- Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Chairman)
- Councillor M Aldred (Vice Chairman)
- Councillor R T Splaine (Vice Chairman)
- Councillor N D Ash
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor H L Cadman
- Councillor R J Derricutt
- Councillor M A Dewhurst
- Councillor P R Franzen
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor M Klieve
- Councillor J Moodie
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor P Thompson
- Councillor F B Walker
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor R Winkworth
Co-opted Members
60 Welcome to new Member: The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended a warm welcome to Councillor P Thompson.
61 Apologies for absence: Councillors Mrs J S Birch, G D Bretherton, I A Franzen, P A Tushingham and G Wilkes and Mr D Barber and Rev R Buckley.
62 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 8 October 2007 were approved as a correct record.
63 Exclusion of the public - Section 100a Local Government Act 1972: Resolved: The public is excluded from the meeting when the Committee discusses the following item for the reason set out below:
| Agenda Item No |
Title of report |
Minute No |
Descripton of exempt information by reference to the paragraph number in schedule 12a of the Local Governemtn Act 1972. |
| E.1 |
Call ins (if any) |
- |
- |
| E.2 |
Wigan Joint Service Centre (JSC) PFI project |
71 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council) |
Items not subject to confirmation by the Council:
64 Whipping declarations: The Deputy 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.
65 Questions (if any) on the business of the Cabinet: There were none.
66 Select Committee No 1 minutes – 22 October 2007: The minutes of the meeting of Select Committee No 1 (Townships) held on 22 October 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 - 22 October 2007
Present at the Meeting:
- Councillor Mrs J S Birch (Chairman)
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon
- Councillor R T Splaine
- Councillor H L Cadman
- Councillor M Klieve
66.1 Apologies for absence: Councillor P A Tushingham
66.2 Minutes of last meeting: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 21 August 2007 were approved as a correct record.
66.3 Participatory Budgeting (PB): Mr J Hall and Ms L Shaw from the PB unit attended the meeting to give a presentation and show a video on Participatory Budgeting. The presentation gave an overview of the techniques and methods for PB and the video showed an example of how they had successfully used PB in the grant bidding process at Bradford City Council. Copies of the presentation are available and further information can be found on the PB website: www.participatorybudgeting.org.uk.
Members of the Select Committee asked a number of questions about the practical implementation of a PB approach. The Select Committee also reflected on individual examples of how we are using the principles in local areas of Wigan already. Concerns were raised about how we manage local engagement and involvement in decision making as well as our statutory requirements. Mr J Hall reflected that PB is very much in its infancy in the UK and currently deals with grant funding predominantly. The potential to mainstream and how that could be done would need detailed thought and planning and a review of the constitutional framework.
Resolved: The Select Committee notes the report.
66.4 Timetable and Plan for future meetings and visits to other authorities: Mrs L Roberts had circulated a calendar for everyone to fill in with dates when they are free for both full day visits and evening meetings. The best week for the majority of people was the week commencing 19 November 2007. Mrs Roberts will try to arrange the visits for Monday and Tuesday of that week and give everyone as much notice as possible.
Resolved: The Select Committee agrees that the next meeting would take place on Monday 26 November 2007 at 6:00 pm in committee room B at Wigan Town Hall.
Chairman
67 Select Committee No 2 minutes – 1 November 2007: The minutes of the meeting of Select Committee No 2 (Reputation Management) held on 1 November 2007 were deferred until the next meeting of this Committee.
The Chairman of the Committee emphasised that this Select Committee was concerned with the reputation of the Council and she stressed the importance of all political groups being represented on this Select Committee.
Resolved: The Committee requests the Assistant Chief Executive to write to the opposition political group leaders for representation from this Committee on Select Committee No. 2.
68 Select Committee No 3 minutes –24 October 2007: The minutes of the meeting of Select Committee No 3 (Transport) held on 24 October 2007 were submitted for information.
In accordance with minute 18, Councillor Whittingham asked for further updates on past Select Committee reviews as he was particularly interested in the outcome of the invasive weeds review and what action was being taken to combat the problem.
Resolved: (1) The Committee requests an update on the position in relation to invasive weeds in the borough at the next meeting of this Committee.
(2) The Committee notes the minutes now submitted as referred to below:
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Select Committee No. 3 - Transport - 24 October 2007
Present at the meeting:
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside (Chairman)
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon
- Councillor N R Whittingham
Co-opted Member
Also in attendance Mr K Howcroft, Councillor R Jones and Mr P Lucas (Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE)
68.1 Apologies for absence: Councillors M Aldred, M A Dewhurst and I A Franzen.
68.2 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Select Committee held on 10 September 2007 were approved as a correct record.
