PURPOSE

The Council’s constitution provides for the adoption of workplans by all Select Committees. The Environment and Transport Select Committee workshop on 31 May 2002 generated a range of issues that Members suggested should be work priorities. After further discussion with your Select Committee Chairman and having regard for comments from appropriate officers, a draft Select Committee Workplan has been prepared.

BACKGROUND

1.	Select Committee procedure rule 8 reads “Each Select Committee shall establish its own work programme.”

2.	The Select Committee workshops were planned to provide all Members with an opportunity to review the work they have undertaken to date and plan a programme of work for the coming year.

3.	The Select Committee is reminded that scrutiny of Service Plans, Best Value Review Improvement Plans and the budget forms an integral part of the workplan. The workplan can also include referrals from the Executive and Full Council and Directorate–led reports. Work can be progressed by the Select Committee as a whole, or through working parties, task groups or best value reviews. Officers are also reminded that Member briefings and Bulletin can be utilised for information items.

4.	The Select Committee had previously established a number of task groups. Reports from the Public Conveniences Task Group and the Community Renewable Energy Strategy Task Group are due to be presented to the Committee in the next couple of months In addition, since the workshop was held, the Select Committee has established the Car Parking Task Group which should be meeting shortly.
5.	The Select Committee may recall that, at the workshop, interest was shown in establishing a task group to consider how the authority tackles environmental issues. Members are reminded that scrutiny of these issues would have crosscutting implications for both this and the Resources Select Committee. In light of the crosscutting nature of these issues the Liaison Committee has been asked to determine the best way in which to undertake this scrutiny. The Liaison Committee met on 20 August 2002 and recommended that a joint working party be established with membership from both Select Committees. The working party would meet in public and would be politically proportionate. The Liaison Committee proposed that this working party be named the Council’s Ecological Footprint Working Party. The Select Committee will be kept updated on the progress of the working party.
6.	In order to provide Members with background information on traffic management issues it is proposed that a visit be arranged to areas of the Island that have trialed the Quiet Roads Initiative.

Attached as an Appendix to this report, Members will find the draft Environment and Transport Select Committee Select Committee workplan. Members are invited to review and pass comment on the workplan and in particular the schedule of planned business. Members are also asked to note that due to pressures the workplan is likely to need periodic modification.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Non-quantifiable; officer resource supporting the democratic process.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.	That the draft workplan with appropriate amendments be approved.

2.	That the establishment of a working party to consider the Council’s ecological footprint be agreed together with appropriate terms of reference.
3.	That terms of reference for any further Working Party, Task Group or other group established by the Select Committee be agreed.

BACKGROUND PAPERS

IWC Members Handbook and Constitution.

Environment and Transport Select Committee workshop file notes.

Contact Point: Saskia Kiernan, ( 01983 823805

ALISTAIR R DRAIN

HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT