Present at the meeting:
- Councillor K Anderson (Cabinet Champion)(In the Chair)
- Councillor B Bowen
- Councillor H L Cadman
- Councillor J Eccles-Churton
- Councillor J D Hodgkinson
- Councillor J Moodie
- Councillor J M Peet
- Councillor Mrs A Turnock
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
Co-opted Members
- Mrs M Burgess
- Mr A Roberts
60 Welcome to new Member: On behalf of the Panel, the Chairman extended a warm welcome to Councillor Mrs J M Peet, a new Member of this Panel.
61 Apologies for absence: Councillors Mrs A M L Bland, Mrs S Dewhurst and Ms L E Fagan and Chief Superintendant S Donnellan, Mr J Harding, Mr H Holden, Mr M Humphries and Mr M Simpson (Co-opted Members).
62 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 19 January 2009 were approved as a correct record.
63 Exclusion of the public - section 100a Local Government Act 1972: Resolved: The public is excluded from the meeting when the Panel discusses the following item for the reason 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 |
Quarterly reports |
- |
- |
| E2 |
Wigan and Leigh Homes and Communities Agency for new affordable housing |
72 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council) |
64 National Intelligence Model: The Panel received a presentation from the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which gave Members an overview of the National Intelligence Model. The Executive Director of Environmental Services gave a working example of the National Intelligence Model.
The Panel asked questions on the presentation, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel:
- notes the presentation now submitted; and
- thanks the Executive Director of Environmental Services for the presentation.
65 Anti Social behaviour policy: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which sought approval of the adoption of the Council’s Anti Social Behaviour Policy.
The report would also be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 2 April 2009.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report.
66 Alley gating programme: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the progress of the alley gating programme and its current evaluation.
Members were pleased with the progress and statistics of the programme.
Agreed: The Panel:
- notes the progression of the alley gating programme; and
- supports its continuation subject to available finance.
67 Environmental Enforcement Strategy: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the new Environmental Enforcement Strategy and the positive outcome of recent consultation and implementation plans.
The report was also considered by the Environment Panel. (minute 51 refers.)
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel endorses the report now submitted.
68 Progress on the Housing Response to the Economic Recession: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which updated Members on the impact that the credit crunch and economic slowdown was having on Wigan’s housing situation. The report also provided a progress report on the measures being developed and implemented in response.
The report had been considered by this Panel (minute 53 refers) and by Cabinet (minutes 156 and 234 refer).
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel:
- notes the report; and
- requests that a further report be presented to Members in due course.
69 Consultation process for the Housing Strategy issues paper: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the consultation process being used for the Housing Strategy issues paper.
The Executive Director of Environmental Services referred to a booklet – Wigan Borough Housing Vision 2026 which was circulated at the meeting.
Members were asked to complete the Housing issues paper survey.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
70 Performance report: Wigan and Leigh Housing 2008/09 third quarter: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the third quarter performance of Wigan and Leigh Housing for 2008/09. The report also gave the results of the recent statutory tenant user statisfactory (STATUS) survey.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report.
(Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because she is a member of the Wigan and Leigh Housing Board)
71 Wigan and Leigh Housing bid to the Homes and Communities Agency for new affordable housing: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which sought approval from Members to submit the proposed bid for new affordable housing to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The bid had been developed to take advantage of new opportunities to acquire grants from the HCA.
The report was considered by Cabinet (minute 218 refers) and by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (minute 141 refers).
The Panel asked questions, to which the Chief Executive of Wigan and Leigh Housing responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report.
(Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside declared a prejudicial interest in this item because she is a member of the Wigan and Leigh Housing Board)
72 Questions by Members at Panel meetings: There were none.
73 Vote of thanks: Agreed: The best thanks of this Panel are extended to the Cabinet Champion and the officers for the excellent services rendered by them during the past Municipal Year.
