Archived decisions

Committee:

Policy & Resources Select Committee

Date of meeting:

21 January 2010

Report Title:

Work Programme

Report From:

Chief Executive

Contact name:

Marie Mannveille, Scrutiny Officer

Tel:

01962 845018

Email:

[email protected]

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report. (NB: the list excludes published works and any documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.)

Document

Location

None

Overview / Pre-Scrutiny - To maintain an overview of issues relevant to the terms of reference of this committee, and to consider proposed scrutiny topics for inclusion in the work programme.

Topic

Issue

Lead Member / Officer

Status

15 Oct 09

21 Jan 2010

11 March 2010

22 July 2010

Organisations that Receive Grants from the Executive Member for Policy & Resources

To provide overview of the work these organisations do, supported by HCC funding.

Jane Goodwin, Corporate Equalities and Third Sector Manager

To invite organisations that receive significant grants to present to the committee about what they do. One per meeting.

Community Action Hampshire?

Citizens Advice?

IT update

Overview of I.T. issues and developments.

Jos Creese, Head of I.T.

Update received July 09. Cllr Reid requests next update to include Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity plans for I.T.

Oct 09 Members request I.T. update once a year (at July meeting)

Disaster Recovery report received

Annual Update due.

Hantsdirect Contact Centre Implementation

Monitoring the implementation of this major corporate project.

Michelle Smith, Head of Resources, Chief Executive's Department

Oct 07 update. April 08 considered hantsdirect phase 2. October 08 considered hantsdirect phase 3. Update received Oct 09. Update requested in a years time.

Update received.

Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan

Overview of progress against this plan, currently set for the period 2008-11.

David Pape, Head of Ecology, Environment Department

Item on this considered April 08. Update received Oct 09. Update requested in a years time.

Update report received.

Insurance Monitoring

Annual update on the County Council's insurance arrangements.

Peter Andrews, Corporate Risk Manager

Item on this considered Oct 08. Annual update requested.

Update report

Budget and Performance Monitoring

To provide an overview of performance and budget issues as relevant to the terms of reference of this committee.

Bevis Ingram, Assistant County Treasurer

Following agreed cycle of budget scrutiny, final accounts are considered at the July meeting, and the proposed revenue budget and capital programme is considered at the January meeting. Other monitoring reports when necessary.

Budget Monitoring Report received

Capital Programme and Revenue Budget Reports due

Final Accounts report due.

Sustainable Communities Act

To introduce the committee to what this act enables, and the recommendation of the Governance committee that this committee be `engaged in supporting the Executive to manage the progression of the County Council's responses to the Act'.

Rachel Higgins, Corporate Policy Officer, Chief Executive's

Recommendations of Governance committee were endorsed at County Council in July 09. Currently awaiting confirmation from national government regarding future `rounds' of invitations for proposals under the act. Report to this committee to be scheduled once there is greater clarity around this.

Economic Development

To consider the key opportunities and challenges for this department and its future direction

Alison Quant, new Director of Economic Development?

Mentioned at Full Council in July 2009 that scrutiny of economic development comes under this committee's remit. New Director of the department taking over in summer 2009. Oct 09 members requested this item could cover more broadly how the county council is responding to the recession and preparing for the Economic Assessment required in the LDEDC Act 2009.

Disaster Recovery Planning

To consider how the County Council plans to ensure business continuity in the event of possible disasters/emergencies.

Ian Hoult, Head of Emergency Planning

Following I.T. disaster recovery item considered Oct 09, Members requested to look at disaster recovery plans more broadly.

Report

Scrutiny - to scrutinise priority areas agreed by the Committee

Topic

Issue

Lead Member / Officer

Status

15 Oct 09

21 Jan 2010

11 March 2010

22 July 2010

Review of HCC Recruitment and Retention of Staff

At the meeting in Jan 09 members requested this issue be reviewed, to look into what policies HCC has in place to ensure a workforce fit for the future, given anticipated challenges and changes to local government.

Gavin Wright, Director of Human Resources

A workshop was held in April 09 where members of the committee received evidence. Report of findings endorsed by committee Oct 09. Response from HR requested.

Draft report of findings endorsed by committee

Update on issues raised by the committee requested

HCC's relationship with the Voluntary and Community Sector

To consider the value for money provided by voluntary and community organisations.

