Present at the meeting
- Councillor M Aldred (Chairman)
- Councillor J Miller (Vice Chairman)
- Councillor J Moodie (Vice Chairman)
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor G M Bretherton
- Councillor H L Cadman
- Councillor R J Derricutt
- Councillor J Ellis
- Councillor B J Fagan
- Councillor G W Fairhurst
- Councillor Ms P L Holland
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor R T Splaine
- Councillor P Thompson
- Councillor F B Walker
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor G Wilkes
Co-opted Members
56 Apologies for absence: Councillors J S Birch, M A Dewhurst, M Klieve and P A Tushingham and Mr D Barber, Rev R Buckley and Mr B Turrell.
57 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 11 August 2008 were approved as a correct record.
58 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.
59 Consultation - election day – weekend voting: The Committee considered a report, which summarised the results of a consultation with Elected Members, officers, the Council’s Readers Panel and the elections office on moving elections to the weekend.
Members asked a number of questions on the report and received appropriate responses.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report and requests the Deputy Chief Executive to submit the report, including the comments from Members of this Committee, to the Ministry of Justice for consideration.
60 Adult Safeguarding Board – annual report and action plan: The Committee considered an annual report and action plan for the Adult Safeguarding Board, based on agreed priorities in order to protect the vulnerable adults within the Borough.
Members asked a number of questions on the report and received appropriate responses.
Resolved: The Committee notes the annual report and action plan and requests the Director of Adult Services to provide more detail in the next annual report.
(Councillors G M Bretherton, G W Fairhurst and R T Splaine declared a prejudicial interest in this item because they are Members of the Adult Services Panel that will also consider this report at the meeting to be held on 16 September 2008).
61 Medium Term Financial Plan 2009-2012: The Committee considered a report on the financial projections for the Council over the next three years with specific focus on the budget and Council Tax prospects for 2009/10.
The Cabinet had considered the report (Minute 82 refers).
Members asked a number of detailed questions on the report and received appropriate responses.
Councillor G Wilkes had submitted a number of question by email prior to the meeting and these had been answered by the Executive Director – Business Support Services and were available on Members email.
Resolved: The Committee:-
- accepts the report and requests a budget briefing for opposition Members on a date to be agreed with the Party Leaders; and
- congratulates the staff of the Business Support Services Department on producing such a comprehensive report.
(Councillor C Rigby declared a declared personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is the recipient of a pension from the Greater Manchester Pension Fund. Councillor P Thompson declared a declared personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because his Company supplies a service to Wigan Athletic).
62 Budget timetable and principles 2010-11: The Committee considered a revised approach to the annual growth process and the strategic budget timetable and principles for 2009/10.
The Cabinet had considered the report (Minute 83 refers).
Members asked questions on the report and received appropriate responses.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report.
63 Questions (if any) on the Business of the Cabinet: There were none.
64 Forward Plan for October 2008 to January 2009: 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 October 2008.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report.
65 Select Committee No 1 minutes – 26 August 2008: The minutes of the meeting of Select Committee No 1 (PACT’s) held on 26 August 2008 were submitted for information.
Resolved: The Committee notes the minutes now submitted as referred to below:
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Select Committee No 1 – PACTs 26 August 2008
Present at the meeting:
- Councillor J S Birch (Chairman)
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor B J Fagan
- Councillor M Klieve
- Councillor P L Holland
- Councillor J Moodie
- Councillor R T Splaine
65.1 Apologies for absence: Councillors M Aldred and P A Tushingham.
65.2 Brief overview of the PACT process: An overview of the PACT (Partners and Communities Together) was provided to the Select Committee. PACT is a continuous process for integrating and joining up community engagement and service delivery on the ground, so that partners and communities can work together to identify and respond to the issues that matter most to local people.
Resolved: The Select Committee notes the report.
65.3 Terms of Reference for the PACT review: The Select Committee considered the draft terms of reference for the PACT review and the possible interviewees that will be required to attend future meetings.
Resolved: The Select Committee agrees the terms of reference for the PACT review.
65.4 Schedule of Meetings: The Select Committee set the following dates for forthcoming meetings:
Wednesday 10 September 2008;
Monday 22 September 2008; and Tuesday 30 September 2008.
All meetings will take place at 6:00 pm at Wigan Town Hall.
Resolved: The Select Committee agrees the dates and times of future meetings.
