MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE RESOURCES SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON FRIDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2002 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM
Present :
Mr G S Kendall (Chairman), Mrs B D Clough (deputising for Mr G P Price), Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J F Howe (deputising for Mrs M J Miller), Mr P D Joyce, Mr V J Morey, Mr A J Mundy (deputising for Mr R A Sutton)
Apologies :
Mrs M J Lloyd, Mrs M J Miller, Mr G P Price, Mr R A Sutton
30. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meetings held on 21 August 2002 and 29 August 2002 be confirmed.
31. SERVICE PLANS AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - PROPERTY SERVICES
Members received the report of the Strategic Director of Corporate and Environment Services which detailed the Service Plans and Performance Indicators for Property Services. Consideration was given to section seven of the Plan which detailed numerical indicators, targets, standards and comparisons.
The Select Committee noted that it was proposed to reduce the operational property cost per square metre for operational buildings by 2%. There was no national benchmarking to compare the running costs of such builds, except schools where efficiency savings were being made. This was being achieved by improving the fabric of School builds and encouraging schools to make revenue savings.
The Strategic Director reported that funding had been obtained to implement an integrated data system. It was hoped that in the long term efficiency savings would be made. Members noted that the main budget pressure would be the implementation of the proposed integrated data system.
RESOLVED :
(a) THAT the Select Committee support the performance targets set out in section 7 of the Service Plan providing targets were properly and positively monitored.
(b) THAT the report be noted.
32. SCRUTINY SESSION ON BEST VALUE REVIEW OF PERSONNEL SERVICES
Members were informed that the Directors Group considered that the Best Value Review of Personnel Services should be deferred pending external scrutiny and examination of current structural arrangements. The Select Committee agreed that it would be appropriate to defer the review until this had taken place.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Scrutiny Session on Best Value Review of Personnel Services be deferred until external examination had taken place.
33. SERVICE PLANS AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - PERSONNEL AND TRAINING SERVICES
The Select Committee received the Service Plans and Performance Indicators for Personnel and Training Services.
Members considered the training needs of staff. The Select Committee was advised that this was an area that required addressing both internally and externally.
With regard to the percentage of employees retiring early due to ill health, the Head of Personnel and Training Services advised that it was being addressed through the Healthy Workforce Strategy. Members were concerned at staff sickness levels, although these were in line with the national average.
As part of the recent Best Value Review members were advised that young employees would be encouraged to follow career paths within the Council
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
34. RELATE SOLENT : VARIATION TO SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT 2002/2005
The Select Committee received the report of the Head of Paid Service which presented proposals for the a SLA between Relate Solent and the Council. The Select Committee were reminded that at its meeting in April 2002, it had asked that options for further development of the service, provided by Relate Solent, be brought back for further discussion.
Consideration was give to the proposed options which included the employment of an additional counsellor and/or a trainer. Members also discussed the financial implications involved in any enhancement of the existing Service Level Agreement.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO EXECUTIVE :
THAT a variation to the Relate Solent Service Level Agreement be approved, including the employment of an additional Counsellor and a Trainer.
CHAIRMAN