Present at the meeting:
- Councillor J S Birch (Chairman)
- Councillor J Moodie
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor P L Holland
1 Apologies for absence
Councillors M Aldred, R T Splaine and P A Tushingham.
2 Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2008 were approved as a correct record.
3 Interview on PACT Process with Ms S Wolstencroft, Assistant Director (Cleaner, Greener Neighbourhoods), Environmental Services, Wigan Council
Ms S Wolstencroft received and responded to a number of questions from the Select Committee members, covering:
- service involvement with PACTs to date, ‘value added’, reflections on and learning from experience thus far;
- recommendations on process improvement for consideration by the Community Engagement Team (Neighbourhood Services Division, Environmental Services) in their leadership on PACTs;
- new works in partnership initiated through or enabled by PACTs – their effectiveness and impact;
- locality focus in service-shaping and delivery – changes made in internal organisation and resource deployment;
- PACT scrutiny arrangements;
- PACTs’ impact on community capacity and legacy in the form of locally-led improvement works/project activity responsive to neighbourhood needs;
- Environmental Services’ proposed call on Brighter Borough funds to support works that will address dog fouling and litter – campaigning, enforcement and removal;
- Environmental Services’ forward intentions towards assuring the sustainability of community involvement; growing strong working relationships with local people in the interests of informed service planning and achieving optimum impact
Resolved: The Select Committee:
- thanks Ms S Wolstencroft for her attendance, considered and informative responses to the questions put
- requests Cleaner, Greener services’ maintenance of a dialogue with the Select Committee in roll-out on their new cleansing, highways and waste management arrangements; connection with partners and delivery on local works responsive to issues identified by communities across the Borough; success in joined-up, mutually supportive working with local people; and reporting on performance targets – qualitative and quantitative data collected
4 PACT Review Process: Work Plan Update – Report of R. Horsfield, Policy Officer
Ms Horsfield updated Select Committee members on progress with desk-top research into the good practice community involvement models set in place by other authorities and scope for our local learning and reflective improvement. She referred to Police-led work in Lancashire in particular and circulated a report for members’ review and comment.
Discussion followed and the high impact approach taken by Sunderland was highlighted by Cllr Holland – further to its showcase at a Community Empowerment Seminar recently attended in London. The opportunity of a visit to speak with Knowsley colleagues was also noted further to the Deputy Chief Executive’s advice on a worthwhile contact. All agreed that to ensure the report and recommendations-set presented in the Spring is as helpful as can be it is important that scope for learning is actively explored.
Resolved:
- Cllr Holland will provide the Policy Officer with presentation slides and supporting papers on the Sunderland approach; also contact details for their lead officer;
- The Policy Officer will identify possible dates and times for a daytime research visit to Knowsley in the new year, reporting back and extending invitation to Select Committee members at the earliest opportunity
5 Date and time of future meetings: Resolved:
- The Policy Officer will work with I Harrison (Head of Sustainable Communities, Environmental Services) and J Ridgway (Service Manager – Community Engagement Team, Environmental Services) to agree a January date for the open members’ briefing proposed on PACTs. With the same colleagues she will agree a format, plan and prepare for the session drawing on the Support Officer’s assistance as required;
- In the Chair’s absence on leave Cllr Mrs B Bourne will chair the January briefing, question and answer session;
- Overview and Scrutiny Select Committee 1 (PACTs) will next meet on 10 February 2009 at 6 o’clock in Committee Room A at Wigan Town Hall;
- New year meeting dates beyond February will be set at the meeting of 10/02/09 when more members will hopefully be in attendance.
