Present at the meeting:
- Councillor M W Winstanley (Chairman)
- Councillor Mrs K Aldred
- Councillor R Brierley
- Councillor R J Derricutt
- Councillor G A Fairhurst
- Councillor J D O’Brien
- Councillor Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor P Prescott
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor E Russon
- Councillor C Sweeney
Independent Members
- Mr T Addison
- Mr W Anderton
- Mr P Connor
77 Welcome to new Members: On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman extended a warm welcome to Councillor R J Derricutt.
78 Apologies for absence: Councillor E N Houlton.
79 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 29 January 2009 were approved as a correct record.
80 Dates and times of meetings 2009/10: The Committee considered a draft programme of dates and times of meetings of the Council, Cabinet and Committees for 2009/10. The Cabinet at minute 193 had invited comments from Committees.
Resolved: The Committee endorses the draft programme of dates and times of meetings for 2009/10 with the following amendment:
- the meeting of the 1 October 2009 shall now take place on 29 September; this meeting will be a joint meeting with the Standards Committee.
81 Direction of travel and future approach to Corporate Area Assessment: The Committee received a presentation on the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), which would be replacing the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) and was a new approach that examined how effectively local public services were performing and improving the lives of the people they serve. Assessments would provide a snapshot of each area and would act as a catalyst for improvement by identifying where more effort is needed or where exceptional improvement may help others learn. The CAA framework document had been published on the 10 February 2009.
The report had been considered by Cabinet at minute 242 and would be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 6 April 2009.
Members asked various questions on the presentation and gave their views
Resolved: The Committee notes the report and thanks the Officer for the presentation.
82 Audit Commission - annual audit and inspection letter 2007/08: The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Business Support Services, which presented to Members the Audit Commission’s annual audit and inspection letter prior to the formal distribution to all Members.
Members asked questions, to which the Audit Commission representative and the Executive Director of Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report now submitted.
83 Strategic risk register update: The Committee considered a draft report of the Executive Director of Business Support Services, which sought Members views on identifying any further significant risks which presented a threat to the Council’s objectives. The report also sought approval of the Council’s updated Strategic Risk Register.
Members discussed the register and asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee agrees the updated Strategic Risk Register and notes the further ongoing work to improve the management of the risks identified.
(Councillor M W Winstanley declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Board Member of Wigan and Leigh Homes.)
84 Internal Audit Plans 2009/10 to 2011/12: The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Business Support Services, which sought approval of the proposed Strategy for internal audit coverage for the next three financial years.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee:
- notes the report; and
- agrees the Strategic Plan.
(Councillor M W Winstanley declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Board Member of Wigan and Leigh Homes.)
85 Customer access strategy and complaints procedure: The Committee considered a report of the Head of Customer Services, which informed Members of the customer access strategy and complaints procedures and how these procedures would be implemented.
The report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at minute 147.
Members asked questions on the report and received responses from the Officers.
Resolved: The Committee:-
- supports the implementation of the customer access strategy and complaints procedures as submitted; and
- agrees to receive a further report on the customer access strategy and complaints procedures in 12 months time.
86 Corporate performance report – quarter three 2008/09: The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive, which informed Members of the performance against the key performance indicators (PI’s) and tasks contained in the National Indicator Set, Local Area Agreement and Corporate Plan 2008/09.
Resolved: The Committee accepts the report.
87 Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy: The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Business Support Services, which sought approval for the Council’s updated Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director Business Support Services responded.
Resolved: The Committee approves the updated Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy.
88 Children and Young People’s Services risk register 2009/10: The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services, which provided Members with a copy of the draft Children and Young People’s Services risk register for 2009/10. The report also invited Members suggestions for amendments and improvements.
The report outlined clear issues concerning recruitment and retention of staff.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
89 Performance indicators – risk assessment: The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Business Support Services, that informed Members of the risk assessment methodology applied by internal audit in identifying performance indicators proposed for review.
Resolved: The Committee approves the risk assessment.
90 Business Support Services 2008/09, Service Plan update – quarter three: The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Business Support Services, which informed Members of the details of Business Support Services’ cumulative performance for 2008/09 quarter three.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
91 Quarterly Reports: (a) delegated decisions made by Chief Officers exceeding £250,000 or of strategic significance to the Council: The Committee considered a report of the Service Director, Borough Solicitor, which listed decisions taken by an officer with a value above £250,000 or of strategic significance to the Council during the period 1 October 2008 to 31 December 2008.
Resolved: The Committee notes the decisions taken under Chief Officers’ Delegated Powers.
(Councillors Mrs J Prescott and P Prescott declared a prejudicial interest in this item because of their daughter’s employment within the Environmental Services Department of the Council and left the meeting during the discussion thereon. Councillor M W Winstanley declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Board Member of Wigan and Leigh Homes.)
92 Norfork Property Services (NPS) (NW) Ltd performance report third quarter 2008/09: The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Business Support Services, that informed Members of the performance of NPS (NW) Ltd up to the third quarter 2008/09.
The report showed that all targets identified had been achieved or surpassed.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
93 Vote of thanks: Agreed: The best thanks of this Committee are extended to the Chairman and the officers for the excellent services rendered by them during the past Municipal Year.
