Present at the meeting
- Councillor M Aldred (Chairman)
- Councillor J Miller (Vice Chairman)
- Councillor J Moodie (Vice Chairman)
- Councillor J S Birch
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor G M Bretherton
- Councillor H L Cadman
- Councillor M A Dewhurst
- Councillor J Ellis
- Councillor B J Fagan
- Councillor G W Fairhurst
- Councillor Ms P L Holland
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor M Klieve
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor R T Splaine
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor G Wilkes
Co-opted Members
1 Welcome to new Members: On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman extended a warm welcome to Councillors J Ellis, B J Fagan, G W Fairhurst, Ms P L Holland and J Miller (Vice Chairman), new Members of the Committee.
2 Apologies for absence: Councillors R J Derricutt, P Thompson, P A Tushingham and F B Walker.
3 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 31 March 2008 were approved as a correct record.
4 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 |
17 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council). |
| E2 |
Update on Affordable Housing Development and Housing Policy. |
18 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council). |
| E3 |
Marsh Green Primary School Reduction to 1 Form Entry. |
19 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council). |
5 Whipping declarations: The Service Director – Borough Solicitor, 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.
6 Select Committees, membership and review topics: The Chairman agreed to this item being taken as urgent, the special circumstances being the need to provide continuity for the Select Committees.
The Committee considered the appointment of Chairs and invited Members to indicate which Select Committee they would wish to serve on, subject to compliance with the political balance calculation. Members gave their views on the composition of the Select Committees.
The future topics for review by each Select Committee in the new Municipal Year would be decided at a future meeting of this Committee and Members would be invited to add to a list of review topics, if they so wished.
It was moved by Councillor M Aldred (Chairman) and seconded:-
The Committee appoints the following Councillors as Chairs of the Select Committees:-
| Health Scrutiny |
Councillor G M Bretherton |
| Chairs of the three Select Committees |
Councillors J S Birch, F B Walker and Mrs M J Whiteside |
An amendment was moved by Councillor G Wilkes and seconded:
The Committee appoints the following Councillors as Chairs of the Select Committees:-
Councillors J Ellis, R T Splaine, G Wilkes and N R Whittingham.
On the amendment being put to the vote, the Chairman declared it lost.
He then put the original motion, which he declared carried and it was:-
Resolved: The Committee appoints the following Councillors as Chairs of the Select Committees:-
| Health Scrutiny |
Councillor G M Bretherton |
| Chairs of the three Select Committees |
Councillors J S Birch, F B Walker and Mrs M J Whiteside |
It was also resolved: The Committee agrees:-
- agrees to consider a list of topic areas, together with suggestions from Members at its meeting to be held on 16 June 2008.
- agrees to the following composition of the four Select Committees:-
| |
Select Committee 1 |
Select Committee 2 |
Select Committee 2 |
Health Scrutiny |
|
| Labour |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
18 |
| Democratic Alliance |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
| Conservative |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
| Independent Councillor Group |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Ind Conserative Group |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Total |
7 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
30 |
- agrees to the existing Members of this Committee remaining on the Select Commitees as set out below, together with the addition of those indicating a preference at the meeting:-
| |
Select Committee 1
Townships
(7 Members) |
Select Committee 2
Reputation management
(7 Members)
|
Select Committee 3
Transport
(7 Members)
|
Health Scrutiny
(9 Members) |
| Lab |
Cllr J S Birch
Cllr Mrs B Bourne
Cllr M Klieve
vacancy |
Cllr F B Walker
Cllr J Moodie
2 vacancies |
Cllr Mrs M J Whiteside
Cllr M A Dewhurst
Cllr M Aldred
vacancy |
Cllr G M Bretherton
Cllr C Rigby
Cllr Mrs J Hurst
2 vacancies |
| Dem/All |
Cllr P A Tushingham |
vacancy |
vacancy |
Cllr R J Derricutt |
| Cons |
Cllr H L Cadman |
Cllr P Thompson |
Cllr N R Whittingham |
Cllr N R Whittingham |
| Ind Cllr Group |
Cllr R T Splaine |
vacancy |
0 |
vacancy |
| Ind Con Group |
0 |
0 |
vacancy |
Cllr G W Fairhurst |
- requests the relevant Members are requested to advise the Deputy Chief Executive of names to fill the remaining vacancies as soon as possible.
- agrees that because of his experience, Councillor M W Winstanley is co-opted onto the Health Select Committee as and when required.
7 Questions (if any) on the business of the Cabinet: There were none.
8 Ince Remediation: Further to Minute 10, May 2007 refers: The Committee was advised of the current position and the financial issues affecting the Ince Central estate contaminated land case and the intention to make a delegated decision to continue remediation work on the estate.
