Agenda and minutes

(Head of Research and Democratic Services)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

No substitutes had been appointed.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services). To declare interests in any items on the agenda.

In considering whether to declare a personal or a prejudicial interest under the Code of Conduct, Overview & Scrutiny members are asked pay particular attention to paragraph 11 of the Code in addition to the more familiar requirements.

This requires the declaration of a personal and prejudicial interest in any matter before an OS Committee which relates to a decision of or action by another Committee or Sub Committee of the Council, a Joint Committee or Joint Sub Committee in which the Council is involved and of which the Councillor is also a member.

Paragraph 11 does not refer to Cabinet decisions or attendance at an OS meeting purely for the purpose of answering questions or providing information on such a matter.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider and approve the notes of the last meeting of the Panel held on 22 September 2005.

Agreed subject to the inclusion of Councillor McMillan’s apologies for absence.

(Chairman/Lead Officer) The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed the Terms of Reference of this Panel and associated Work Programme. This is attached. The Panel are asked at each meeting to review both documents.

Noted that it was unsure whether the deadline for reporting on the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations. Officers were currently seeking advice from Essex County Council, as it was not known how these would be implemented at District Level.

Agreed that a progress report on the Corporate Contact Centre be made to each meeting.

(ICT and CSS Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached Cabinet report.

Noted that the Strategy pulled together all the ICT related strategies being pursued. Additionally it was clear that Central Government was expecting a wholesale change in the way Public Sector services were delivered by exploiting the transformational nature of ICT. The Panel also noted the new  ‘Government Connect’ and ‘DirectGov’ projects that underpinned the ‘transformational government’ objectives. It was noted that the Council currently had no information strategy and this would need to be addressed.

The Panel discussed the strategy in detail and endorsed its content.

To receive an update on the progress of the project.

Committee Management System

It was noted that the Committee Management System (CoMs) implementation was complete. Two additional tasks remained to be completed:

(i)         Back scanning of selected agenda; and

(ii)            Integration of the Forward Plan.

Members Connectivity

Members had received presentation in September which had been well received. Member training needs were being assessed and two types of training were being organised:

(i)         Gold Member training – IT refresher training; and

(ii)            Platinum Member training – connectivity only.

Dates of training would be organised between January and March 2006 and again following the elections in May 2006.

The ‘Token’ system had been tested and member contract had been developed and circulated to members. A further ‘road show’ would be held before the December Council meeting.

It was noted that a further Web casting project was planned. This was shown within the ICT Strategy. It was hoped that a trial of the system would begin next year.

It was noted that the Returning Officer was considering applying to the Government to participate in an electoral pilot again in May 2006.

Schemes being considered included:

(i)            Electronic counting and mobile polling stations;

(ii)        Pre Election publicity; and

(iii)       Postal voting anti fraud initiatives.

The Council would need to apply to Government by 1 December 2005 and would hear the result of the application by 15 December 2005.

To consider which reports are ready to be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting.

(i)         ICT Strategy

To consider the forward programme of meeting dates for the Panel.

Agreed that S Hill agree a programme of meetings with the Chairman of the Panel.