised that whilst there was no specific budget set aside for consultations, with most departments building the cost into officer time, there was a consultation officer within the Development and Regeneration Directorate.  After some debate on the matter, it was concluded that, as progress of the Life Centre was in the work programme of the Customer and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel, further questions or concerns should be directed there.

To receive and consider recommendations from panels, Cabinet or Council.

The Board considered recommendations to Cabinet received from the Customers and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel which were agreed as follows –

Minute 58 – Allotment Service Overview

Minute 59 – Review of Policing and Safety following Plymouth Argyle Football Match against Exeter City

(Councillor Wildy, having attended the meeting of the Customers and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel, voiced her concern that recommendation (6) did not accurately reflect what was agreed and therefore did not offer her support to the proposal).

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will receive for approval the Budget and Corporate Plan scrutiny report prior to its consideration by Cabinet on 8 February, 2011.

The Chair and Lead Officer presented for consideration the draft report arising from scrutiny of the Budget and Corporate Plan 2011.  Members were advised that positive feedback had been received, both from the Executive and senior management, in regard to the professionalism with which the process had been undertaken and the high degree of challenge which had been demonstrated. 

Discussion then turned to the report content and recommendations.  Whilst the majority of the Board were happy with the report, the Labour Councillors on the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board were concerned that some of the budget proposals did not fully support the areas of ‘raising aspiration’ and ‘reducing inequalities’ within the Corporate Plan.  They considered that some of the delivery plans in the budget had the potential to disadvantage both families and vulnerable people in Plymouth.  They believed that amendments to two of the recommendations, together with the inclusion of an additional recommendation, would enhance the scrutiny report and, if adopted, may help to alleviate many of the areas of disadvantage within this budget.  Councillor Wildy therefore proposed the following amendment with regard to recommendations to the Corporate Management Team –

The proposal, having been seconded by Councillor McDonald, was put to the vote and declared lost.  At Councillor Wildy’s request the vote was recorded as follows -

For:              Councillors McDonald and Wildy

Against:       Councillors Ball, Browne, James, Nicholson, Ricketts and Thompson

At the suggestion of the Board, a few minor amendments were then made to the main body of the report as follows –

Agreed the Budget and Corporate Plan Scrutiny Report 2011.

(Councillor Stevens was absent for the vote on the proposed amendment).

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will receive quarterly reports from each of the scrutiny panels.

The quarterly reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and scrutiny panels were submitted for consideration.  The Chair reported that there was no report this time from the Support Services Panel as the meeting had been moved due to budget scrutiny commitments.  Members commented on the different reporting formats and styles and praise was given to that of the Growth and Prosperity Panel which was particularly eye-catching.  With regard to the report of the Customers and Communities Panel, Councillor Ball highlighted that the attendance statistics were incorrect and that both Councillors Martin Leaves and Mrs. Bragg had attended twice.

The quarterly reports were noted and it was agreed that future reports should be consistent in terms of how Member attendance was reported, the Growth and Prosperity reporting format being the preferred option.

The work programmes of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and scrutiny panels were submitted for consideration and approval.  The Chair again drew Members’ attention to the fact that there was no report from the Support Services Panel due to budget scrutiny commitments.  Each of the Panel Chairs presented their work programmes, highlighting any pertinent issues.

With regard to the Children and Young People’s work programme, concern was expressed that no further date had been set to monitor progress with the School Building/Capital Programme.  It was suggested that the matter be considered sooner rather than later and a date for consideration be identified within the work programme as soon as possible.

Councillor Nicholson drew Members’ attention to the inclusion of a new item on the Growth and Prosperity work programme relating to Localism.  He highlighted that some elements of the Bill would fall outside the Panel’s remit and these would need to be picked up elsewhere.  Councillor James commented that any cross-cutting issues identified would be managed through the Board.

In considering the work programme of the Management Board, it was noted that Data Sharing between Agencies was closely related to the item referred from Audit to Support Services on ICT related problems with the Devon Audit Partnership.

Councillor Ball reported that Recycling Performance had been added as a new work programme item.  He suggested that if Members had any questions on this, or indeed any other subject matter on the work programme, that they would like raised with officers when items were being considered, they should contact him before the meeting and he would be happy to raise on their behalf.  The Chair, commended this suggestion and stated that it should be applied across the Board.

Reference was again made to budget scrutiny and concern was expressed that written answers to some of the questions raised had still not been received.

Agreed that –

• Transforming Community Care

Agreed the PID for Transforming Community Services.

• Young Carers in Plymouth

The Board welcomed Councillor Mrs. Stephens who was in attendance to present the Young Carers in Plymouth task and finish group report.  Members were advised that –

Members commended the excellent work of the task and finish group and offered their congratulations on the comprehensive and excellent quality of the scrutiny report submitted.

Agreed that the Young Carers in Plymouth report be forwarded to Cabinet for consideration, subject to the following -

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(s) 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.

There were no items of exempt business.