MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE RESOURCES SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON THURSDAY, 22 MAY 2003 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM


Present :

 

Mrs M J Lloyd (Chairman), Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J F Howe, Mrs B Lawson, Mr P D Joyce, Mrs M J Miller, Mr V J Morey, Mr I R Stephens, Mr R A Sutton


Apologies :

 

Mr K Pearson, Mr G P Price, Mr D T Yates


Portfolio Holder :

 

Mr R R Barry


Also Present (Non Voting) :

 

Mr A C Bartlett, Mr G S Kendall, Mr A J Mundy, Mr A A Taylor



 

 

7.        MINUTES


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 April 2003 be confirmed.

 

8.        DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST


Mr M J Cunningham declared a personal interest in Minute 9, as he was a Director of the Board for the Riverside Centre, and remained present.


Mrs B Lawson and Mr R A Sutton declared a personal interest in Minute 11, as they were members of the GAGS Project Board, and remained present.

 

9.        SURRENDER AND RENEWAL OF LEASE - RIVERSIDE CENTRE, NEWPORT INCLUDING QUAY HOUSE, NEWPORT


The Select Committee were advised that the matter had been discussed by the Property Asset Management Task Group at its meeting on 20 March 2003. Consideration was given to the future use of Quay House and the length of lease that should be offered in the light of potential development of the Newport Harbour Area.


Members were advised that the current lease would be surrendered and the proposed new lease would be for a term of 25 years. The rent would be £54,000 per annum, subject to review every five years according to general index of the RPI. The Riverside Centre would be responsible for all repairs and all outgoings and would pay a premium of £50,000.


RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO EXECUTIVE :

 

THAT the Council agree to the request on the terms set out.

 

10.      3 YEAR BUDGET STRATEGY


The Chief Financial Officer presented the 3 year budget strategy. The objectives of the Strategy were to gain a clearer understanding of priorities, better identification of choices and more meaningful consultation. Member/officer task groups had been identifying key objectives and the Select Committee indicated that they would like to see any budget reduction options brought back to it in September 2003, before going to the Executive in October.


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Resources Select Committee get an early sight of the budget reduction options in September 2003 prior to the October Executive meeting.

 

11.      GREAT ACCESS TO GREAT SERVICES - PROJECT TIMETABLE


The members of the Select Committee asked the Head of Organisational Development why they had not received a paper on the Project Timetable for Great Access to Great Services prior to the meeting. Members believed they were unable to properly scrutinise the item if they had not been supplied with a written report.


The Select Committee were advised that a Project Board had been set up, consisting of both members and officers, who would be responsible for overseeing the project. Members sought clarification of the democratic break down of the Project Board was, how were decisions or recommendations challenged and where did the minutes from the meetings go. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised the Committee that the Project Board had no decision making powers and decisions would be made by either the relevant portfolio holder or the Executive dependent on the scale of importance.


It was anticipated that an interim call-centre would be up and running by 23 September 2003. Members questioned why money was being spent on an interim move without a permanent home being identified. The Committee were told that £1.2m funding was available to spend this year with a balance of £700,000 remaining. Software development for the Customer Relationship Management System would also be ready by 23 September 2003 and a demonstration would be held for members of the Select Committee.


RESOLVED :

 

           (i)        THAT the power point presentation be noted.

 

           (ii)       THAT a copy of the power point presentation and budget details be circulated to all members of the Select Committee

 

           (iii)       THAT a report be brought back to the October/November 2003 meeting of the Select Committee.

 

12.      OUTSIDE BODIES


As part of its 2003-04 Work Plan, the Select Committee had decided to review the Council’s involvement in outside bodies. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised members that he was concerned about the current process of appointing councillors to outside bodies. He believed that a criteria was needed against which an assessment could be made before appointing any members.


Members were made aware that the LGA had recently undertaken a similar exercise and it was suggested that the same template could be adapted for use by the Council.


RESOLVED :

 

           (i)        THAT the LGA template be customised for use by the Council.

 

           (ii)       THAT each Select Committee be issued with the current list of outside bodies and ask for their comments and these to be reported back to this Committee.

 

           (iii)       THAT the Select Committee recommend a list of outside bodies, to the Executive, to which they believe the council should appoint members.

 

13.      RACE EQUALITY SCHEME


The Select Committee were reminded that in April 2001, the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, placed a duty on public authorities to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote good relations between people of different racial groups. That duty included developing a Race Equality Scheme.


A draft Race Equality Scheme was reported to the Executive on 23 April 2003. The scheme was now part of a wider consultation process and should be completed by 6 June 2003. It was anticipated that the final document would be formerly adopted by July 2003.


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the report be noted.

 

14.      EXTRACT FROM THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL FORWARD PLAN - MAY TO AUGUST 2003 (RESOURCES SELECT COMMITTEE ITEMS ONLY)


The Select Committee was made aware of items that appeared in the Executive’s Forward Plan for May to August 2003 relating to Resources items. Members asked for clarification on Document Imaging and that a report in relation to Performance Management be brought to the Committee.


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Forward Plan be noted.

 

 

15.      MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME


Mr P Joyce asked a question in relation to the payment of rent on council owned property.

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN