Archived decisions

COUNTY MEETING, 25 FEBRUARY 2004

BUILDINGS, LAND AND CONTRACTS PANEL - CHANGE OF NAME, TERMS OF REFERENCE AND MEMBERSHIP

1. At its meeting on 28 November, 2002 the Council approved the establishment of this Panel to advise the Leader in relation to buildings, land and contracts issues which fall to be considered by him and other Members of the Cabinet in the exercise of their portfolios, such as project appraisals which are the subject of key decisions.

2. The Panel was asked to develop its own terms of reference. These were approved by the Council at its meeting on 20 February, 2003.

3. To facilitate work on the Corporate Procurement Strategy and procurement initiatives the Leader has asked that the Panel also advise him on these issues. Accordingly, revised terms of reference are proposed showing the addition in bold print in the attached Appendix I to this report. A new name is also proposed to reflect this extension of its role; its proposed name is the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel.

4. Also, elsewhere on this Council's agenda, the Standards Committee is recommending a change to the Constitution to adopt the new name.

5. The Leader, as Chairman of the Panel, has indicated to the Chief Executive his wish to increase the size of the Panel from 8 to 10 members. This impacts on overall proportionality and the revised proportionality table, shown as Appendix 2 to this report, is submitted for the Council's approval.

6. The work of the Panel supports various Aims of the Corporate Strategy and in particular Aim 3, Achieving economic prosperity; Aim 5, Improving services; and Aim 6, Developing Councillors and staff.

RECOMMENDATION:

    (i) That the terms of reference for the Panel be amended to add the following paragraph:-

    " (j) The development of the Corporate Procurement Strategy, the management arrangements for the implementation of the Strategy, and to provide an overview of all the County Council's procurement activities including the development of e-procurement and e-tendering initiatives."

    (ii) That the Panel be increased in size from 8 to 10 members (6 : 3 : 1) and that the new proportionality table shown as Appendix 2 to this report be approved.

T.K. THORNBER

              Leader

                    APPENDIX 1

Terms of Reference of the Buildings, Lane and Contracts Panel approved by the Council on 20 February, 2003 are as follows:

To advise the Leader of the Council in relation to:-

      (a) Buildings maintenance programmes including allocations between different heads of expenditure within the Revenue Budget for building maintenance, improvements to buildings and energy conservation and the overall allocation of resources for these purposes;

      (b) Building management and land management policies where the County Council is landlord so as to minimise running costs and ensure effective, efficient and optimal use of the County Council's land and premises;

      (c) Project appraisals which are the subject of key decisions by the Leader of the Council, such matters to be considered wherever possible before the key decision is made. Where this is not possible the Leader shall, in order to avoid delay, make the decision subject to the views of this Panel;

      (d) Schemes for the development of land within the development account in pursuance of a marketing strategy and in accordance with standards previously approved by the Leader of the Council and development briefs and major acquisitions or disposals as appropriate;

      (e) The County Council's policies for the purchase of goods and services, including contract and agency arrangements and the operation of the Council's Central Supplies Organisation, and the relevant business plans and strategies for Property Business & Regulatory business services and operations;

      (f) The operation of Standing Orders and the Code of Practice relating to central purchasing items as therein defined and, in a similar capacity in relation to those contracts regulated by the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 in which a County Council direct services organisation is involved.

      (g) To consider the Corporate Risk Assessment for the Built Estate and the Health and Safety Performance Plan.

      (h) To consider the development of landlord services to schools.

      (i) To consider Procurement Initiatives and supply chain arrangements for building construction projects.

The development of the Corporate Procurement Strategy, the management arrangements for the implementation of the Strategy, and to provide an overview of all the County Council's procurement activities including the development of e-procurement and e-tendering initiatives.