97.
MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 14 January 2004 be confirmed.
98.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no interests declared at this stage.
99.
REPORT OF THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL
(a)
Interim Annual Audit Letter
The Interim Audit Letter, which focused on the decision-making and corporate governance implications of the 2002 and 2003 music festivals was considered by the Executive. The Council was keen that the discussion surrounding the Audit Commissions report and the actions that had been taken in response to the concerns, were discussed in public.
The Auditor had identified four areas of concern in the Council’s Corporate Governance arrangements. These were
§ lack of discipline in reporting and decision-making processes
§ poor understanding of new constitutional processes and lack of clarity over functions and roles
§ inadequate performance management system and culture
§ poor understanding of appropriate procurement techniques
The Executive received details of a number of procedures and systems, which had been put in place to deal with those criticisms. These improvements included the writing of reports to incorporate comprehensive legal and financial implications with a detailed risk analysis, the scrutiny of Executive reports by Directors Group, further training for members and officers, the development of performance management systems and strengthened procurement procedures. The Auditor also raised concerns relating to the 2003 festival, especially concerning hospitality provided to members and the appearance that Wight Leisure had sought to act or may have been treated differently from other departments of the Council.
The Executive gave
particular consideration to the three specific recommendations made by the
District Auditor. These were
§
that all
members should participate in the programme of training on decision-making,
§
that the revised
arrangements by which Directors ensured that reports to the Executive were
necessary and sufficiently comprehensive should be maintained
§
that further work
was required to recognise that Wight Leisure was, until or unless externalised,
an integral part of the Council
The
Executive recognised that improvements had been made since the publication of
the Report and acknowledged the importance of continued training for all
members of the Council, particularly those involved in decision-making.
RESOLVED :
THAT
the recommendations of the Audit Commission be embraced and adopted and, in
particular, commit all members of the Executive to participate in the decision
making training programme, and urge other members to also participate
(b)
Wight Leisure Externalisation
The Executive received
the report by Tony Hall, Paul Wilkinson and John Lawson into the
externalisation of Wight Leisure.
Members considered the contents of the action plan. These included confirming that the
expenditure to date was in effect a grant to Wight Leisure Limited in line with
advice received from Counsel, ensuring that no further steps were taken with
externalisation until the medium term future of leisure services had been
secured and that long term development proposals had been worked up through a
project group.
Discussion took place concerning the current and future
role that the Select Committee would play and the importance that Wight Leisure
was viewed as a mainstream service within the Council.
During the debate, a question from a member of the
public was asked which concerned information given regarding the securing of
funding. A verbal answer was given.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the report into the Wight Leisure externalisation process be received
(ii)
THAT for the avoidance
of doubt resolves to confirm that expenditure to date was undertaken in
reliance on Part 1 Local Government Act 2000 and amounted, in effect, to a
grant to WLL
(iii) THAT the Action Plan at Appendix 1 attached to the report be endorsed
(iv) THAT the externalisation of Wight Leisure not be proceeded with
(v) THAT to develop and deliver, through a project group, within 12 month period, long-term service development proposals for leisure services, on the application of normal best value and procurement principles
(vi)
THAT the project
group be established with immediate effect, to include:
·
Such members of the
Executive as have a particular interest in the development of leisure services
·
Member(s) of the opposition
group(s)
·
Representative of the Chief
Financial Officer and Head of Legal and Democratic Services
·
Leisure Services Managers
(vii)
THAT the Economic
Development Select Committee be asked to consider adding to their work
programme the following terms of reference:
· As an
exercise in policy development, to receive information about the work of the
project group and make recommendations to the Executive to assist the work of
that group in the development and delivery of leisure services
§
THAT
as an exercise in scrutiny, to receive information from those responsible for
implementing the action plan at Appendix 1 to this report and make
recommendations as to whether sufficient steps have been taken to achieve the
objectives of that plan
100.
AUDIT AND INSPECTION LETTER – 2003
The District Auditor presented his Annual Audit Letter that summarised the results of the audit for 2002/2003 and which also contained a number of recommendations. It had been recognised that the Council had set itself a challenging and ambitious improvement plan over the last twelve months and had successfully maintained the momentum for improvement and better service delivery. There had been a continued shift towards a learning culture and strengthened performance management. However, work was still required to achieve a number of targets particularly in the front line services of Education and Social Services. Members noted the comments and wished to see further improvement in service delivery.
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT the Audit and
Inspection Letter 2003 be received
(ii)
That a further report be
received adopting the 2004 Annual Action Statement including the corporate
responses to the issues raised in the Letter
(iii)
THAT progress against the Letter
continues to be monitored through the Quarterly Performance Management Report.
101.
ISLE OF WIGHT AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY MANAGEMENT
PLAN
The Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was designated in 1963 and covered approximately half of the land area of the Island. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 brought in new measures for the protection of AONBs and confirmed the powers of local authorities to take appropriate action to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of AONBs. In addition, the Act created a statutory responsibility for local authorities and conservation boards to produce and regularly review a Management Plan, which would set out their policies and would provide details for carrying out their functions. The Management Plan was required to be submitted to the Secretary of State at DEFRA.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Isle of Wight AONB Management Plan be adopted
102.
NEW POLICIES FOR TOURISM
Following a report undertaken by the Ombudsman which
expressed concern over the lack of clarity and transparency in the structure of
tourism services and membership scheme of Island
Tourist Industry Association, consideration was given to the termination of the existing arrangements. Isle
of Wight Tourism would no longer be a membership-based organisation and ITIA
would become an independent membership organisation. This would ensure that Isle of Wight Tourism could provide its
services to the whole of the industry and that ITIA could establish itself as
an independent representative organisation for the tourist industry. It was proposed that new arrangements would
be phased in over the next twelve months, becoming fully effective from 1 April
2005. Advice was given concerning
membership fees.
RESOLVED :
THAT the following be adopted
with effect from 1 April 2004 and that, the Portfolio Holder for Tourism and
Leisure agree the charges as part of the 2004/05 budget preparations: -
§ The Council and ITIA terminate the existing partnership arrangements
§ The Council make its tourism services available to all Island businesses, in packages or as individual services, and subject to charges, terms and conditions, as determined by the Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Leisure, or the Head of Tourism
§
All trade associations be
treated equally in any negotiations which they may wish to undertaken with the
Council to seek benefit for their members.
CHAIRMAN