.>

Contact us

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council

Town Hall

Castlefield Road

Reigate

RH2 0SH

 

contactus@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5:30pm

01737 276000

You are here: Home > Council and Democracy > Committee meetings > Agenda and Minutes > Meeting Dates > Minutes View

Overview & Scrutiny Minutes

Date:
Thursday, 2nd October, 2003
Time:
7.30 p.m.
Place:
Old Council Chamber, Town Hall, Reigate
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor M.G.Ormerod (Chairman), Councillors R.M.Bennett, J.M.Ellacott, Mrs.M.H.Gates, N.Harris, Mrs.S.F.King, S.A.Kulka, M.J.Miller, G.L.Norman, J.H.Prevett, R.M.Stamp, B.A.Stead, Mrs.R.S.Turner and C.T.H.Whinney.
Also Present:
Councillors S.A. Gates and N.D.Harrison.
Substitutes:
None
Min NoDescriptionResolution
Part I
26 MINUTES
 RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 30 July 2003 be approved as a correct record and signed.
27 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
 Apologies for Absence: Councillor BC Cowle

Substitutes
-
28 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 None.
29 COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT - SELF ASSESSMENT
Minute
RESOLVED that:

(i) the Executive be informed of the following comments/requests to strengthen the submission:

(a) that a statement be included in the response to the Peer Review identifying the way the Committee had operated its Scrutiny function which was much more robust than had been suggested;
(b) adjust the wording in the scene setting section of the submission to change the emphasis that currently evidences a high proportion of affluent residents by reference to the National Deprivation Index;
(c) adjustments be made in the Improvement Plan to clarify the years in which proposed action was to be undertaken;
(d) that adjustments be made to the section describing the character and the amenities of the area to reflect the competing needs of the green belt areas and the A23 spine;
(e) that there was a continued challenge to maintain the high standards that Town Centres had achieved and that this pressure should be addressed in the submission;

(ii) arising from the draft Self Assessment document the following points to strengthen the Committee's work be considered in the future:

(a) preparing financial information on the basis of Ward spending per service;

(b) that the Audit Commission's report on the Council's Planning Service be provided to Members and the Committee be informed of the action taken to date in response to the report.
30 EARLSWOOD LAKES ON EARLSWOOD COMMON
Minute
RESOLVED that:

(i) the Committee receive a progress report regarding both Earlswood Common and Burgh Heath Ponds in approximately 3 to 4 months time regarding the problems identified on those sites;

(ii) consideration be given to the need to establish a Member/Community Group to examine the problems in more detail when the Committee receives the progress report; and

(iii) the Executive be informed of the constraints that Leisure Services are working under and they be requested to consider whether more resources should be directed to this service as part of the forthcoming budget process.
31 TOWN CENTRE ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED: REVIEW PANEL
Minute
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
32 SERVICE PLANNING & BUDGET PROCESS 2004/05
Minute
RESOLVED that:

(i) A Budget Panel be established, to review and challenge the base assumptions being used to compile the provisional budget for 2004/05, comprising Councillors M. G. Ormerod (Chairman), Councillors R.M. Bennett, J.M. Ellacott, B.A. Stead and Mrs R.S. Turner; and

(ii) the Service Plans for the following areas be reviewed by the Budget Panel as part of their forthcoming work programme:

· Leisure Services,
· Building and Development Services and
· Customer Services
33 BENEFIT SERVICES STRATEGY AND POLICIES
Minute
RESOLVED that the Benefits Services Strategy and Policies be noted and the Executive be informed that the Committee recommends the adoption of the Strategy.
34 EXECUTIVE
 It was reported that there were no items arising from the Executive which might be subject to the ‘call-in' procedure in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 15 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.
35 ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS
 None.
The meeting closed at 8.48 p.m.

Minute

Min NoMinute
29Consideration was given to the Draft Self Assessment of the services delivered by the Council in preparation for the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) inspection to be undertaken by the Audit Commission in December 2003. This document would be considered by the Executive on 9 October when it would take account of the Committee's views.

A Members' Seminar was held immediately prior to the meeting of the Committee. The Chief Executive outlined and emphasised the importance of the assessment and how the Council was preparing for the inspection.

The Commission judge the performance of the Council (either excellent, good, fair, weak or poor) on the basis of:

· quality of local services;
· the corporate and managerial effectiveness of the Council; and
· its capacity to improve local services.

To prepare the Council for the CPA a Peer Challenge Assessment was undertaken by the West Midlands LGA (WMLGA) in July which examined the Council's strengths and weaknesses. The outcome of that challenge assisted the Council in preparing the CPA Self Assessment to be submitted to the Commission prior to their inspection.

The WMLGA report recognised the progress being made to put in place the framework and realignments to the organisational structure and to resource priority areas to deliver the Council's corporate objectives.
The peer challenge also commented on the effectiveness and operation of the scrutiny function. The Committee felt that those comments were not fully justified as it was considered that they had not taken account of all the Committee's activities.
30Councillor Steve Kulka informed the Committee about continued operational problems identified at Earlswood Lakes on Earlswood Common. Councillor Kulka requested the Committee to consider including this matter within its work programme as he was receiving constant complaints from residents about:

· the volume of rubbish that was left near the lakes;
· the frequency of the litter bins being emptied;
· the fishing byelaws being violated with fishermen often camping overnight illegally;
· significant noise and other nuisances creating damage to the environment and wildlife; and
· vandalism to the boathouse, picnic tables and trees in the area.

Members also indicated that similar problems had also occurred at the Burgh Heath Pond.

Officers, in acknowledging the problems at these sites, indicated that some progress had been made since they met with Councillor Kulka and the Chairman to discuss these issues. However, some of the problems arising from fishing required co-ordination of the Fishing Club, Parks staff, Police and others. At present Leisure Services had severe staff shortages due to vacancies and illness. However recent appointments to some of the vacant positions would assist to progress the position.
31The Members appointed to serve on the Town Centre Access for the Disabled Review Panel were reported. Work on defining the scope of the review was underway and the first meeting of the Group would be arranged for a date in October.
32The Committee noted the overall Service Planning and Budget timetable and process for 2004/05 including the specific roles that had been identified for the Committee to challenge the budget proposals.
33In line with the Council's Corporate Plan setting out the vision, objectives and priorities for the authority a Benefits Strategy supported by associted Policies that reflected the current regulatory framework had been agreed by the Executive for consultation purposes.

The Committee's consideration of the Strategy and Policies concluded that it was a comprehensive well constructed document and they welcomed its introduction.