Present at the meeting:
- Councillor J Moodie (Chairman)
- Councillor N D Ash
- Councillor N A Bradbury
- Councillor Ms P L Holland
- Councillor B J Fagan
- Councillor J D O’Brien
- Councillor Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor C Rigby
- Councillor P Thompson
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor G Wilkes
Co-opted Members
Officers in attendance
- Peter Hassett – Principal Solicitor
- Gary Finch – Principal Officer – Scrutiny
- Sue Johnson – Deputy Chief Executive
- Michael Williamson – Committee Services Officer
Officers presenting reports
- Katherine Fairclough – Service Director – Business Transformation
- Paul McKevitt – Service Director – Corporate Services
- David Smith – Executive Director Business Support Services
26 Apologies for absence: Councillors G W Fairhurst, P A Tushingham and R Winkworth and Mr D Barber, Rev R Buckley, Mrs K A Stokes and Mr G R Wolstenholme (Co-opted Members).
27 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 20 July 2009 were approved as a correct record.
28 Whipping declarations: The Principal Solicitor, Peter Hassett reminded the Committee that government guidance expected Members of Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee not to act in accordance with party whipping and that, if they did, they were to declare it.
There were no declarations made.
29 Questions (if any) on the business of the Cabinet: There were none.
30 Questions (if any) on the business of the forward plan – monthly update: The Executive Director Business Support Services, David Smith, informed the Committee of a further item that would be included on the Forward Plan. The item related to the Manchester Airport Facility Agreement.
31 Corporate Strategy 2009/12: The Service Director – Business Transformation, Katherine Fairclough, presented a report, which had been considered by Cabinet (minute 36 refers) that detailed the Council’s Corporate Strategy 2009/12. The strategy had been developed based on the following five priorities:-
- Ambitious communities
- Living healthier and longer
- Realising aspirations
- Strong community
- Responsive, responsible, efficient, effective
Members asked a number of questions, which included the following salient points:-
- Would the strategy address the difficulties people have in securing employment in respect of the current economic climate?
- Would the strategy address the issues around the poor records of mens health/life expectancy in Wigan?
- Would the redevelopment of the Wigan Pier area of the town centre be included in the strategy?
- How was the Council proposing to support local businesses?
- What were the Council’s proposals for reducing the problems of traffic congestion across the borough?
The Service Director – Business Transformation advised that she would refer a number of the issues raised to the Council’s Economic Regeneration Department and feedback responses to Members.
The Committee was also advised as to the progress the Council had made in relation to the Corporate Area Assessment (CAA).
Resolved: The Committee endorses the strategy.
32 Departmental performance – reporting on Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits and Sundry Debtors: The Executive Director Business Support Services, presented a report, which updated Members on the Business Support Services performance in the collection of council tax and national non-domestic rates, benefit payments and the collection of income in 2009/10.
Members were advised that the report was the first in a series of four during this Municipal Year.
Members asked a number of questions, which included the following salient points:-
- Did the Council have any plans to introduce discounts to those who paid bills by Direct Debit?
- Was the process of debt recovery cost effective to the Council?
- Why was the Debt Recovery Section being re-organised if it was performing well?
- What support did the Council offer to people to ensure they were claiming relevant benefits?
- Could the Council reduce its business rate to assist local businesses in the current economic climate?
The Service Director – Corporate Services, Paul McKevitt, explained that the Council currently had no plans to introduce discounts to those people who paid bills by Direct Debit, the Council did however, offer the flexibility of when people could pay. The Committee was advised that the Council did pursue the collection of all debts through a variety of means, including in the past, bankruptcy as a last resort.
The Committee was advised that as part of the Support Services Review the Debt Recovery Section was being re-organised to maximise efficiencies and optimise output. The Service Director – Corporate Services also explained that the Council had been supporting Welfare Advice to assist people in receiving all relevant benefits.
