MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 22 AUGUST 2006 COMMENCING AT 6.00 PM

 

Present :

 

Cllrs Geoff Lumley (Chairman), Anne Bishop, Deborah Gardiner, Heather Humby

 

Co-opted Voting Member :

 

Mr Anthony Marvin

 

Co-opted Non-Voting Member :

 

Mr Bob Blezzard

 

Apologies :

 

                 Cllrs William Burt, Brian Mosdell, Mrs Sue Poston

 

 


21.                         MINUTES

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2006 be confirmed.

 

22.             DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations of interest. 

 

23.             PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

A written question (PQ 13/06) was received from Mrs Stephanie Welch regarding the procurement of consultants.  As the question related to Council decision making, the Committee called upon the Cabinet Member for the Economy, the Customer, Communications, Leisure and Tourism to provide a response.

 

24.             DELEGATED DECISION 43/06

 

Members referred to the Notification of a Call-In Under the Protocol on the Council’s Decision Making Process, which set out the reasons for the call-in. 

 

The Committee expressed concern that the decision to procure a Strategic Transformational Partner was to be taken as a delegated decision. The Committee were concerned that the decision had not been through a transparent process. The Cabinet Member for the Economy, the Customer, Communications, Leisure and Tourism clarified the path the decision had taken. 

 

The Committee expressed concern that PA Consulting had carried out work after the notification of the call-in had been given and requested that in future they be informed of any work due to take place after the notification of a call-in.

 

The Committee requested that plain English be used in all report writing including reports from outside consultants.

 

The Committee questioned the Cabinet Member regarding the need to obtain external advice on Council reorganisation, clarification on the costs and savings  involved, the role of the Aim High Strategy Group in the decision making process, and whether the public would have been able to follow the decision making process.

 

The Committee were informed that the background information for the decision was available on the Council’s website and the public would have an opportunity to ask questions regarding the procurement of a Strategic Transformational Partner at a formal Cabinet meeting in October.

 

The Committee were informed that the decision needed to be taken at the earliest opportunity in order the keep companies interested in working with the Council.

 

The Committee recommended the following to the Cabinet Member for the Economy, the Customer, Communications, Leisure and Tourism:

 

i.          That the advertised delegated decision regarding the Procurement of Strategic Transformational Partner Short Term Procurement Projects (43/06) be taken to the next meeting of the Cabinet

 

ii.         That he and the rest of the Cabinet insist on the use of plain English in all reports, including reports from outside consultants.

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the Scrutiny Committee recommends the following to the Cabinet Member for the Economy, the Customer, Communications, Leisure and Tourism:

 

                                            i.                       That the advertised delegated decision regarding the Procurement of Strategic Transformational Partner Short Term Procurement Projects (43/06) be taken to the next meeting of the Cabinet

 

                                          ii.                       That he and the rest of the Cabinet insist on the use of plain English in all reports, including reports from outside consultants.

 

25.             FORWARD PLAN

 

The Committee questioned why the decision regarding the Strategic Transformational Partner had not appeared on the Forward Plan. The Deputy Chief Executive confirmed that it would appear on the Forward Plan when it was next published.

 

The Deputy Chief Executive informed the Committee that a report on the Expression of Interest for the Highways Private Finance Initiative (PFI) would appear on the next issue of the Forward Plan and would be discussed at the Cabinet meeting in September. The Committee would consider adding this item to their work programme. 

 

RESOLVED:

 

THAT the Forward Plan be noted.

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN