Scrutiny Minutes - 18 July 2005

1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations at this stage.

2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS SELECT COMMITTEES

Members were invited to note and authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes for each of the previous six Select Committees. These were:

Select Committee	Date of last meeting
Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Services	1 April 2005
Resources	7 April 2005
Environment and Transport	8 April 2005
Fire and Public Safety	19 April 2005
Children’s Services	21 April 2005
Adult and Community Services	28 April 2005

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

To sign the minutes for the six Select Committees held during April 2005.

3. ST MARY’S ROAD CAR PARK, COWES

The Strategic Director for Environment Services outlined the background to the proposed development of the car park in St Mary’s Road, Cowes. The Committee was informed that following the development of the Denmark Road car park, the Council had been asked to investigate ways to balance the loss of 100 car parking spaces.

Cowes was considered an important gateway to the Island and therefore any improvement to the town’s facilities would be welcomed.

Additional information had been circulated regarding the proposal for a multi-storey car park on the St Mary’s Road site. However, Members noted that following the recently proposed changes to the car parking policy for the Island, this process had now halted and the developer had withdrawn. Alternative uses for the site would require planning permission, and Members were advised that the site would continue with its current usage until the parking policy was finalised during December 2005.

The Chairman invited the local Member, Mrs L Peacey-Wilcox and representatives of the Cowes Town Council to comment. They felt that public consultation was the most important issue and asked that the Scrutiny Committee continue to keep local Members informed of progress.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR RESOURCES, AUDIT AND CUSTOMER CHAMPION AND THE CABINET MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT AND PLANNING

Urgent steps be taken to clarify the Council’s position regarding the use of this site for the following reasons:

a. it is a valuable town centre asset

b. considerable Council resources have already be utilised on the proposed development

c. due to the change in the Council’s policy regarding charges for car parks

d. to ensure that best value is gained from any development of this and other such land in the future.

4. BUDGET PROCESS AND TIMEFRAME FOR 2006/07

Cllr Roger Mazillius declared a personal interest in any re-engineering process, as he was related to someone who was a provider of those services.

The Chief Financial Officer addressed the Committee on the budget process for 2006/07. Members were informed that in order to deliver the Council’s objectives, savings of over £9 million might be required from a present level budget. This figure included an assumption regarding the proposed care parking permit for Island residents. A number of budget strands would be included in the exercise, including efficiency measures and service prioritisation and a process for public consultation and involvement had been put together. The Committee received a presentation outlining the timetable and methodology for the public consultation.

Members acknowledged that an earlier start with public consultation would be advantageous, but were concerned that the consultation process should be transparent about where potential cuts were likely to have most effect. The diary dates for all public meetings would be circulated to the Committee. It was also felt that monthly progress reports of the budget process should be brought to the Scrutiny Committee, with effect from August 2005. Members requested that the Local Strategic Partnership should also be kept informed of the process.

The Committee noted that Strategic Partnering was currently under investigation and consultations were taking place with staff. This would be progressed over the next eighteen months and the earliest impact would be on the Council’s budget for 2007/08.

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND THE CABINET MEMBER FOR RESOURCES, AUDIT AND CUSTOMER CHAMPION

The Scrutiny Committee recommends a budget process which:

i. Scrutinises and make recommendations to deliver a balanced budget sufficient to provide required services.

ii. Engages all stakeholders in a timely manner to ensure all necessary information is fed into the budget making process and expects consultation to be open and transparent with full implications of service and job losses as part of the process.

iii. That the Scrutiny Committee receives copies of all relevant information supplied to the Cabinet to enable it to monitor the budget process.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY TEAM

i. The Budget Process to be a standard item on Scrutiny Committee agendas with effect from August 2005.

ii. A copy of the slides used in the presentation, including the timetable for public consultation, be circulated to Members of the Committee.

5. SCHOOL ORGANISATION DECISION

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Member for Children for this item.

Members were aware that the decision taken by the previous administration, to change from the current three-tier education system to a two-tier education system, had since been changed to remain with the three-tier system. The Cabinet Member outlined the reasons for this change, evidence received from stakeholders to support this decision, and how the standard of children’s education would improve as a result.

The Committee was informed that the retention of the three-tier system had been part of the Conservative manifesto. The Cabinet Member therefore believed that the Council had a clear mandate from the electorate. Consultations had also been carried out with a number of organisations and stakeholders and advice had also been sought from other local authorities. The FourS Consultant report had contained other recommendations concerning the delivery of education and these were currently being progressed.

The Cabinet Member indicated that he was confident that the existing management team was able to deliver the improvements under the three-tier system.

Members requested that further information regarding the emerging School Improvement Programme and the school results should also be included in discussions.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE CABINET MEMBER FOR CHILDREN

Further information be supplied to the Committee on school improvements linked to the retention of the existing three-tier system.

6. SCRUTINY COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME

The Chairman suggested that due to the length of the meeting, this item should be brought to an additional meeting, which should be held before the next meeting in August 2005.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY TEAM

The item relating to the Work Programme be considered at an additional meeting to be arranged before 25 August 2005, together with any update on Minute 3 and 5.

7. PUBLIC AND MEMBER QUESTION TIME

Mr C Page, a member of the public, asked that Council Officers and Members refrain from using ‘jargon’ during Council meetings in order to avoid confusion. The Chairman provided a response.

The meeting closed at 6.40 pm

CHAIRMAN