Present at the meeting:
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Chairman)
- Councillor P A Tushingham
- Councillor R T Splaine(Vice Chairman)
- Councillor F B Walker
- Councillor Mrs J S Birch
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
- Councillor G M Bretherton
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor G Wilkes
- Councillor J F Davies
- Councillor R Winkworth
- Councillor M A Dewhurst
- Councillor I A Franzen
Co-opted Members
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor J Moodie
- Mr D Barber
- Councillor C Rigby
- Mr B Turrell
27 Apologies for absence : Councillors M Aldred (Vice Chairman), N D Ash, H L Cadman, R J Derricutt, J Hilton and P R Franzen and Mr D Barber, Rev R Buckley and Rev Deacon R Moore.
28 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 16 July 2007 were approved as a correct record.
Items not subject to confirmation by the Council:
29 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.
30 Questions (if any) on the business of the Cabinet: There were none.
31 Select Committee membership (minutes 9 and 17 refer): The Committee determined the revised memberships of the four Select Committees.
Resolved: The Committee approves the following places:-
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Select Committee 1 Townships (7 Members)
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Select Committee 2 Reputation Management (7 Members)
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Select Committee 3 Transport (8 Members)
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Health Scrutiny (8 Members)
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Lab
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- Cllr Mrs J S Birch
- Cllr Mrs B Bourne
- Cllr J Hilton
- Cllr Mrs S Loudon
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- Cllr F B Walker
- Cllr N D Ash
- Cllr J Moodie
- Cllr Mrs S Loudon
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- Cllr Mrs M J Whiteside
- Cllr M Aldred
- Cllr M A Dewhurst
- Cllr Mrs S Loudon
- Cllr R Winkworth
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- Cllr G D
- Bretherton
- Cllr Mrs S Loudon
- Cllr Mrs J Hurst
- Cllr C Rigby
- 1 vacancy
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Dem/All
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- Cllr I A Franzen
- Cllr P R Franzen
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- Cllr R J Derricutt
- Cllr I A Franzen
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Cons
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Ind
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Coop
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32 Select Committee No 1 minutes – 26 July 2007: The minutes of the meeting of Select Committee No 1 (Townships) held on 26 July 2007 were submitted for information.
Resolved: The Committee notes the minutes now submitted as referred to below:
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Select Committee No 1 (Townships) 26 July 2007
Present at the meeting:
- Councillor Mrs J S Birch (Chair)
- Councillor R T Splaine
32.1 Apologies for absence : Councillors P A Tushingham, H L Cadman, Mrs B. Bourne, J Hilton and Mrs S Loudon.
32.2 Urgent business: There was none.
32.3 Terms of reference: The terms of reference were discussed and three key areas were highlighted:
- what roles are envisaged for community involvement in the recent White Paper and Green Paper;
- what have been the barriers in the past to making this happen effectively; and
- what do we need to do to enable this to happen effectively and to link into other developments such as PACTS.
It was agreed that the terms of reference would remain as they are for now, extra background information was required and further discussions would take place at the next meeting. Ms S Jay will develop some potential key issues and decide which individuals, groups and organisations the Select Committee may wish to interview.
32.4 History of the township programme and community involvement: Mr S Dale (Policy Officer) referred to the history of community involvement and the development of the township programme, including some recent evaluation work. Ms Jay supported Mr Dale and helped the discussion on the main issues. Mr I Harrison gave an update on neighbourhood working including the development of word profiles and PACTS.
32.5 Future of community involvement: A general discussion took place on how the townships function at the moment, to changes that are happening now and those planned for the future to help shape community involvement.
32.6Date and time of next meeting: Resolved: The next meeting take place on Tuesday, 21 August 2007 at 6.00 p.m.
Chairman
33 Select Committee No 3 minutes – 30 July 2007: The minutes of the meeting of Select Committee No 3 (Transport) held on 30 July 2007 were submitted for information.
Resolved: The Committee notes the minutes now submitted as referred to below:
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Select Committee No 3 (Transport) 30 July 2007
Present at the meeting:
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside (Chairman)
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor M A Dewhurst
- Councillor I A Franzen
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon
Co-opted Member
Also in attendance Mr K Douglas from Standish Community Forum
33.1 Apologies for absence: Councillors M Aldred and P R Franzen.
33.2 Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising: It was agreed that the minutes of the last meeting were a true and accurate record.
Resolved: The Select Committee approved the minutes.
33.3 Interview with Mr K Douglas: The Select Committee interviewed Mr K
Douglas from Standish Community Forum regarding the implications of traffic congestion and use of public transport within the Standish area.
Resolved: The Select Committee thanked Mr K Douglas for his attendance.
