Present at the meeting:
- Councillor M Aldred (Chairman)
- Councillor J Moodie (Vice Chairman)
- Councillor J S Birch
- Councillor N A Bradbury
- Councillor G M Bretherton
- Councillor H L Cadman
- Councillor B J Fagan
- Councillor G W Fairhurst
- Councillor J N Grundy
- Councillor Ms P L Holland
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor M Klieve
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor P A Tushingham
- Councillor P Thompson
- Councillor F B Walker
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
- Councillor G Wilkes
Co-opted Members
167 Apologies for absence: Councillors J Miller (Vice Chairman), Mrs B Bourne, M A Dewhurst, R T Splaine and N R Whittingham and Rev R Buckley and Rev Deacon R Moore.
168 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 6 April 2009 were approved as a correct record.
169 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.
170 Social Care Audit and Action Plan: The Committee considered a report, that informed Members of the outcome of an audit into social care provision, which related to the safeguarding of children within the borough. The report also outlined proposals for change in response to the audit findings and the Laming report, 'The Protection of Children in England', which was issued in March 2009.
The report would also be considered by Cabinet at its meeting to be held on 14 May 2009.
Members asked questions on the report and received responses from the Officers.
Resolved: The Committee:-
- endorses the report now submitted;
- notes the recommendations of the Laming report 'The Protection of Children in England'; and
- accepts the recommendations outlined in section 6 of the report.
(Councillor M Klieve declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as his wife is a member of the Fostering Panel appointed by the Council)
171 Select Committee No 3 (Tendering) final report: The Committee considered the findings of the final report on the Select Committee’s review on tendering.
Members asked various questions on the report and gave their views.
Resolved: The Committee:-
- accepts the report now submitted;
- endorses the recommendations set out within the report and the need to respond adequately to them;
- agrees to review the recommendations in six months time;
- refers the final report to the Cabinet for detailed consideration; and
- thanks the Policy Officer for the presentation and the Chairman and Members of the Select Committee for their hard work in relation to this review.
172 Building Schools for the Future: The Committee considered a report, which set the evaluation process, criteria for selection and timescale for selecting a preferred bidder in relation to Building Schools for the Future (BSF).
The Committee was advised that in June 2007, Wigan and Salford City Council agreed to undertake a joint procurement of their BSF requirements through the appointment of a private sector partner and the establishment of a Local Education Partnership (LEP), which would initially last for a 10 year period. The LEP would enter into a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Councils that would give it the right to deliver or manage future developments and services as required by the Council.
The Committee was informed of the procurement process that had been undertaken so far. In January 2008, the Council had approved a shortlist of two bidders to proceed to the Invitation to Continue Dialogue stage (ITCD). These bidders had submitted their initial bids in June 2008. Following further procurement activities, the BSF programme had entered the final stage of the competitive dialogue procedure, with both bidders invited to submit their final bids (Invitation to Submit Final Bid Stage), which had been received in March 2009.
The Committee was advised of the criteria the bidders were required to demonstrate against, which would be used to assess and score the final bids. It was anticipated that a preferred bidder would be appointed in June 2009 and the establishment of the LEP was expected in October 2009.
Due to the intensive nature of the BSF procurement process, a range of evaluation processes would be carried out throughout April and May. The Committee was informed that to remain on programme for appointing a preferred bidder by June 2009, it was essential that the outcome of the evaluations were presented to Cabinet on 20 May 2009.
The report would also be considered by Cabinet at its meeting to be held on 30 April 2009.
Members asked questions on the report and received responses from the Officers.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
(Councillor B J Fagan declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as he is a School Governor at Sacred Heart Primary School. Councillor M Klieve declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as he is a School Governor at Golborne High School. Councillor P A Tushingham declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as he is School Governor at Byrchall High School).
173 Mr B Turrell (Co-opted Member): The Chairman informed the Committee that this meeting would be Mr Turell’s last as a Co-opted Member as he had completed his term of office.
Resolved: The best thanks of this Committee are extended to Mr B Turrell for his contribution to the Committee over the past years.
174 Vote of thanks: Resolved: 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.
