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Maidstone Borough Council
Community, Environment and Housing
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Tuesday 13 January 2015
Future Work Programme and SCRAIP Update
Report of: Tessa Mallett, Overview and Scrutiny Officer
1. Introduction
1.1 The Committee are asked to consider the future work programme, attached at Appendix A, to ensure it is appropriate and covers all issues Members currently wish to consider within the Committee’s remit.
1.2 The Committee are also asked to consider the List of Forthcoming Decisions relevant to this Committee attached as Appendix B.
1.3 The Committee are further asked to note the updates on the SCRAIP report attached as Appendix C.
2. Recommendation
2.1 That the Committee considers and notes the future work programme, attached at Appendix A, and the update provided in section 7.1 (below).
2.2 That the Committee considers the List of Forthcoming Decisions, relevant to the Committee at Appendix B, and discuss whether any of these items require further investigation or monitoring.
2.3 That the Committee notes the updates on the SCRAIP report attached as Appendix C.
2.4 That the Committee considers its continuous professional development needs and recommends possible training or development sessions it would like to undertake.
3 Future Work Programme
3.1 At the future work programme workshop on 17 June 2014 members agreed the topics they wanted programmed in for the 2014-15 Municipal Year. The topic suggestions were made by members of the public, Parish Councils, officers and local press.
3.2 Throughout the course of the municipal year the Committee is asked to put forward, and review, work programme suggestions.
3.3 The Committee’s work programme is currently very full. Members are asked to consider the work programme to ensure it remains appropriate, realistic and covers issues Members currently wish to consider within the Committee’s remit.
3.4 The Committee is reminded that the Constitution states under Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules number 9: Agenda items that ‘Any Member shall be entitled to give notice to the proper officer that he wishes an item relevant to the functions of the Committee or Sub-Committee to be included on the agenda for the next available meeting of the Committee or Sub-Committee. On receipt of such a request the proper officer will ensure that it is included on the next available agenda, the Member must attend the meeting and speak on the item put forward.’
4 List of Forthcoming Decisions
4.1 The List of Forthcoming Decisions (Appendix B) is a live document containing all key and non-key decisions.
4.2 Due to the nature of the List of Forthcoming Decisions, and to ensure the information provided to the Committee is up to date, a verbal update will be given at the meeting by the Chairman. The Committee can view the live document online at: http://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/mgListPlans.aspx?RPId=443&RD=0
6. Scrutiny Committee Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan (SCRAIP) Responses
6.1 The issue of making, and monitoring, recommendations is an important part of the scrutiny process. SCRAIPs set out recommendations following scrutiny meetings/reviews and information is sought on the plan as to whether recommendations are accepted, the action to be taken and by who.
6.2 A SCRAIP update report for this Committee is attached as Appendix C. SCRAIPs highlighted in grey have been responded to in full. SCRAIPs in white are still waiting a response, a verbal update, where possible, for these will be provided at the meeting.
7 Future Work Programme Update
7.1 Following discussions with the Chairman and officers the following changes have been made to the committees Future Work Programme:
· Update report – Maidstone Families Matter and Financial Inclusion have been moved from the meeting of 10 February to the meeting of 14 April as the committee received an update on 9 December.
· The Chairman has provisionally agreed to move the committee’s meeting of 10 February 2015 to the 17 February 2015. This is to allow the Planning, Transport and Development and the Economic and Commercial Development Overview and Scrutiny Committees to hold a co-located simultaneous meeting to review the consultation on the draft Economic Development Strategy and the implications on employment sites in the draft Local Plan. This change will be confirmed (either way) to all CEH OSC members after the 20 January 2015.
8. Impact on Corporate Objectives
8.1 The Strategic Plan sets the Council’s key objectives for the medium term and has a range of objectives which support the delivery of the Council’s priorities.
8.2 The Committee will consider reports that deliver against the following priorities:
· ‘For Maidstone to have a growing economy’ and ‘For Maidstone to be a decent place to live”.
9. Financial Implications
9.1 To assist O&S committees in their inquiries, a small budget is available for the purchase of necessary equipment and to cover the costs of training, site visits, meetings in locations other than the Town Hall, witness expenses, specialist advice, books and any other cost that might be legitimately incurred by the committees in the course of their activities.
10. Relevant Documents
10.1 Appendix A – Future Work Programme
Appendix B – List of Forthcoming Decisions
Appendix C – SCRAIP update report
11. Background Documents
11.1 None