MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE RESOURCES SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2002 COMMENCING AT 930 AM
Present :
Mr G S Kendall (Chairman) , Mrs B D Clough (deputising for Mrs M J Miller), Mr M J Cunningham, Mr C Hancock (deputising for Mr J F Howe), Mr P D Joyce, Mrs M J Lloyd, Mr V J Morey, Mr K Pearson, Mr I R Stephens, Mr R A Sutton
Apologies :
Mr J F Howe, Mrs H L Humby, Mrs M J Miller, Mr G P Price
Portfolio Holder :
Mr R R Barry
Also Present (Non Voting) :
Mr E Fox, Mr P Harris, Mrs S A Smart, Mrs J L Wareham
46. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2002 be confirmed.
47. URGENT BUSINESS
The Chairman agreed to two items of urgent business as the matters needed to be raised before the next meeting.
(a) GRANTS TASK GROUP
It was confirmed that the recommendations from the Task Group to the Executive had been delayed. The Portfolio Holder believed that they were now due to be considered in January as indicated by the Council’s Forward Plan
RESOLVED :
THAT the position be noted.
(b) CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE
The Chairman indicated that he would like to meet with Officers prior to the dispatch of the Committee’s agenda and highlight particular areas for scrutiny. The Select Committee agreed that this would assist the scrutiny process.
RESOLVED :
THAT the position be noted.
48. BUDGET MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF OCTOBER 2002
The Select Committee received the report of the Strategic Director of Finance and Information and County Treasurer which set out the budget and spending position on both revenue and capital for the services within the Committee’s remit as at end of October 2002. There were no significant pressures or variances to report.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
49. ISLE OF WIGHT CREDIT CARD
The Strategic Director of Finance and Information and County Treasurer presented his report which set out the current operation of the Isle of Wight Credit Card. Members were advised that the Council had entered a commercial agreement in 1997 with the MBNA European Bank Ltd for the promotion of the credit card. The terms of the contract were outlined, in particular it was noted that there were currently approximately 4500 holders of the credit card and the average turnover for the card indicated low usage of the card.
Following recent promotion activity by MBNA earlier this year a large number of complaints had been received from recipients of the material. Public concerns had been raised at the Council’s association with a credit card company and complaints had been received regarding the content of the mailing lists used by MBNA.
As discussed the current contract had a further two years until it expired in April 2004. Members considered that the Council should review the current promotional arrangements and the use of mailing lists by MBNA. Consideration was given to the idea of allocating money received by the Council from the Credit Card to a particular project or cause.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Select Committee seek changes to the current promotional arrangement for the remainder of the current contract the Committee would review the outcome of negotiations at a later date.
50. PROCUREMENT BEST VALUE REVIEW
Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support which detailed the best way to take forward the proposed Best Value Review of procurement. Members received a brief outline of the procurement strategy document.
Members discussed the format and content of the Procurement Strategy that was considered by the Executive on 19 November 2002. Areas for improvement and development were identified. The Select Committee considered that a change in culture was required across the authority to make procurement efficiency savings. It was agreed that the review would be an opportunity to receive external challenge and improve the efficiency of the procurement service.
RESOLVED :
THAT an Appraisal Group be established to draw upon a scope for what should be included in a full Best Value review.
51. UPDATE FROM THE PROPERTY ASSET MANAGEMENT TASK GROUP
The Chairman of the Task Group updated the Select Committee on its current work. The Chairman outlined the scope of the Task Groups current scheme involving the acquisition and disposal of various property assets. Twenty five issues had been identified for potential change, the objective was to utilise assets within the existing budget by co-location of users to create economies to fund better services facilities and service provision.
The Select Committee was advised that a office/warehouse building had become available at a cost of £470,000 this would be able to accommodate a number of uses. It was explained that this would create savings and a surplus of a number of assets which could be sold, surrendered or reused.
In discussion it was agreed that the Task Group would submit proposals in several tranches and would therefore be an on-going process over several years. It was indicated that the necessary implementation of e-government was also being considered throughout the accommodation review.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE EXECUTIVE
THAT the Select Committee support the proposals of the Task Group to acquire 4 and 5 Mariners Way prior to the disposal of the surplus property as described in the report.
52. FEEDBACK FROM THE E-GOVERNMENT PRESENTATION DAY
The Select Committee received the results of the questionnaire issued to members after the E-Government Presentation Day held on 18 September 2002. The results had indicated that the majority of respondents had found that the presentations had improved understanding of the issues surrounding e-government. Support had also be given to further information gathering exercises.
It was agreed that a Task Group on e- government be established and that all members be sent a copy of the District Auditors report to these issues.
RESOLVED :
(a) THAT the Select Committee note the results of the e-government questionnaire
(b) THAT the ICT Task Group be reconvened as the E-Government Task Group with a remit to continue to investigate the various options available for the future delivery of the Council’s e-government agenda.
53. FORWARD PLAN
RESOLVED :
THAT the Forward plan for the period November 2002 to February 2003 be noted.
CHAIRMAN