Present at the meeting:
- Councillor M W Winstanley (Chairman)
- Councillor R M Bleakley
- Councillor R Brierley
- Councillor G A Fairhurst
- Councillor E N Houlton
- Councillor J D O’Brien
- Councillor Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor P Prescott (Cabinet Champion)
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor C Sweeney
- Mr T Addison (Independent Member)
- Mr W Anderton (Independent Member)
- Mr P Connor (Independent Member)
51 Apologies for absence: Councillors Mrs K Aldred and E Russon.
52 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 25 September 2008 were approved as a correct record.
53 Audit Commission – Use of Resources – Auditor Judgements: The Committee considered a report by the Audit Commission which gave an update on the Council’s use of resources position from the Council’s External Auditors. Overall, the very strong performance had been maintained.
Members asked questions, to which the Audit Commission responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
54 Audit Commission Report – Community Safety in Greater Manchester – everybody’s business: The Committee considered a report by the Audit Commission giving details of the review of the Community Safety Arrangements across Greater Manchester. The review focused on how public sector partners work together to tackle the impact of alcohol abuse on individuals, communities and agencies.
Members asked questions, to which the Audit Commission responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted and agrees to consider a further report at the next meeting.
55 Audit Commission - Review of Internal Audit: The Committee received a report which informed members on the details of the review of the Internal Audit Service as performed by the Audit Commission. The review had been very positive and high standards had been achieved.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted and thanks the Executive Director of Business Support Services and his staff for the excellent review.
56 Governance arrangements for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT): The Committee received a presentation which detailed a summary and breakdown of income and expenditure of the Trust and Enterprises in response to Councillor R Brierley’s motion (Minute 50 refers).
Without notice, Councillor R Brierley proposed that he present a slideshow of photographs to the Committee.
Upon the proposal being put to the vote, the Chairman declared the proposal lost.
Councillor R Brierley expressed concern regarding the cost of play equipment and the value for money provided by WLCT at a play area in Atherton and considerable debate took place.
Members asked questions, to which the WLCT Trustee Chair of Finance and Performance Committee, the Finance Director and Company Secretary, and the Chief Executive of WLCT responded.
Resolved: The Committee:
- thanks the WLCT Trustee Chair of Finance and Performance Committee and the Chief Executive of WLCT for the presentation;
- agrees that a meeting take place between Councillor R Brierley, Councillor M W Winstanley, the Executive Director of Business Support Services and the Chief Executive WLCT to address Councillor R Brierley’s concerns; and the Chairman report back at the next meeting.
(Councillor C Rigby declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in this item because of his daughter’s employment with WLCT).
57 Business Support Services 2008/09 service plan update, quarter 2: The Committee considered a report, which gave details of Business Support Services’ cumulative performance for 2008/09 Quarter 2.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report now submitted.
58 Key Financial Performance: The Committee considered a report, which gave details of the Department’s performance in collecting council tax and national non-domestic rates, benefit payments and collection of income in 2008/09.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report now submitted.
59 Corporate Plan Performance Report Quarter 2 2008-09: The Committee considered a report, which measured performance against our key Performance Indicators (PI’s) and tasks.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
60 Chief Executive’s Services Departmental Plan Performance Report Quarter 2 2008-09: The Committee considered a report, which measured performance against our key Performance Indicators (PI’s) and tasks.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
61 Direction of Travel Self Assessment: The Committee considered a report on the Direction of Travel Self Assessment 2008 which was produced by the Council and submitted to the Audit Commission on 8 October 2008. The assessment formed part of the Council’s overall Comprehensive Performance Assessment. The assessment was seen by Members as very positive.
Members asked questions, to which the Service Director – Business Transformation responded.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report now submitted.
62 Requests for exceptions from Standing Orders: The Committee considered a report which provided a summary of decisions made where exceptions had been made to standing orders in the acceptance of tenders or in waiving the requirement to obtain three formal quotations.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
63 Internal Audit Activities Report: The Committee considered a report which provided Members with an update on Internal Audit activity for the first half of the financial year along with details of key issues arising from individual Internal Audit reviews.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director of 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 Homes Board appointed by the Council).
64 Norfolk Property Services (NPS) (NW) Ltd performance report 2nd Quarter 2008/09: The Committee considered a report which provided the performance of NPS (NW) Ltd over the 2nd quarter of 2008/09.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
65 Decisions taken by an officer with a value of over £250,000 or of strategic significance to the Council: Tender Approval – External cladding and refurbishment of internal areas to 5 high rise blocks situated within Scholes Village: The Committee in accordance with the Council’s constitution (decisions taken by an officer with a value of over £250,000), considered a report of a delegated decision to approve tenders for the external cladding and refurbishment of internal areas to 5 high rise blocks situated within Scholes Village.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director of 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 Homes Board appointed by the Council.
66 Contracts signed with a value exceeding £150,000: The Committee, in accordance with the Council’s constitution, considered a report of a delegated decision for the design, production and printing of ‘Borough Life’ magazine.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
67 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 per annum
(5) Honoraria over £5,000 per annum
(6) Suspensions.
Members were asked to consider whether the presentation of the information included in this regular report could be improved.
Members asked questions to which the Service Director - Customer Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report now submitted.
68 Sickness absence management - Quarter 2: The Committee considered a report showing the summary and submissions from departments for sickness absence management for the period (1 July to 30 September 2008).
Members asked questions to which the Service Director – Customer Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report now submitted.
(Councillors Mrs J and P Prescott declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in this item because their daughter is employed by the Council).