68.3 Interview with Mr K Howcroft, Councillor R Jones and Mr P Lucas (GMPTE): The Select Committee interviewed representatives from Greater Manchester Public Transport Executive (GMPTE) regarding transport issues within Wigan Borough, including the impact that the Transport Innovation Fund bid will have on the area; the role of bus operators; the introduction of congestion charging; and, the local train network.
Resolved: The Select Committee thanks Mr Howcroft, Councillor R Jones and Mr P Lucas for their attendance.
68.4 Progress against the terms of reference set for the transport review: Resolved: The Select Committee agrees to defer this item until the next meeting.
68.5 Date and time of the next meeting: Resolved: The Select Committee agrees to postpone setting a date for the next meeting of this Select Committee.
Chairman
69 Select Committee No 4 minutes – 11 October 2007: The minutes of the meeting of Select Committee No 4 (Health) held on 11 October 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 - 11 October 2007
Present at the meeting:
- Councillor G M Bretherton (Chair)
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor N R Whittingham
69.1 Welcome: Councillor G M Bretherton introduced Ms J Gibson as the new support officer for Health Scrutiny.
69.2 Apologies for absence: Councillor M W Winstanley, Councillor Mrs J Hurst, Councillor Mrs S Loudon, Councillor R J Derricutt, Councillor I A Franzen and Councillor R Winkworth.
69.3 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Select Committee held on 13 September 2007 were approved as a correct record.
Mr A Hardy had circulated the notes on the new LINks.
69.4 Health Inequalities Incentives: A draft questionnaire was circulated to members attending the meeting. D Taylor explained the questionnaire and members were asked for their opinions.
D Taylor updated the Committee on the request for information about initiatives to reduce health inequalities in other areas sent out in September. A follow up to this had been sent out as there had been no response to initial request.
Resolved: The Select Committee thanked D Taylor for this information and agreed that they would let her have their opinions by the beginning of the week commencing 15 October 2007.
69.5 Ince Project: D Taylor updated the committee on what was happening with the project. A copy of the Select Committee’s response had been circulated prior to the meeting.
Resolved: The Select Committee thanked D Taylor for this information and asked to be kept informed of developments.
69.6 General Updates: Councillor G M Bretherton updated the Committee on his attendance at the PPI Forums LINk event.
Resolved: The Select Committee thanked Councillor G M Bretherton for this information.
Mr A Hardy gave an update on the LINks scheme.
Resolved: The Select Committee thanked Mr A Hardy for this information.
69.7 Any other business: D Taylor had circulated the press release from the PCT about the developments in health care facilities in Leigh.
Resolved: The Select Committee asked D Taylor to invite Rita Chapman to a meeting of the Select Committee to give a presentation on what was happening around the LIFT project.
69.8 Date and time of next meeting: Resolved: The next meeting be held on 15 November 2007 at 6:00 pm
Chairman
70. Flag flying protocol: The Committee considered a report on the content of the Council’s flag flying protocol, which had been circulated to all Members of the Council for their views.
An email from Councillor M W Winstanley was circulated at the meeting setting out his opposition to the changes that were being proposed within the report. However, he did wish to see the inclusion of Orrell Council Offices to the list of flag poles on Council buildings around the borough.
A Member stated that to fly the European Union flag would remove the need for a national flag.
Several Members commented on the proposed changes to the protocol.
Resolved: The Committee requests the Assistant Chief Executive to incorporate the comments of this Committee into a report to the next Cabinet meeting, prior to any necessary changes being made to the existing Council flag flying protocol.
71. Wigan Joint Service Centre (JSC) PFI project: The Chairman had agreed to this item being taken as urgent, the special circumstance being the need to obviate any delay.
The Committee considered a report which updated Members on the Joint Service Centre (JSC) project and considered proposals for the final selection of the ‘preferred bidder.’
The Executive Director and Deputy Director of Legal and Property Services gave a short presentation on the proposals and the Member and stakeholder involvement as outlined in the report.
The report would be considered by the Cabinet at its meeting to be held on 15 November 2007.
Members asked a number of detailed questions on the report and received appropriate answers.
Resolved: (1) This Committee informs the Cabinet that this Committee notes the position in relation to the Joint Service Centre.
(2) The Committee requests the Chairman to send an email to all Overview and Scrutiny Members advising them of the details of the presentation to Council Members and Partner Board Members which will take place on 5 December 2007 at 4.00 p.m. until 6.45 p.m and the member briefing to be held on 7 January 2008 at 6.00 p.m.
(3) The Committee invites the Co-opted Members of this Committee to the event referred to at (2) above.
Chairman
