Present at the meeting
- Councillor K Cunliffe (Cabinet champion)(In the Chair)
- Councillor Mrs J Beswick
- Councillor B Bowen
- Councillor N A Bradbury
- Councillor J Eccles-Churton
- Councillor Ms L E Fagan
- Councillor J D Hodgkinson
- Councillor J Moodie
- Councillor Mrs A Turnock
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
- Mrs M Burgess (Co-opted Member)
- Chief Superintendent L Bruckshaw
- (Co-opted Member)
- Mr J Harding (Co-opted Member)
- Mr M Simpson (Co-opted Member)
- Ms D Whitaker (Substitute Co-opted Member)
15. Apologies for absence: Councillors M Baines and H L Cadman, and Mrs C Boyd and Mr H Holden (Co-opted Members).
16. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 4 June 2007 were approved as a correct record.
17. Exclusion of the public: Agreed: The public is excluded from the meeting when the Panel discusses the following item for the reason 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 |
Selection of partners to help develop affordable housing bids to the housing corporation. |
29 |
3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)). |
18. Data quality: Mr Andrew Wells, Lead Inspector with the Audit Commission, gave a presentation on the data quality policy for Wigan Council (which had been previously circulated to Members of the Panel). Mr Wells requested the views of Members on the quality of data they received on a regular basis.
Members asked questions to which Mr Wells responded.
Agreed: The Panel thanks Mr Wells for the presentation.
19. Visit to Marsh Green neighbourhood team pathfinder: The Director of Environmental Services gave a report on the Panel’s visit to Neighbourhood Services pilot project at Marsh Green on 23 July 2007. The pilot project was a virtual team created in collaboration with partnership bodies and the community. The pilot project was working in a joined up way on a range of health, environmental, crime and social issues.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
(Mrs M Burgess declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because DIAS received Neighbourhood Renewal Fund support).
20. Update on the implementation of the asylum seeker policy framework: The Panel considered a report, which was to be submitted to Cabinet, updating Members on the partnership policy framework for the dispersal of asylum seekers in the Wigan Borough. The framework was reviewed regularly to take into account factors such as pressure on services and hate crime.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
21. Crime and Police call handling statistics 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007: The Panel considered a report on the annual performance in relation to recorded crime and Police call handling performance. There had been significant improvements in call handling efficiency by the Police and the indications were that those improvements were being built on in the current year. Overall recorded crime had levelled off when compared with 2005/06. Wigan remained the safest borough in Greater Manchester.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted subject to the following variations to the official 2006/07 crime figures published by the Home office at 2.1.1:
BCS Comparator Crime –18,214 from 18,254 and Burglary dwelling – 1,617 from 1,615.
22. Home information packs: The Panel considered a report informing Members about the introduction of home information packs and the role of Trading Standards in their enforcement. The legislation would come into force on
1 August 2007. When fully implemented the regulations would have a significant effect on the buying and selling of houses.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
23. Wigan and Leigh Housing (WALH) performance 2006/07 and business plan (2007/10): The Panel considered a report, which would be submitted to Cabinet, on the performance of WALH during 2006/07 and presenting the business plan 2007/10. WALH continued to make progress in improving its management performance.
The report set out details of alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was because the budgets and priorities were in line with existing Council and Board expectations.
Agreed: The Panel (1) notes the performance of WALH for 2006/07; and
(2) accepts the WALH business plan 2007/10.
(Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because she is a Member of Wigan and Leigh Housing Board ).
24. Housing partnership – recent progress: The Panel considered a report on the latest developments within the housing partnership. The housing partnership framework document described the framework in which the housing partnership operated, how it influenced the Local Strategic Partnership and how various sub-groups influenced it.
Agreed: The Panel accepts the report now submitted.
(Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because she is a Member of Wigan and Leigh Housing Board ).
25. Environmental Services interim service plan 2007/08: The Panel considered a report, which would also be submitted to the Regeneration Panel and Environment Panel, advising Members of the Environmental Services Department’s planning arrangements for 2007/08 including actual performance from 2006/07. The plan showed how the Environmental Services department contributed to the overall Council Vision, how it focused on customers, the resources used, key performance measures and tasks and risks managed.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
26. Township Community Safety Group (TCSG) – revision to chairs/deputies and setting priorities for 2007/08: The Panel considered a report, which would also be submitted to Cabinet, making revisions to the chairs and deputies of the TCSGs, determining the priorities for each group for 2007/08 and reporting performance on the 2006/07 programme.
The report set out details of alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was because the proposals received fell within the framework agreed by Cabinet.
The Cabinet champion had received an objection from Councillor Ms D Fairhurst regarding the Standish, Aspull and Shevington TCSG. He explained to Members the current agreed appointment process for the selection of TCSG chairs and deputies. The Cabinet champion stated that he would recommend to Cabinet that the procedure for filling TSCG vacancies remain the same, despite Councillor
Ms Fairhurst’s objection.
Agreed: The Panel (1) accepts the report now submitted subject to the subsequent amendments which will be documented and reported to Cabinet; and
(2) endorses the current selection process for TCSG appointments.
(Councillor Ms L E Fagan declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because Councillor B Fagan, her father, was nominated for deputy for Hindley, Abram, Platt Bridge and Bickershaw).
27. Wigan Community Safety Partnership – minutes : No meeting had taken place since the last Panel report.
28. Questions by Members at panel meetings: There were no questions.
29. Selection of partners to help develop affordable housing bids to the Housing Corporation: The Panel considered a report, which would also be submitted to Cabinet, making recommendations to select partners to develop affordable housing bids to the Housing Corporation.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
(Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because she is a Member of Wigan and Leigh Housing Board ).
