Agenda and minutes

(Assistant to the Chief Executive)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Panel noted there were no substitute members.

(Assistant to the Chief Executive). 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.

Attached to the agenda is a copy of the proposed draft Terms of Reference. The Panel is asked to consider and agree on the Terms of Reference for their Panel.

In order to help the Panel, a set of ‘Notes for Guidance’ for the operating of a Task and Finish Panel is also attached. This sets out how a Task and Finish panel should ideally go about scoping its programme of work, gathering information and evidence. The note also suggests how final reporting back to the main Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the larger Council is undertaken. A draft layout of a final report is also attached.

The Panel reviewed the draft terms of reference. They noted that the Panel had been constituted late in the year and there was a chance that it may have to continue into the next municipal year.

The Panel decided to take out the bullet points on item three and replace them with the four points listed in bullet point (c) of the original motion to council.

The Panel noted that there was no need to consider budget proposals at present as they needed to work out the cost of the process involved. It was likely that the cost could be kept within existing processes.

To consider the attached report.

The Deputy Chief Executive, Derek Macnab, introduced the report on Sustainable Communities. This Panel originated as a motion to Council, moved by Councillor Philip, that:

The Council:

(a)        supports the “bottom up” process in the Sustainable Communities Act designed to allow local authorities and their communities to drive the action and assistance that Central Government gives in promoting thriving sustainable communities;

(b)  notes that the Act gives local authorities the power to make proposals to Government on the action and assistance Government must take or give to promote sustainable communities and that those proposals can be for a transfer of public money and functions from central or regional control to local control;

(c)    notes that the Act defines sustainable communities broadly, that definition

having the four aspects of:

(i)    the improvement of the local economy;

(ii)   protection of the environment;

(iii)  promotion of social inclusion; and

(iv)  participation in civic and political activity;

(d)    notes that reasons for a local authority choosing to use the Act include

gaining new powers or assistance from Government determining those powers or

that assistance and transferring public monies from central or regional control to local control;

(e)    resolves to use the Act by submitting proposals for action and assistance

from Central Government as best serves the District.

(f)     That consideration of this motion be referred to the next appropriate meeting of the Cabinet.

The motion was subsequently considered by the Cabinet in July, who deferred the item to Overview and Scrutiny.  At the September meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, members established the Task and Finish Panel, to consider the matter in more detail.

The Panel noted that the act had three main strands to it:

i)                    to identify proposals and in doing so to consider the transfer of powers from the different tiers of government to the level considered appropriate;

ii)                   Local spending reports - this was designed to demonstrate public spending within a geographical area. It may include local authorities spending, county spending or government bodies. It would allow transparency in local spending. As yet no local spending report has been issued; and

iii)                 Sustainable Communities Strategy – the LSP had been asked to create a community strategy, and this just renames it a ‘sustainable’ community strategy.

The Local Government Authority (LGA) had been appointed to select appropriate proposals, short list and submit them to the Government for consideration.

Spread sheets breaking down proposed spending projects by other authorities were tabled. This included detailed breakdowns of Essex CC and nearby District and London Borough Council’s proposals for comparison. It was suggested that officers from one or more of these authorities could be asked to come and talk to the Panel and share their experience.

Councillor Mrs Smith asked if external funding would be available for any projects. Mr Macnab said that the government did not regard the Act as a route for agreeing additional public spending, but if the Council was granted extra powers it would get the money that went  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider and agree the date of the next meeting for this Panel.

The Panel agreed to have a 7.30pm start for their meetings and would like their next meeting to be either the 21^st January or 4^th February 2010.