To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors B.F. Ashton, W.L.S. Bowen, A.C.R. Chappell and Mrs M.D. Lloyd-Hayes.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 14th October, 2005.

RESOLVED:   That the Minutes of the meeting held on 14th October, 2005 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider suggestions from members of the public on issues the Committee could scrutinise in the future.

No suggestions were made.

To report formally to Strategic Monitoring Committee on the receipt of the Corporate Assessment and Joint Area Review undertaken earlier this year and to advise the Committee on the timetable for addressing the Improvement Plan.

To receive a progress report on the performance and other management activity necessary to successfully implement the Corporate Plan.

The Committee has received a progress report on the performance and other management activity necessary to successfully implement the Corporate Plan.

The covering report to Cabinet on 12th January, 2006 was appended to the report, with the detailed Integrated Performance Report itself having been made available separately.

The Chief Executive commented that the recent Corporate Assessment of the Council had identified the need for the scrutiny function to have an increased focus on Performance Management.  Further discussion of how best Scrutiny Committees might fulfil this role and what aspects they should focus upon needed to take place as part of developing the Council’s Improvement Plan.  It was important to avoid unnecessary duplication and to ensure that the Scrutiny Committees received up to date performance information.

The Corporate Policy and Research Manager informed the Committee that there were currently 18 areas highlighted as “red flags” where performance was not yet going to plan.  These were grouped into three main areas of concern.  The largest number related to the Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA2G), where the identification of theyear by year targets, milestones and actions needed to achieve the 2007-08 ultimate targets was substantially behind schedule; confirmation of previously identified significant under-performance against targets in respect of older people's social care and the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless people ; and a number of other, miscellaneous items, for example a shortfall against target in respect of the condition of principal roads, which had arisen because Government had changed the performance indicator.

He added that work was continuing to simply the collection and presentation of performance information.

In response to questions he commented that there were various reasons why the detailed work in relation to the LPSA targets had not been completed.  The Integrated Performance report clearly identified where that work needed to be carried out.

The Committee noted the report.

To receive a progress report on the implementation of the Comprehensive Equality Policy.

The Committee received a progress report on the implementation of the Comprehensive Equality Policy.

The report to Cabinet on 12th January, 2006 was appended to the report.

It was noted that the intention was to ensure that the Council met the criteria to reach Level 2 of the Equality Standard by 2007.

The Committee discussed the extent of the consultation to be undertaken in developing the Strategy, the increasing diversity of the community and the implications of this for service delivery and the Council’s legal duty to make its services accessible to all.

To note the progress on the Council’s Pay and Workforce Development Strategy operating plan for 2005-6.

The Committee received a progress report on the Council’s Pay and Workforce Development Strategy operating plan for 2005/06.

The Head of Human Resources presented the report describing progress in implementing the Strategy, last reported to the Committee in July 2005.  The report set out numerous areas where significant progress had been made.

The Committee noted the report.

To note the Corporate Plan 2006/2009, subject to any changes that may be needed before Cabinet recommending it to Council for approval at its meeting on 10th March, 2006.

The Committee received the Corporate Plan noting changes might be needed before the Plan was recommended to Council for approval in March, 2006.

The covering report to Cabinet, meeting on the afternoon of 26th January, 2006, was appended to the report with the detailed Corporate Plan itself having been circulated separately.

The Corporate Policy and Research Manager reported that the development of the Plan was subject to any changes necessary following the approval of the new Herefordshire Plan, the Local Area Agreement and the financial resources available.  He drew attention to steps being taken to provide fewer, but more strategic performance indicators and present information in a more helpful way for Members and managers.

The Committee noted the report.

To consider the current position in relation to the development of a Local Area Agreement (LAA) for Herefordshire.

The Committee has noted the current position in relation to the development of a Local Area Agreement for Herefordshire.

The report outlined the purpose of the Agreement, how it was being developed and its potential benefits.  These included improved collaboration with partners leading to improved service delivery and reduced bureaucracy.  The process for approving the Agreement and submitting it to Central Government were also described.

RESOLVED:   That the Local Area Agreement work to date and the proposed submission arrangements be noted.

To consider updates to the Constitution to reflect changing legislative and Council requirements.

The Committee considered a number of changes to the Constitution designed to reflect changing legislative and Council requirements. 

The report detailed amendments proposed to reflect changes to the Senior Management Structure; arrangements for filling unavoidable vacancies in Cabinet Member posts, Members’ access to information and availability of reports, a revision to the Scrutiny rules concerning the process for calling in key decisions, and a review of the Members Allowances Scheme. 

The report Cabinet, meeting on the afternoon of 26th January, 2006, was appended to the report

It was suggested that there might be some inconsistency between the proposed wording set out at paragraph 16 and 17 of the Cabinet report in relation to arrangements for the circulation of reports containing a key decision and for giving notification that a key decision was not included in the Forward Plan to ensure that these provisions were consistent with one another.

RESOLVED:  the recommendations to be made to Cabinet as set out in the Cabinet report be approved subject to Cabinet clarifying the proposed wording at paragraph 16 and 17 of the report in relation to arrangements for the circulation of reports containing a key decision and for giving notification that a key decision was not included in the Forward Plan to ensure that these provisions were consistent with one another.

To consider the Committee’s own work programme and updated work programmes of the other Scrutiny Committees.

The Committee considered its Work Programme and those of the other Scrutiny Committees.

Work Programmes for the Children’s Services, Community Services and Environment Scrutiny Committee were appended to the report.  A position statement was given in relation to the Work Programmes of the Adult Social Care and Strategic Housing Scrutiny Committee and the Health Scrutiny Committee.

The need for the Committee’s own work programme and those of the other scrutiny committees to reflect appropriate issues identified in the Council’s Improvement Plan, including the need for the scrutiny function to have an increased focus on Performance Management in response to the finding in the recent Corporate Assessment of the Council was noted.

In reply to a suggestion that consideration needed to be given to providing additional resources for scrutiny if the function were to develop the Chief Executive commented that the Committee would have the opportunity to make the case that scrutiny should be a priority at its next meeting when considering the budget for 2006/07.  It would, however, be incumbent upon the Committee to identify from where resources should be transferred to fund that increased support.

 RESOLVED:

That       (a) the Committee’s work programme be considered at a future date, reflecting where appropriate issues identified the Council’s Improvement Plan, subject to any comments the Committee wishes to make;

               and

(b) the Committee note the position on the development of work programmes for the other Scrutiny Committees.

To consider the work being undertaken by the Scrutiny Committees.

The Committee noted the work being undertaken by the Scrutiny Committees.