33.4 Progress to date: The Select Committee agreed to rearrange the meeting organised for Tuesday 28 August 2007. New meeting dates were scheduled as follows:
Thursday 30 August 2007, 6:00 pm at Wigan Town Hall
Monday 10 September 2007, 4:00 pm at Wigan Town Hall
Tuesday 25 September 2007, 6:00 pm at Wigan Town Hall
It was agreed that a meeting should be arranged with children and young people from a local secondary school regarding congestion issues. Representatives from Environmental Services will be attending the next meeting on 13 August 2007. Confirmation is expected from GMPTE as to when they can visit the Select Committee.
Resolved: The Select Committee approved the above.
33.5 Date and time of next meeting: Resolved: The next meeting take place on Monday 13 August 2007 at 4:00 pm in Wigan Town Hall.
Chairman
34 Select Committee No 4 minutes – 19 July 2007: The minutes of the meeting of Select Committee No 4 (Health) held on 19 July 2007 were submitted for information.
Resolved: The Committee notes the minutes now submitted as referred to below:
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Select Committee No 4 (Health) 19 July 2007
Present at the meeting:
- Councillor G D Bretherton (Chair)
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon
- Councillor R J Derricutt
- Councillor I A Franzen
34.1 Apologies for absence : Councillor N R Whittingham and Councillor R Winkworth
34.2 Minutes of last meeting: The minutes were not discussed.
34.3 Urgent business: No urgent business was brought to the attention of the Select Committee.
34.4 Introductions and welcome to new members and protocol: Councillor G Bretherton welcomed the new members to the committee. Members introduced themselves and stated their interest in health scrutiny.
Ms D Taylor updated members briefly on the role of health scrutiny and what its powers are.
34.5 General updates: Councillor G Bretherton updated the Committee on the impending closure of Whelley Hospital.
Councillor G Bretherton updated the Committee on the proposal to apply for Foundation Trust Status.
Resolved: The Select Committee thanked Councillor G Bretherton for this information and requested that he bring back further information on this issue from his meeting with Ms G Harris and Mr A Foster, representatives from the Wigan, Wrightington and Leigh NHS Health Services Trust to the next meeting.
Ms D Taylor updated the Committee on the Local Improvement Networks (LINks).
Resolved:The Select Committee asked to be kept informed of any updates.
34.6 End of year report: Resolved: The Select Committee thanked Ms D Taylor for her hard work and continued support in drawing together this report.
34.7 New topic - health inequalities: Resolved: The Select Committee discussed the determinants of health inequalities and asked Ms Taylor to produce a terms of reference for the review.
34.8 Identification of training needs: The Select Committee discussed training needs.
Resolved: The Select Committee asked Ms Taylor to organise basic training on the health economy and how overview and scrutiny fits into this. If possible this might be something that can be organised regionally for new and existing members.
34.9 Date and time of next meeting: Resolved: The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 16 August 2007 at 6:00 pm
Chairman
35 Remediation of Ince Central Estate (Minute 10 refers): The Committee considered a report, which the Cabinet would consider on 23 August 2007, prior to consideration by Council on 5 September 2007, on the current position and the financial issues in relation to the continuation of remedial works on the Ince Central estate.
The report set out the alternative options and the reasons for recommending the course of action.
The Head of Regeneration and Protection was present at the meeting and answered the questions of Members on the report.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report and awaits further updates.
(Councillors Mrs. J. Hurst and J Moodie declared a prejudicial interest in the above item because they were involved with local residents and Members of the Stock Transfer Board, but they remained in the meeting. Councillors F B Walker and Mrs M J Whiteside declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in the above item because they are Members of Wigan and Leigh Housing).
36 Guidance for Members on gifts and hospitality: The Committee considered a report which had been considered by the Cabinet and Standards Committee, prior to consideration by Council on 5 September 2007. The report set out the p rotocol giving guidance to Members, Independent Members and Co-opted Members on their acceptance of gifts and hospitality, which was now a registerable and declarable interest under the code of conduct.
Members asked questions on the report. Councillor G Wilkes requested that, in the interest of openness and fairness, the guidance should include gifts and hospitality offered to political parties.
Resolved: The C ommittee notes the report now submitted.
37 Building schools for the future – proposed procurement partnership: The Committee considered a report which the Cabinet would consider on 23 August 2007, prior to consideration by Council on 5 September 2007, on the discussions with Salford City Council regarding a joint procurement process for building schools for the future and seeking approval for the next stage of the process.
The Assistant Director Management and Development (Children and Young Peoples Services Department) was present at the meeting and answered the questions of Members on the report.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report and requests Cabinet to consider the following points:-
- the decision making process must meet the interests of both Salford and Wigan Councils;
- updates to be submitted to this Committee at key stages of the process;
- cross party political support for the secondary schools review should be encouraged; and
- the aim of the procurement process must be an excellent education system for Wigan.
Chairman
