MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE LIAISON COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 20 AUGUST 2002 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM

Present :

Mr G S Kendall (Chairman), Mrs T M Butchers, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J H Fleming, Mr J F Howe, Mr P D Joyce, Mr G P Price, Mr I R Stephens

Also present :

Mr C R Hancock

7.        MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 29 May 2002 be confirmed.

8.        URGENT BUSINESS - TITLE OF COMMITTEE

The Chairman raised, as urgent business, the title of the Committee. He believed that it would be more appropriate to be called a Co-ordinating Committee so to reflect its role.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:

THAT the title of the Liaison Committee be amended to the Co-ordinating Committee.

9.        BEST VALUE REVIEW PROGRAMME

Members discussed the areas that were proposed for inclusion within the Best Value Review Programme for 2002/03. The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support gave an summary of where the topics had been raised. It was also likely that other areas for review may arise once the CPA report had been received. The programme of reviews was flexible and specifically focussed mini reviews could also be undertaken. The format that these could take was outlined.

Detailed consideration was given to each of the topics and a priority order for these. The actual details of each review would be agreed by each appraisal group and reported back to the relevant Select Committee for information.

RESOLVED :

THAT the following topics be recommended to the Executive for inclusion within the Best Value Review Programme for 2002/03 in priority order :-

                                  (1)       Procurement

                                  (2)       Planning

                                  (3)       Drug-related Crime

                                  (4)       Transport

                                  (5)       Education Inclusion

                                  (6)       Homelessness

                                  (7)       Fire Service Training

10.      CROSS CUTTING AND OTHER RELATED ISSUES

The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support reminded the Committee that within its terms of reference it could determine which Select Committee would assume responsibility for a cross cutting issue.

Members were advised that the topic of Greening the Authority involved the Resources Select Committee and the Environment and Transport Select Committee. This would consider issues such as green travel arrangements for staff and use of recycled materials within the Authority. A range of options for dealing with this matter were debated and included the Environment and Transport Select Committee having ownership of the matter with a Task Group looking at the detail. The Committee believed that there was a need to ensure that the Resources Select Committee was fully involved. A Working Party comprising members from both Select Committees would overcome this. The title of the Working Party should also reflect the subject matter more adequately.

Another cross cutting issue related to Housing Policy. This involved Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Services Select Committee and Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee. There was to be a joint meeting of both Select Committees in early September 2002 and members considered that this should still be proceeded with.

Some concern had been expressed about the ability of the Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Services to deal with the workload involved in reviewing planning policies. It was however believed that the workload involved with debating the future of both Wight Leisure and Tourism would soon come to an end. Officers would draft a process to ensure that a streamlined system could be adopted.

The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support raised the submission of budget monitoring reports to each Select Committee. All Select Committees were in receipt of these on a monthly basis apart from the Education, Community Development and Lifelong Learning Select Committee which had agreed to quarterly. The style of the report to this Select Committee had also been welcomed by its members. The Liaison Committee’s views were therefore sought as to whether other Select Committee’s wished to amend the frequency, or style, of such reports.

The format of reports to Select Committee’s was also being reviewed by officers. There was already a proposal to ensure that these included appropriate references to crime an disorder. It was intended to bring a report to the Liaison Committee on this and topics such as briefings, timed agenda and deputies.

RESOLVED :

           (a)       THAT an Ecological Footprint Working Party, comprising 10 members, be established by the Environment and Transport Select Committee and the Resources Select Committee to consider relevant green issues faced by the Authority as agreed by those two Select Committees.

           (b)       THAT a joint meeting be held of the Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Services Select Committee and Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee to initially discuss housing policy.

           (c)       THAT the review of planning policy remain within the remit of the Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Services Select Committee.

           (d)       THAT the budget monitoring process continue as at present.

           (e)       THAT the support of the Liaison Committee be given to the instruction that crime and disorder implications be included on all reports.

CHAIRMAN