The Executive Director – Business Support Services explained to the Committee that in relation to the collection of Business Rates, the Council acted as an agent on behalf of central government, therefore there was little discretion as to what the Council could do in terms of offering support to local businesses.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
33 Medium term financial strategy and financial outlook 2010/11 to 2014/15: The Service Director - Corporate Services, presented a report, which had been considered by Cabinet (minute 39 refers) that detailed the financial projections for the Council over the next five years, with specific focus on the budget and Council Tax prospects for 2010/11.
Members asked a number of questions, which included the following salient points:-
- Would the AGMA collaborative efficiency programme have an impact on the levels of service?
- What was the expected budget for Youth Services?
- Would the underspend in Working Neighbourhood Fund be lost?
- How much had energy costs increased and how was the Council managing this cost?
- How did this strategy link into the Organisational Development strategy?
- Would services have to be cut to achieve the identified savings required?
The Service Director – Corporate Services advised that the AGMA collaborative efficiency programme had looked at a number of service areas and had identified saving models. In respect of the Youth Services budget, the Committee was advised that the budgets for all service areas would be detailed in a future report, which would be considered by Cabinet and the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee.
The Committee was also advised that the Working Neighbourhood Fund underspend had been programmed to be carried over into next year’s budget. It was also reported that the Council had anticipated that the cost of energy would rise, but in order to combat this the Council had entered into a joint agreement with Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) to purchase energy at a reasonable price.
The Service Director – Business Transformation advised the Committee that regular meetings between the relevant Service Directors took place to ensure that the Council’s financial strategy aligned with the organisational development strategy.
The Service Director – Corporate Services acknowledged the concern of the Committee in relation to potential cuts in services in order to achieve the necessary savings. He advised that future reports would address this issue and Members would be consulted in due course should there be a requirement to reduce service levels in order to achieve the necessary savings.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
34 Budget prinicples and timetable for 2009/10 budget: The Service Director - Corporate Services, presented a report, which had been considered by Cabinet (minute 40 refers) that informed Members of the strategic budget timetable. The report also requested Members to consider revised budget principles in line with the budget strategy.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
35 Chief Executive Services Performance Plan (2009/12): The Service Director – Business Transformation presented a report, which informed Members of the Chief Executive Services Performance Plan for 2009/12. The Plan detailed specific workstreams and projects that would enable the Department to deliver against the following two objectives:-
- priority services; and
- organisational effectiveness.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
36 Chief Executive Services Performance Plan (2009/12) – Quarter 1 report: The Service Director – Business Transformation presented a report, which informed Members of the progress that had been made against the Chief Executive Services Performance Plan 2009/12 for the period 1 April 2009 to 30 June 2009.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
37 Business Support Services Performance Plan (2009/12): The Service Director – Corporate Services presented a report, which informed Members of the Business Support Services Performance Plan for 2009/12.
The Plan detailed specific workstreams and projects that would enable the Department to deliver against the following two objectives:-
- priority services; and
- organisational effectiveness.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
38 Business Support Services Performance Plan (2009/12) – Quarter 1 report: The Service Director – Corporate Services presented a report, which informed Members of the progress that had been made against the Business Support Services Performance Plan 2009/12 for the period 1 April 2009 to 30 June 2009.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
39 Minutes of the Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Committee: The minutes of the meeting of the Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Committee held on 23 July 2009, were submitted for information.
Resolved: The Committee notes the minutes now submitted.
40 Minutes of the Building Stronger Communities Scrutiny Committee: The minutes of the meeting of the Building Stronger Communities Scrutiny Committee held on 27 July 2009, were submitted for information.
Resolved: The Committee notes the minutes now submitted.
41 Minutes of the Adult, Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee: The minutes of the meeting of the Adult, Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee held on 28 July 2009, were submitted for information.
Resolved: The Committee notes the minutes now submitted.
42 Minutes of the Economy, Environment, Culture and Housing Scrutiny Committee: The minutes of the meeting of the Economy, Environment, Culture and Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 29 July 2009, were submitted for information.
Resolved: The Committee notes the minutes now submitted.
