MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

CORPORATE SERVICES OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

TUESDAY 6 JULY 2010

REPORT OF HEAD OF CHANGE AND SCRUTINY

Report prepared by Esther Bell

1.           Leader of the Council – Plans and Priorities for 2010-11

1.1        Issue for Consideration

1.1.1   To consider the written vision statement of the Leader of the Council regarding his plans and priorities for 2010-11 for his portfolio.

1.2        Recommendation of the Head of Change and Scrutiny

1.2.1   The Committee is recommended to consider the Leader’s vision statement attached at Appendix A regarding his plans and priorities for his portfolio for 2010-11 relevant to the Committee’s remit and make recommendations if required.

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

1.3.1   The Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee is responsible for holding to account those Cabinet Members whose portfolios fall within the remit of the Committee. 

1.3.2   The Cabinet Members whose portfolios relate to the Committee are the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services.

1.3.3   At its meeting on 1 June 2010, the Committee considered its future work programme and agreed to receive written Vision Statements from the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and the Leader rather than inviting them for interview to set out their priorities for 2010/11. 

1.3.4   The areas of the Leader’s portfolio that are relevant to the Committee are as follows:

·         Responsible for the discharge of any executive function not delegated to another individual or body.

·         Policy Development

o   To oversee and co-ordinate the development of all policy framework documents and to ensure that they interrelate and reflect agreed Council priorities.

·         Budget

o   To take responsibility (in collaboration with the rest of the Cabinet) for drawing up initial proposals for the Council's budget ensuring that corporate priorities are matched by appropriate financial resources.

·         Performance Management

• To establish, implement and monitor the Council's Performance Management System and have overall responsibility for data quality.

·         Value for Money

• To ensure that the Council achieves Value for Money in its services.

·         Delivery within Portfolios

• To ensure that the Cabinet Members are delivering priorities within their own portfolio structures.

·         Business Transformation

• To be responsible for all matters relating to business transformation.

·         Special Projects

• Taking responsibility for certain corporate special projects as advised by the Cabinet.

·         Communications

o   To be responsible for the Council’s internal and external communications, consultation, marketing and formulation of the Communication Strategy.

1.4        Alternative Action and Why Not Recommended

1.4.1   The Committee could choose not to consider the Leader’s Vision, however in doing so they would not be fulfilling the crucial role of holding the executive to account.

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

1.5.1   The Committee should seek to review whether the Leader’s vision is aligned to the Council’s corporate objectives as set out in the forward plan.

1.6        Risk Management

1.6.1 There are no risks involved in considering the vision statement of the Leader.

1.7        Other Implications

1.7.1