Paddy Hillary, Corporate Policy Manager, and Jane Goodwin, Corp. Equalities & Third Sector Manager, Chief Executive's Department

The committee considered a report at its meeting in March 09 that had gone to Cabinet regarding a review of HCC's relationship with the `third sector'. Cabinet requested this committee consider undertaking a scrutiny review of the value for money provided by voluntary and community organisations. Report received Oct 09 on work already undertaken to review and improve dealings with VCS in relation to grants. Update requested in a year to consider progress.

Report received.

Road Gritting Policy/Planning/Preparations

To consider how robust the Counties planning is for adverse winter weather.

Stuart Jarvis, Director of Environment

Suggestion by the Chairman, January 2010. Viability and timing to be explored.

Local Area Agreement

To scrutinise activity in relation to achieving targets under themes B `Employment Skills and Business Support' and D `Housing and Accommodation'

Robert Ormerod, Community Strategy Manager

The committee considered a report at its Oct 09 meeting regarding the LAA and agreed that each select committee should look at relevant themes more closely.

Monitoring Scrutiny & Overview Outcomes - to examine responses to the Committee's recommendations and monitor progress

Topic

Issue

Lead Member / Officer

Status

15 Oct 09

21 Jan 2010

11 March 2010

22 July 2010

Review of Existing Scrutiny Arrangements (undertaken 2007/08)

Following progress made against the recommendations arising from this review of the processes currently supporting the scrutiny function.

Denise Holden, Corporate Scrutiny Manager, Chief Executive's Department

The cabinet response to the recommendations made by this review was considered and accepted by the committee in October 08. Over the ensuing year the committee will be monitoring the implementation of the recommendations as agreed.

Update if necessary

Potential Review Topics/items for scrutiny

Topic

Issue

Lead Member / Officer

Status

15 Oct 09

21 Jan 2010

11 March 2010

22 July 2010

Use of Consultants

what benefit would there be in having a corporate policy/checklist for setting guidelines for the appointment of consultants? How could cost/benefit analysis and risk assessment form part of this policy/process?

Bevis Ingram? Assistant County Treasurer, County Treasurer's Department

Use of consultants initially considered in April and July 2007. Agreed in 2008 that a report on the IT Consultancy Framework could be included at a future meeting to enable Members to see a broader picture as to the rationale behind the use and recruitment of consultants however this was not received due to other priorities. Oct 09 Members reaffirmed their interest in following up on use of consultants.

Report?

Efficiency of New Elizabeth II Court North East & West Buildings

To consider if the efficiencies anticipated have been achieved, and to consider potential additional ways to maximise use of the buildings

PBRS?

Suggested by Cllr Reid at July 2009 Meeting. Agreed to schedule when office moves have had time to bed in.

Flooding

To consider how flood risk in Hampshire is managed, how successful partnership working is in relation to flooding, and how prepared we are for the implications of new legislation.

Ian Hoult Head of Emergency Planning, plus relevant partner agencies

Following the light touch scrutiny of this subject by the Environment & Transport Select Committee, if the subject warrants further investigation, this committee could undertake an indepth review, involving relevant local authority partners.

Consideration of report from E&T SC

Consideration of Scope for indepth reveiw

Managing Hampshire County Council Scrutiny Activity

Topic

Issue

Lead Member / Officer

Status

15 Oct 09

21 Jan 2010

11 March 2010

22 July 2010

Responding to emerging legislation which adds to local government scrutiny powers - potential joint scrutiny

Local Government and Public Involvement in Heath Act 2007

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill

A Hampshire Scrutiny Conference took place in April 2009 involving HCC scrutiny chairs and district/borough scrutiny representatives to consider the emerging scrutiny agenda. For some elements of the legislation regulations are awaited. A further meeting with district/borough scrutiny representatives is scheduled for 15 January 2010 to consider the latest developments.

A further update may be timely.

Responding to new powers - Councillor Call for Action

Draft protocol considered by committee in July 09. Agreed to review operation of protocol after six months. Revised protocol agreed by Cabinet Oct 09.

Review of protocol?

Proposals for in-depth scrutiny review from other committees

This committee has oversight of all Hampshire scrutiny activity, and any proposal for an in-depth scrutiny review put forward by one of the other local government scrutiny committees needs to be approved by this committee.

None received

None received

Collation of annual report of select committee activity

This committee reports back to full council each year providing a summary of the activity of all the select committees.

Draft report usually considered by this committee in March/April and submitted to full council in September.

Draft report considered?

Total Items

Jan: 2

March: 5?

July: 5?