MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
EXECUTIVE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2002
COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM
Present :
Mrs S A
Smart (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mr E Fox, Mr P G Harris, Mrs B Lawson, Mr R G
Mazillius, Mr H Rees, Mrs J L Wareham
Apologies :
M A Jarman,
Mr D J Knowles
Also present non-voting :
Mr J R Adams,
Mr A C Bartlett, Mrs T M Butchers,
Mrs B D Clough, Mr M J Cunningham,
Mrs D Gardiner, Mr J F Howe,
Mrs M J Lloyd, Mr V J Morey,
Mr A J Mundy, Mr I R Stephens,
Mr R A Sutton
46. MINUTES
RESOLVED:
THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 18 June 2002 be confirmed.
47. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no
declarations received at this stage.
48. CORPORATE SELF ASSESSMENT
Members were aware that the Government was to assess the
performance of all Unitary and County Councils between April and September
2002. The Inspectors would draw on existing inspection evidence of service
provision as well as an additional inspection of some service areas. Evidence
provided by the District Auditor would also be considered. Central to the
assessment was an inspection of ‘Corporate Governance’ which would be carried out between 15 and 26 July
2002. An
important pre-inspection task for the Council was to write and submit a
“Self-Assessment Document”. This would be used to guide inspection activity
during the two-week visit. It was recognised that the document would need to be
an honest appraisal of the Council’s strengths and weaknesses and was required
to be ‘signed off’ by the Leader and the Head of Paid Service by 3 July
2002. The Leader thanked the staff
involved in the production of the document for all their hard work.
The Head of Paid Service gave a short presentation on the Self
Assessment Exercise and outlined the main features of the document; What the
Council was trying to achieve, how it had set about delivering its priorities,
what the Council had achieved / not achieved to date and in the light of what
the Council had learnt, what it proposed to do next.
Members suggested a number of detailed alterations and asked a number of
questions. Members believed that the self-assessment needed to demonstrate to
the Inspectors the unique position of the Island both in geographic and
financial terms. Mention was made concerning coastal management issues and the
pressure tourism placed on the Islands infrastructure.
During discussion it was necessary for the Chairman to leave the meeting
and Mr R Barry was elected Chairman for the remainder of the meeting.
Towards the end of the discussion, the Executive became
inquorate and consideration on the Self Assessment document continued on an
informal basis.
The Head of Paid Service thanked members for the detailed
comments and agreed to incorporate them as appropriate before the document was
“signed off” and submitted.
CHAIRMAN