Agenda and minutes

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

None reported.

(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.

Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor Mrs M Sartin declared a general personal interest by virtue of being one of the Council’s Member representatives on the Epping Forest Local Strategic Partnership. She declared that her interest was not prejudicial and she would remain in the meeting.

Attached.

Noted.

Recommendation:

To determine a timescale and reporting deadline for each objective.

The Terms of Reference of the Panel is attached having been agreed at the first meeting. The Panel will be aware that the document contains a wide range of issues and aims which will need to be considered in a structured way to ensure they can be achieved. To ensure this the Panel is requested to order each issue and ascribe a meeting and reporting date to them. In doing this the Panel may wish to group similar items together to facilitate their consideration and make the best use of time.

The Panel should also decide on whether issues are to be reported separately or in a final report and the dates for this.

The Panel should also have regard to the budget making process for 2006/07 which is currently taking place and be aware of the need to submit any bids for this ideally by mid November 2006.

The Joint Chief Executive (Community) anticipated that none of the items should require funding bids.  In relation to item 10 it was envisaged that the recommendations of the Panel once drafted would be reported to the LSP Board for consideration and comments. It was envisaged that the review would aim for completion in May 2007 to take effect in the new Council year.

Agreed that a review of the Local Area Agreement be timetabled into the programme.

Chairmen of LSP Action Groups to report.

Members have previously agreed that the Chairmen of the various LSP Action Groups should be asked to attend this meeting to explain the role of the Action Groups , their relationship with the main Board and Steering Group and identify how District Members might be able to assist and become more involved with the process. Accordingly, the Chairmen of some of the groups will be in attendance to report.

The Joint Chief Executive (Community) reminded the Panel that at its last meeting, members requested a discussion with the Chairmen of the various LSP Action Groups to explain their role, membership, relationship with the main Board and Steering Group and identify how District Members might become more involved in the process.

Accordingly, he welcomed to the meeting, the District Council’s Head of Housing Services (Chairman of the Homes and Neighbourhoods Action Group ), the Head of Planning and Economic Development, (Chairman of the Economic Prosperity Group), Francis Haste of the District PCT,   (Chairman of Fit for Life), and Matt Roberts of the Corporation of London (Chairman of Green and Unique). He also welcomed Marina Sheriff the Community Strategy and Partnership Manager.

(a)               Overview

Marina Sherriff reported some background to her role, the duties performed and current projects. 

(i)         she advised that she had held the role for over three years and was the first appointee to the position. Her contract lay with Voluntary Action Epping Forest (VAEF) therefore some of her duties was around working with this agency including attending team meetings, line management and staff working groups. She was supported by and worked closely with the LSP, Partnership Action Groups, the Children and Young Peoples Services Partnership (CYPSP) and the Crime and Reduction Partnership (CDRP);

(ii)        she had supported special events held by the Epping Forest College and was involved in an event at Oakwood Hill, Loughton to be held this week. With the Green and Unique Action Group, she had assisted with the organisation of  the Buckhurst Hill Fair and would be working on another seminar with the Action Group. She had also supported special one off projects such as a recent youth community conference and the six month health challenge supported by Sports Management Ltd.;

(iii)       she sat on the LSP Steering Board, the Local Area Agreement Groups, provided updates on the East of England Plan, attended meetings of the LSP Chairmen and had been involved in arranging the Partnerships annual conference. She referred to the LSP away day and what it involved. Her role was also to provide external links for the LSP;

(vi)       she worked to coordinate the current LSP Action Plan and ensure that the targets secured effective outcomes and were ‘smart’. A review would be carried out to prioritise the aims to ensure they added real value to LSP work. She explained that the Community Strategy comprised two parts. One was a set of long term visions. The other was a ‘living action plan’. There might be a need to make changes in response to the need for sustainability.  There was an LSP website and steps would be taken to publicize events

The Head of Planning and Economic Development highlighted some of Marina’s key achievements specifically in relation to promoting and raising awareness of the District LSP at a regional level.

It was recognised that Marinas post was funded by the partnership through contributions. It was suggested that consideration should be given to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Next meetings - 27 September 2006 7.30 CR2 and 25 October 2006 7.30 CR1

Noted that the next meeting had been arranged for 25 October 2006 at 7.30 in CR1.

It was noted that the next meeting of the LSP Board would be held on 28 October 2006 at 2.00pm at the Civic Offices, Epping. 

It was noted that the next meeting would consider the Local Area Agreement

Marina Sheriff reported that she wished to attend all future meetings on the Panel and would be added to the agenda distribution list.