Present at the meeting:
- Councillor M W Winstanley (Chairman)
- Councillor Mrs K Aldred
- Councillor R Brierley
- Councillor G A Fairhurst
- Councillor J D O’Brien
- Councillors Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor P Prescott (Cabinet Champion)
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor E Russon
- Councillor C Sweeney
- Mr W Anderton (Independent Member)
27 Apologies for absence: Councillor R M Bleakley and E N Houlton and Mr T Addison (Independent Member) and Mr P Connor (Independent Member).
28 Welcome to new Members: On behalf of the Panel, the Chairman extended a warm welcome to Councillor G A Fairhurst, a new Member of the Committee.
29 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 26 June 2008 were approved as a correct record.
30 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 |
Human resources information quarter 1 |
41 |
2 (Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual) |
| E2 |
Sickness absence management quarter 1 |
42 |
2 (Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual) |
| E3 |
NPS (NW) Ltd Performance Report Quarter 1, 2008/09 |
43 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the Council) |
31 Corporate plan and High level performance indicators: The Committee considered a report, which had been considered by Cabinet (minute 58 refers), dealing with the corporate plan for 2008-11 which included the annual accounts and the new high level set of performance indicators.
Members asked questions, to which the Service Director – Business Transformation responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
32 Chief Executives Services Departmental Plan 2008/09 - 2010/11: The Committee considered a report on the key objectives and tasks for the Chief Executives Services Department. The plan covered the period 2008/09 to 2010/11 and contained key activities for year 1 and planned activities for years 2 and 3 where developed. The plan demonstrated how Chief Executives Services contributed to helping the Council meet its corporate objectives and vision.
Members asked questions, to which the Service Director – Business Transformation responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
(Councillor M W Winstanley declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Member of Wigan and Leigh Housing appointed by the Council).
33 Townships and participation in decision making: The Committee received a report that informed Members that the Council and its partners had made good progress in developing new ways of working in partnership with local people in communities. This report referenced back to recent reviews and developments in this area and considered how this could be developed in the future.
The Cabinet had considered the proposals (minute 37 refers) and had requested that these proposals be also considered by Overview and Scrutiny (minute 42 refers).
Members asked questions, to which the Service Director – Business Transformation responded. The key issues related to the need to have a clear and standard terms of reference, the role of elected members and participatory budgeting.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
34 Review of Advisory Panels and Overview and Scrutiny Select Committees: The Panel considered a joint report and received a presentation from the Principal Solicitor (Constitutional Issues), Business Support Services, which sought Members’ views on a proposed review of the roles of the Advisory Panels and the Overview and Scrutiny Select Committees, which would come into effect for the Municipal Year 2009/10.
The Cabinet had considered the report at minute 36.
Members asked questions and made comments on the report, as follows:-
- CIPFA guidance on changes to membership;
- Political balance;
- Concerns of decision making process;
- Scrutiny responsibilities;
- Workload and volume of work, and possible resources to support Members; and
- Chairmanship and consideration to be given to opposition Chairman.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
35 Report of the Audit Commission - Land at Westwood Park: The Committee considered a report, which was to be submitted to Cabinet, dealing with the report issued by the Audit Commission in relation to land at Westwood Park.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at minute 36.
Resolved: The Committee endorses the report now submitted.
36 Local Government Ombudsman - annual letter for the year ending 31 March 2008: The Committee considered a report that informed Members of the content of the Local Government Ombudsman annual letter for the year ending 31 March 2008.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
37 Departmental Performance: The Committee considered a report on the Department’s performance in collecting council tax and national non-domestic rates, benefit payments and collection of income in 2008/09.
Members asked questions to which the Executive Director, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
38 Finance and Information Technology Department, 2007/08 service plan update, quarter 4 (full year): The Committee considered a report that gave details of the Finance and Information Technology Department’s performance for 2007/8 (full year).
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
39 Business Support Services Departmental Plan 2008/09 – 2010/11: The Committee considered a report that informed Members of the Business Support Services Department’s Action Plan for 2008/9 – 2010/11.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
40 Value for Money Self Assessment 2007/08: The Committee considered a report that provided Members with the Value for Money Self Assessment, submitted as part of the 2007/08 Use of Resources Assessment.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
(Councillor M W Winstanley declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Member of Wigan and Leigh Housing appointed by the Council).
41 Human resource information: The Committee considered the following information for Members:-
(1) Recruitment statistics
(2) Central training statistics
(3) Early retirement / voluntary redundancy
(4) Honoraria under £5,000 p.a.
(5) Honoraria over £5,000 p.a.
(6) Suspensions.
Members asked questions to which the Service Director - Corporate Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
(Councillors Mrs J Prescott and P Prescott declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because of their daughter’s employment in Human Resources, Environmental Services).
42 Quarterly review of sickness - quarter 1: The Committee considered a report showing the summary of the sickness absence and submissions from departments for Quarter 1 (1 April – 30 June 2008).
Members asked questions to which the Service Director - Corporate Services, Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
(Councillors Mrs J Prescott and P Prescott declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because of their daughter’s employment in Human Resources, Environmental Services).
43 NPS (NW) Ltd Performance Report 1st Quarter 2008/09: The Committee considered a report on the performance of NPS (NW) Ltd over the quarter 1, 2008/09.
Members asked questions to which the Practice Director, NPS responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
