MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE RESOURCES SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 7 JUNE 2004 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

 

Present :

 

Mrs M J Lloyd (Chairman), Mr M J Cunningham, Mr P D Joyce, Mrs M J Miller, Mr V J Morey, Mr K Pearson, Mr I R Stephens,  Mr D T Yates

 

Apologies :

 

Mrs B Lawson

 

Portfolio Holder :

 

Mr R R Barry

 

Also Present (non voting) :

 

Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mr J Effemey, Mr P Harris, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr G S Kendall, Mr D J Knowles,

 

 

1.                  MINUTES

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 April 2004 were confirmed.

 

2.                  DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations at this stage.

 

3.                  FORWARD PLAN

 

The Portfolio Holder for Resources advised the Select Committee that he had nothing further to report regarding forthcoming items on the Forward Plan coming within the remit of the Select Committee.

 

4.                 QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT 4

 

The Select Committee received the report of the Portfolio Holder for Resources and Deputy Leader of the Council.

 

Members were concerned that the number of complaints to the Council had increased. It was noted that the increase related to all Directorates with the exception of Corporate Services and the Education Service Directorate. It was thought that the ability to make complaints electronically and the Councils raised awareness of the complaints procedure had contributed to this increase. The Select Committee requested a more detailed breakdown of these figures in order to make Members aware of complaints that had been submitted by the same complainant. Members raised concern that complaints were not analysed by categories that showed the nature and type of complaint and that Local Members were not advised of complaints that had been made in their own area.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the procurement of ICT equipment. The Portfolio Holder assured Members that equipment was purchased corporately. During questioning it was confirmed that there were on-going discussions with the Council’s health partners regarding the use of IT equipment.  

 

Members expressed concern that there had been an increase in staff sickness absence. The Select Committee were advised that this was still below the national average but were assured that the situation was being closely monitored. It was noted that some individual cases of long term sickness had effected the figures disproportionately.

 

The cost of vandalism to Council buildings was raised. This was a cross cutting issue and Members were advised that the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee had recently established a Task Group to address vandalism. It was noted that the Task Group intended to explore the possibility of employing Community Support Officers.

 

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES :

 

(a)        To investigate establishing a mechanism to inform the Local Member of complaints received by the Council.

 

(b)        That details of the number of complaints received by the Council be circulated to the Select Committee.

 

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

 

That an informal workshop session on staff sickness absence be undertaken at the Committee’s meeting on 5 July 2004.

 

5.                  WORKPLAN

 

Members received the Select Committees draft workplan which had been formulated at the Committees Development Day in May 2004. The workplan was agreed.

 

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT :

 

To investigate exchanging the GAGS item scheduled for September 2004 with Printing Protocol scheduled for August 2004

 

6.                  REVIEW OF BUDGETS

 

The Select Committee received an oral position statement on the forthcoming budget setting process for 2005. It was advised that the Council required savings of £3 million to achieve a Council Tax increase of 5%. Heads of Service had been tasked with finding efficiency savings. The Committee wished to engage in the budget process and explore areas to develop a series of options where savings could be achieved.

 

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT AND THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER :

 

That an informal workshop be arranged to consider the Council’s budget for 2005.

 

7.                  MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME

 

Mrs M Miller asked a question in relation to coach parking in Newport (MQ 19/04)

A copy of the question and reply given is contained in the Members' Question Register. Arising from this it was considered that the issue should be discussed in more detail initially by a Task Group with appropriate recommendations being reported back to the Select Committee.

 

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT :

 

A Task Group be established to investigate coach parking in Newport and report back to the Select Committee in September 2004.

CHAIRMAN