Contact your Parish Council

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

REGENERATION AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

16 FEBRUARY 2010

REPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND LEISURE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

Report prepared by Esther Bell 

1.           Future Work Programme and Forward Plan of Key Decisions

1.1        Issue for Consideration

1.1.1   To consider the Committee’s Future Work Programme and Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

1.2        Recommendation of the Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairman

1.2.1   That the Committee considers its Future Work Programme, attached at Appendix A, to ensure that it is appropriate and covers all issues Members currently wish to consider within the Committee’s remit.

1.2.2   That the Committee considers the sections of the Forward Plan of Key Decisions relevant to the Committee and discuss whether these are items requiring further investigation or monitoring by the Committee.

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

1.3.1   Future Work Programme

Throughout the course of the municipal year the Committee is asked to put forward work programme suggestions.  These suggestions are planned into its annual work programme.  Members are asked to consider the work programme at each meeting to ensure that remains appropriate and covers all issues Members currently wish to consider within the Committee’s remit.

1.3.2   Forward Plan of Key Decisions

At the meeting of the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3 February 2009, Members considered the Forward Plan of Key Decisions and agreed that “this should be a standing item on the agenda to ensure important issues were dealt with in a proactive, rather than reactive, manner.”  The Forward Plan will therefore now be included on each Committee agenda under the “Future Work Programme” item.

1.3.3   The Forward Plan for February 2010 –May 2010 contains the following decisions relevant to the Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

·                    Best Value Review of Waste and Recycling Implementation Plan;

·                    Food Safety Plan and Environmental Health Enforcement Policy;

·                    Pantomime Provider for the Hazlitt Arts Centre 2010-2012; and

·                    Maidstone Museum – Appointment of a main contractor.

Reports with further details on these are attached at Appendix B.

1.4        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

1.4.1   The Committee could choose not to consider its Future Work Programme, however considering it ensures that is remains appropriate, relevant and covers all issues Members currently wish to consider within the Committee’s remit.

1.4.2   Furthermore, the Committee could choose to not consider the Forward Plan of Key Decisions; however this would prevent the committee from ensuring important issues are dealt with in a proactive, rather than reactive, manner. 

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

1.5.1   The Committee will consider reports that deliver against the following Council priorities:

·         ‘A place to achieve, prosper and thrive’; and

·         ’A place to live in enjoy’

1.5.2   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.  Actions to deliver these key objectives may therefore include work that the Committee will consider over the next year.

1.6        Risk Management

1.6.1   There are no risks associated with the Committee considering its Future Work Programme and the Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

1.7        Other Implications

1.7.1    

1.8        Relevant Documents

1.8.1   Appendices

Appendix A – Future Work Programme

Appendix B – Forward Plan of Key Decisions.