Resources Select Committee Minutes

45. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2004 be confirmed.

46. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations at this stage.

47. FORWARD PLAN

The Select Committee was advised of the items contained in the Forward Plan for December 2004 to March 2005 relating to areas coming within its remit.

Members noted that only one of the five scheduled items for the 1 December 2004 Executive meeting had actually been considered even though a number of those items were new entries.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF LEGAL AND DEMOCRATIC SERVICES :

Members of the Resources Select Committee be advised no later than 17 December 2004 as to why items listed in the Forward Plan relevant to the Resources Select Committee for the 1 December 2004 were not considered by the Executive even though some were listed as new entries.

48. QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT – QUARTER 2 2004/05

The Principal Policy Officer advised the Select Committee that there had been changes to the way in which the information was presented. There were four areas which had not reached their targets during this quarter but there had also been some significant achievements.

ICT :

· Although progress was being made there was a need to prioritise which aspects of e-government were important.

· The Council now had one of the best web sites in the country.

· Government grants had been received for three successful IEG statements.

· The way in which data was measured had been changed which caused a dip when its use started.

Liquor Licensing :

Members were advised that the New Liquor Licensing Act brought in the possibility of 24 hour opening. If an establishment wanted to open for additional hours, other than those already licensed, an advertisement would be placed in the local paper and if any valid objections were received a variation would have to be applied for and determined by members of the Licensing Sub Committee. Although a 24 hour licence could be applied for members of the trade did not envisage actually staying open for 24 hours. The Act was due to come into operation from 7 February 2005.

It was noted that two of the political parties had agreed that whatever the outcome of the election whoever was serving on the Licensing Panel at that time would continue to serve for the short term. Once an application had been received there was a set amount of time in which to deal with it, if it was not dealt with within that time an application to the magistrate’s court could be made.

Members discussed the cost implications and were advised that no detail had yet been received from the Government but it was believed that any cost, to the authority would far outweigh any fees.

Vandalism To Council Buildings

The Head of Property Services had a draft report on vandalism to council buildings over the past five years which he was to discuss with the Safer Communities Manager. It was noted that although Newport had a higher number of incidents than Ryde, the costs in Ryde were higher. The police were notified of all cases of vandalism to Council property. There was some discussion with regard to setting up a confidential phone line whereby members of the public could alert officers to what was happening within their localities.

The Select Committee questioned the cost of vandalism for the whole of the Island if the cost to the Council was £50,000 per year. It was suggested that a half page advert could be placed in Wight Insight advising the public of the cost of vandalism to the Council. Members were advised that as we were a tourist Island that would not be done.

Members were reminded that a Task Group had been set up to look into the use of Community Wardens throughout the Island. The Select Committee received evidence that the Police did not always appear to respond quickly to anti social behaviour locally, even when a responsible citizen was willing to go to court and testify. The Police were still not responding quickly enough to that type of crime.

Sickness Absence

The Select Committee asked if members of staff were sent home if they were unwell and were advised it would be up to the Line Manager in each instance. There was some question as to whether sickness was seasonal within the Council and it was noted that there was more sickness in the winter than the summer. Members asked if it would be more economical to offer all staff within the authority a flu vaccine. There was some discussion as to the types of illness staff were absent for and it was suggested that a feasibility of giving a flu vaccine should be explored.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES AND THE HEAD OF HUMAN RESOURCES :

That a report on the causes and a breakdown of sickness be brought back to the February 2005 meeting.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT :

In noting the areas to watch in the QPMR and in particular the details relating to the cost to the authority of vandalism the Community Wardens Task Group take this into account during its deliberations.

49. PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Compliance and Risk Manager advised the Select Committee that non pay spending for the authority was in the region of £136m. Contract spending was £53m with over a third of that being spent by Social Services for Home Care. It should be noted that the figure for highway maintenance should read £440,000 not £2,333 as stated in the report. It was explained that because of resources the Audit Section were only able to undertake one review every six months.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources indicated that he would like IT procurement reviewed as he believed there could be substantial savings if equipment was purchased centrally to a planned replacement programme.

Members discussed various other items including the cost of equipment, furniture and materials, other supplies, subscriptions, catering and transport costs. Members were advised that the contracts for energy were up for renewal in 2006. The biggest savings on energy were to be made by switching lights and equipment off. There was some discussion with reference to imposing a policy within a procurement strategy that would influence companies undertaking works for the Council to have an apprenticeship or similar training opportunities in operation.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE COMPLIANCE AND RISK MANAGER :

i That the procurement of IT be examined in detail with a view to equipment being purchased centrally to a planned replacement programme with the results being brought back to the Select Committee no later than July 2005.

ii That a review of energy costs with particular reference to energy efficiency be reviewed and the results brought back to the Select Committee no later than December 2005.

iii That the procurement strategy incorporate a clause to actively encourage the use of apprenticeships when suppliers deliver goods and services to the Isle of Wight Council below an economic threshold.

50. PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolio Holder asked for members’ comments on the list of council properties to be disposed of. The Head of Property Services gave an outline on each of the proposed sites. Members considered some amendments to the method by which the sale was to take place, and the proposed decision maker, in a number of the proposed transactions.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE EXECUTIVE, THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES AND THE HEAD OF PROPERTY SERVICES :

That the arrangements for the disposal of the land and properties be undertaken in accordance with the following :

ADDRESS

PROPOSED DECISION MAKER

SALE METHOD

Chale - Land off Military Road

Portfolio Holder

Special Purchaser

Cowes - Land adjacent Parklands (Building Plot)

Portfolio Holder

Defer

Cowes - Crossfield Avenue

Portfolio Holder

Special Purchaser

Nettlestone (Relaxation Covenant)

Executive

Special Purchaser

Newport - Black House Quay

Portfolio Holder

Open Market

Newport - Carpenters Quay

(Part of Newport Harbour Sales)

Portfolio Holder

Open Market

Newport Vectis Building

(Part of Newport Harbour Sales)

Portfolio Holder

Open Market

Newport - 17 Quay Street (Accommodation Review)

Portfolio Holder

Open Market

Newport - St Nicholas House (Accommodation Review Dev Site)

Portfolio Holder

Open Market

Newport - Former Library Headquarters

(Accommodation Review Dev Site)

Portfolio Holder

Open Market

Newport - St Georges School (Development Access)

Executive

Special Purchaser

Newport - South Street Car Park

Executive

Special Purchaser

Ryde - Harding Road (right of way)

Executive

Special Purchaser

Sandown - Lake Hill

(GP Clinic - The Heights)

Executive

Special Purchaser

Shanklin - Batts Road

Portfolio Holder

Special Purchaser

Ventnor - 25 Albert Street

(Sale of House)

Portfolio Holder

Open Market

Ventnor - Garden Estate (Regeneration)

Executive

Special Purchaser

CHAIRMAN