Present at the meeting:
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Chairman)
- Councillor M Aldred (Vice Chairman)
- Councillor G M Bretherton
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor J F Davies
- Councillor R J Derricutt
- Councillor M A Dewhurst
- Councillor I A Franzen
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor J Moodie
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor R T Splaine
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor R Winkworth
Also present by invitation, Mr R Hill (Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust) and Mr P Hirst, Mr B Rignall and Mr A Small (representatives of the stakeholders group) for minute 16.
11 Apologies for absence : Councillors N D Ash, Mrs J S Birch, H L Cadman, J Hilton, P R Franzen, P A Tushingham, F B Walker and G Wilkes and Rev R Moore and Mr B Turrell.
12 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 21 May 2007 were approved as a correct record.
13 Exclusion of the Public - Section 100a Local Government Act 1972 : Resolved: The public is excluded from the meeting when the Committee discusses the following items for the reasons set out below:
| Agenda Item No. | Title of Report | Minute No. | Description of Exempt Information by reference to the Paragraph Number in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 |
| E1 | Call ins (if any) | - | - |
| E2 | Support Services Review – final report | 20 | 4 (information about any consultations or negotiations, or possible consultations or negotiations, about labour relations). |
Items not subject to confirmation by the Council:
14 Whipping declarations : The Director of Legal and Property Services reminded the Committee that government guidance expected Members of Overview and Scrutiny Committees not to act in accordance with party whipping and that, if they did, they were to declare it.
There were no declarations made.
15 Questions (if any) on the business of the Cabinet: There were none.
16 Performance venue – proposals (minutes 37 – August and 55 – September 2006 refer): The Committee considered a report on the options available, within the budget that had been set, for the development of Trencherfield Mill and the creation of a performance venue in Wigan. A statement from the stakeholder group was also submitted.
The report would be considered by Cabinet at its meeting to be held on 28 June 2007 and the views of this Committee, where appropriate, would be included in the report.
Mr P Hirst (Rotary Club) and Mr B Rignall and Mr A Small (Arts Exchange) were present at the meeting, together with two members of the public. They spoke on their support for the Wigan Pier performance venue and the benefits for the people of Wigan. None supported the construction of an arts and heritage learning centre and the conversion of the Linacre Theatre at Wigan and Leigh College and gave their reasons for this at the meeting.
Mr A P Hardy (Assistant Chief Executive) and Mr R Hill (Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust) were also present at the meeting and explained the background to the process that had been followed in relation to the project and financial considerations.
Members asked questions of the witnesses at this point.
Resolved: After listening to evidence from the stakeholders and officers, this Committee requests Cabinet to consider the following points:-
- the disappointment at the un-kept promise of a performance space at Wigan Pier;
- a suitable performance space for amateur groups is essential;
- the problems associated with the shared use of the Linacre Theatre; and
- ensure that all options are further investigated to meet the needs of all users as far as possible.
(Councillor C Rigby declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the above item because of his daughter’s employment within the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and left the meeting during the discussion thereon. Councillor R T Splaine declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in the above item because he is a member of the Rotary Club of Atherton. Councillor Mrs B Bourne declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in the above item because her grandson works for the Wigan Play Association).
17 Select Committees - review of topics and allocation of membership (minute 9 refers): The Committee considered a report which sought a decision on the topics that would form the subject of the Select Committee reviews in the next round and determined the possible extension of the composition of the Select Committees.
Resolved: (1) The Committee approves the following topics for the next round of reviews:-
- Townships (Chairman – Councillor Mrs J S Birch);
- Reputation management (Chairman – Councillor F B Walker); and
- Transport (Chairman – Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside).
(2) The Committee approves the increase in the composition of the Select Committees and the following places:-
| | Select Committee 1 - Townships (7 Members) | Select Committee 2 - Reputation Management (7 Members) | Select Committee 3 - Transport (8 Members) | Health Scrutiny - (8 Members) |
| Lab | - Cllr Mrs J S Birch
- Cllr J Hilton
- Cllr Mrs S Loudon
- Cllr Mrs B Bourne
| - Cllr F B Walker
- Cllr N D Ash
- Cllr J Moodie
- Cllr Mrs S Loudon
| - Cllr Mrs M J Whiteside
- Cllr M A Dewhurst
- Cllr M Aldred
- Cllr R Winkworth
- Cllr J Hurst
| - Cllr G D
- Bretherton
- Cllr C Rigby
- Cllr Mrs J Hurst
- 2 Vacancies
|
| Dem /All | | | | - Cllr R J Derricutt
- Cllr I A Franzen
|
| Cons | | | | |
| Ind | | | | |
(3) The relevant Members are requested to advise the Assistant Chief Executive of names to fill the remaining vacancies as soon as possible.
18 Update of past Select Committee reviews: The Committee considered a report on the progress made in respect of previous reviews undertaken by the Select Committees.
Councillor R Winkworth referred to the lack of available NHS dentists in the whole of the borough.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report and requests the Chairman of the Health Select Committee (Councillor G D Bretherton) to liaise with the relevant Policy Officer regarding the lack of NHS dentists in the borough.
19 Unreasonably persistent complainants: The Committee considered a report, which had been considered by the Standards and Audit/Governance and Improvement Committees and which would also be considered by Cabinet and Council, informing Members ofthe Local Government Ombudsman’s recently issued guidance note on dealing with unreasonably persistent complainants. The report also invited Members to recommend amendments to the Council’s Corporate Complaints Policy, Procedure and Practice in respect of the guidance.
Members asked questions to which the Director of Legal and Property Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted .
(Councillor C Rigby and R Winkworth declared a prejudicial interest in the above item because they were Members of the Audit/Governance & Improvement and Standards Committees respectively that had previously considered this report and left the meeting during discussion thereon).
20 Support Services review – final report: The Committee considered a report on the findings and recommendations of the review of support services across the authority.
The report had been considered by Cabinet at minute 49.
The Chairman stressed the need for this Committee to be involved at each stage of the process.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted and requests the Chief Executive to ensure that this Committee is involved in the implementation review process.
(Councillor C Rigby declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the above item because of his daughter’s employment within the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and left the meeting during the discussion thereon).