Chairman
66 Select Committee No 2 minutes: There are no minutes to report.
67 Select Committee No 3 minutes: There are no minutes to report.
68 Select Committee No 4 minutes – 21 August 2008: The minutes of the meeting of Select Committee No 4 (Health) held on 21 August 2008 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 21 August 2008
Present at the meeting:
- Councillor G M Bretherton (Chairman)
- Councillor M A Dewhurst
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor C Rigby
Ms Kate Ardern, Director of Public Health, attended for items 4 and 5 only.
68.1 Apologies for absence: Councillors P L Holland and Councillor M W Winstanley.
68.2 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Select Committee held on 13 March 2008 were approved as a correct record.
68.3 Closure of Whelley Hospital - consultation exercise: The Select Committee received a presentation by Mr A Foster, Chief Executive of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust and Ms G Harris. Director of Nursing, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Acute Trust.
The presentation was followed by a question and answer session
Resolved: The Select Committee:-
- thanks Mr Foster and Ms Harris for their presentation;
- be requested to complete a consultation document with any additional comments by the close of the consultation on Monday 25 August 2008; and
- invites Mr Foster to attend the next meeting on 22 October 2008 to advise on the plan for the next phase of services at Wigan and Leigh Hospitals.
68.5 Update on the work of the Primary Care Trust (PCT), Equitable access to primary Care and LIFT buildings: Mr P Rowe, Chief Executive and Ms J Foreshaw Assistant Director, from Ashton, Wigan and Leigh Primary Care Trust, briefed the Select Committee on the work of the PCT.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session
Ms Kate Ardern, Director of Public Health, briefed the Select Committee on her role within the Health Services.
Resolved : The Select Committee:-
- thanks Mr Rowe, Ms Foreshaw and Ms Ardern for their briefing.
- invites Ms Ardern to attend the meeting on the 22 October 2008 to discuss her role and future projects.
68.6 End of Year Report: D Taylor updated the Select Committee on the end of year report and presentation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Resolved: The report to be noted.
68.7 Members training and development needs, Health Scrutiny protocol: D Taylor briefed the Select Committee on training and support available to Members
Resolved: The Select Committee noted Members comments and agreed that any further suggestions be submitted to the support officer.
68.8 New Topic: D Taylor asked the Select Committee for suggestions for new topics. She offered a suggestion to the Select Committee on scrutinising the new Local Area Agreement targets for health and wellbeing.
Resolved : The Select Committee:-
- agrees with this suggestion as a topic area; and
- requests D Taylor to send information to the Select Committee about the Local Area Agreement Health and wellbeing targets
68.9 Date and time of next meeting: Resolved: The next meeting of this Select Committee will be held on 17 September 2008 at Wigan Town Hall
Chairman
69 Wigan Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB): The Committee considered the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board held on 25 February, 21 April and 2 June 2008.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the minutes now submitted.
(Councillors Mrs B Bourne and Rev R Moore 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 11 September 2008. Councillor B J Fagan declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because his daughter is a Member of the Children and Young People’s Panel that will also consider this report at the meeting to be held on 11 September 2008).
67 Call ins (if any): reference from Cabinet (minute 86 refers): The Committee were advised that the following minute had been reconsidered by the Cabinet:-
86 Proposed Exchange of Interests and Improvement Works on land at and to the rear of 373/385 Wigan Road, Bryn, Wigan:-
Resolved: The decision taken at Minute 60 be referred back to the Cabinet with the following recommendations:-
- The Cabinet, or the Cabinet Champion for Organisational Change, be requested to visit the site, together with Ward Members and relevant Officers, prior to making its final decision;
- The Cabinet then consider investigation of further options, including doing nothing;
- The Director of Environmental Services be requested to consider how the development has been assessed against the Planning Policy Guidance 6 - Town Centres and Retail Developments (PPG6) guidance.
- The Members of the Overview and Scrutiny be informed of the outcome.
Resolved: The Cabinet:
- agrees that the Cabinet Champion for Organisational Change, be requested to visit the site, together with Ward Members and relevant Officers, prior to making its final decision; and
- agrees that a copy of the DVD, previously shown to Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be shown to a future Cabinet meeting when this item is debated further.
It was noted that the site visit would take place on the 12 September 2008.
Councillor G Wilkes thanked Councillors J Moodie and P Prescott and the Officers for their assistance with this call in.
Resolved: The Committee notes the decision of Cabinet.
Chairman