The Cabinet would consider a report on 29 May 2008 dealing with the award of grant funding from Defra for further phases of the work and summarising the current overall project funding position and the extent of further work to be undertaken.
A briefing note and plan of the site were circulated at the meeting.
Members asked questions on the report.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
(Councillors Mrs J Hurst and J Moodie declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because they were involved with local residents and Members of the Stock Transfer Board).
9 Wigan Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) - minutes of the meeting held on 19th November 2007: The Committee considered the minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Board held on 19 November 2007.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the minutes now submitted.
(Councillors Mrs B Bourne, M Klieve and R Winkworth declared a prejudicial interest in this item because they are Members of the Children and Young People’s Panel that will also consider this report at the meeting to be held on 22 May 2008).
10 Introducing a fee policy for adult community learning: Further to minute 140, March 2008 refers. The Committee considered a report on the introduction of a fee policy for the Learning and Skills Council funded adult learning provision.
Members asked questions on the report.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report now submitted and requests the Director of Adult Services to report back to this Committee in May 2009 on the take up of the courses following the introduction of the fee policy.
(Councillor G M Bretherton declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in the above item because of his employment and remained in the meeting).
11 Forward Plan for June to September 2008: The Deputy Chief Executive reported that, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Executive Leader was required to publish a forward plan of key decisions that the Cabinet expected to make in the following four months. Each Plan would be submitted to this Committee for comment at least fourteen days before its publication. The Committee considered the plan that was to be published in June 2008.
The Deputy Chief Executive also referred to the changes to the key decision financial limits referred to at 6, 10 and 11 within that section of the report.
Members of the Committee made comments on the absence of background documents for some key decisions. The Committee requested further information on the item in relation to forensic software for schools.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report and requests the Deputy Chief Executive, following discussions with the relevant Chief Officers, to provide further information for all Members of this Committee on the report as requested for a future meeting of this Committee.
12 Select Committee No 1 minutes: There were no minutes to report.
13 Select Committee No 2 minutes: As the meeting was inquorate, an informal note of the meeting of Select Committee No 2 held on 1 April 2008 was submitted for information.
Resolved: The Committee agrees the informal note.
14 Select Committee No 3 minutes: The minutes of the meeting of Select Committee No 3 held on 31 March 2008 were submitted for information.
Resolved: The committee notes the minutes now submitted as referred to below:
Select Committee No. 3 - Transport
31 March 2008
Present at the meeting:
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside (Chairman)
- Councillor M Aldred
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon
Co-opted Member
14.1 Apologies for absence: Councillors I A Franzen and N R Whittingham.
14.2 Minutes: Resolved: The minutes of the meeting of this Select Committee held on 29 January 2008 were approved as a correct record.
14.3 Draft report for the transport review: The Select Committee discussed the content and recommendations within the draft report, which covered the outcomes of the transport review. It was agreed that the amended report would be sent to the Deputy Chief Executive for comment and consideration. It would then be shared with Environmental Services to ensure factual accuracy.
Resolved: The Select Committee notes the progress to date and approves this course of action.
14.4 Date and time of the next meeting: Resolved: The Select Committee agreed to postpone setting a date for the next meeting.
Chairman
15 Select Committee No 4 minutes: There were no minutes to report.
16 Cycle demonstration town bid: This item was withdrawn.
17 Call ins: There were none.
18 Update on affordable housing development and housing policy: The Committee considered a report outlining the progress on affordable housing, including the recent bidding to the Housing Corporation. The report also sought approval for Wigan and Leigh Housing to proceed with a full business case to begin the development of new housing and for Cabinet to set out the developing housing policy framework and a range of proposed responses.
Members asked questions on the report.
The report had been considered by Cabinet at minute 365.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report and requests the Director of Environmental Services to report back to this Committee on the detailed business case.
(Councillor Ms P L Holland declared a prejudicial interest in this item because a family member is the Chairman of Wigan and Leigh Housing and left the meeting during the discussion thereon. Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside declared a prejudicial interest in this item because she is a member of Wigan and Leigh Housing and left the meeting during the discussion thereon).
19 Marsh Green primary school reduction to 1 form entry: The Committee considered a report which sought approval to progress the option to reduce Marsh Green primary school to 1 form entry by single siting the school on the existing infant building site. The report gave details of the tenders received, together with the necessary budget release.
In view of the cancellation of the Cabinet meeting on the 8 May 2008, the Executive Leader had taken an executive decision.
The item had been on the published forward plan of key decisions.
Resolved: The Committee notes the decision taken by the Executive Leader.
(Councillor Mrs B Bourne declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because she is the Chairman of the governing body at Marsh Green primary school).
Chairman
