Agenda and minutes

Apologies were submitted on behalf of Mr Bessant, Mr Nichols and Mrs Sprason, with the substitution of Mr Moore for Mrs Sprason authorised in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.1.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2011.

It was

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2011 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To receive verbally from members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council's code of conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.  This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the agenda.

No interests were declared at this stage.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction) attached.

Members were updated on work undertaken to meet the targets of the Economic Regeneration Strategy Action Plan 2009 – 2014. The main areas of work were outlined as well as future work planned, and the strategic objectives to which each activity related were also highlighted.

Members raised concern regarding a local company sending staff outside of the Borough for training, the risk of businesses in the SUEs having to recruit from outside of the Borough, and the requirement for an increase in the level of employment that had not been achieved in the Borough throughout the last ten years. It was suggested that the issue of building relationships between industry and colleges in the Borough be built into the Scrutiny Commission’s work programme for 2012/13.

It was noted that discussions were also taking place, or would shortly be commenced, with regard to Regent Street, Stockwell Head, the Britannia Centre and the Cultural Quarter.

RESOLVED – the report be endorsed.

A report is attached which gives a background and baseline information to assist with the Commission’s review. The suggested timetable for the review is also attached, which includes a list of the witnesses who have agreed to attend.

A representative of the Alzheimer’s Society Leicestershire will be in attendance to give Members an overview. Members will then consider questions to put to witnesses at the following meeting.

Diana Smith, Locality Manager from the Alzheimer’s Society Leicestershire gave a presentation on dementia which included background information such as definitions and types of dementia, the work undertaken by the Society, current projects and schemes, links with other organisations, and future aims. Members had the opportunity to ask questions to further their understanding of the disease to enable them to support the review.

Howard Wilkins, a local Parish Councillor who had personal experience of supporting family members with dementia, outlined his experience and concerns to provide a different perspective to the Commission.

The two attendees were thanked for their contributions and Members felt that the information received would assist them in preparing questions for future witnesses as part of the Commission’s review.

To progress the Scrutiny Review, including an update on the local position. A timetable for the review is attached. A representative of the Rural Community Council will be in attendance to outline the support they provide.

Diana Cook and John Preston from the Rural Community Council attended the meeting to present information on the Energy Best Deal scheme. Members received advice on switching fuel providers, rules to standardise energy tariffs, the winter fuel allowance, social tariffs and priority services registers and home insulation schemes.

Mr Batty left the meeting at 8.29pm.

Officers reported that work to map fuel poverty was ongoing and that maps showing this would be brought to the next meeting. With regard to the attendance of witnesses at future meetings, the Commission was informed that invitations had been sent but that only one energy provider had agreed to attend.

To review member development activities undertaken since the last update, and to inform Members of planned activities.

Members received a report which informed them of member development activity since the last update along with planned activity. The Commission was informed that the Member Development Steering Group had supported working towards the East Midlands Councillor Development Charter and that a Member Development Strategy had now been drafted.

A Member asked whether Member training was publicly advertised and whether it was open to Parish Councillors. In response it was reported that training was not open to the public, but that invitations to training events were extended to parish councils where appropriate, and that joint working across organisations and different tiers of local government would reflect well in achieving the Councillor Development Charter.

Work programme attached.

Consideration was given to the Scrutiny Commission’s work programme for the remainder of 2011/12. It was highlighted that there were a number of witnesses for the ‘care of people with dementia’ review who had confirmed their attendance at the following meeting. Amongst these was the Manager of a local care home who had requested advance notice of the types of questions that would be asked of her. It was anticipated that these would cover the scope of care provided, how her care home compared to others, and how the home was funded.

Following a discussion earlier in the meeting, it was also requested that next year’s work programme includes work to identify how the authority would be able to champion the skills agenda for economic growth.

Copy of the Forward Plan for January to April 2012 attached.

Members received the latest published copy of the Forward Plan of Executive and Council decisions. It was reported that the Value for Money report and the Green Space delivery plan would be considered at the meeting on 1 March.