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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

17 AUGUST 2010

REPORT OF HEAD OF CHANGE AND SCRUTINY

Report prepared by Les Smith 

1.           CABINET MEMBER FOR LEISURE AND CULTURE: PLANS AND PRIORITIES FOR 2010-11

1.1        Issue for Consideration

1.1.1   To consider the written statement of the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, and to question him, regarding his priorities for 2010-11 for his portfolio.

1.2        Recommendation of the Head of Change and Scrutiny

1.2.1   Members are recommended to consider the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture’s statement of his priorities for his portfolio, attached at Appendix A. Members are also recommended to ask the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture questions with regard to his priorities for his portfolio for 2010-11 that relate to the areas relevant to the Committee, and to make recommendations if required.

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

1.3.1   The Environment and Transportation 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 Cabinet Member for Environment and the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture.

1.3.3   At its meeting on 15 June 2010, the Committee considered its future work programme and agreed to invite the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture to provide written statements of their priorities for 2010-11 to the Committee. The Committee also agreed to invite those Cabinet Members to the August meeting to ask them questions about their priorities.

1.3.4   The areas of the Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture’s portfolio that are relevant to the Committee are:

·       Allotments

• To be responsible for the development and implementation of policy regarding the provision of and improvements to allotments.

·       Cemetery and Crematorium

• To provide a cemetery and crematorium service for the Borough, including the management of the directly provided Council services.

·       Parks

• To be responsible for the provision and maintenance of parks and open spaces within the Borough.

1.3.5   Considering the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture’s priorities for his portfolio for the year enables the Committee to verify that his priorities are aligned with the Council’s objectives. 

1.4        Alternative Action and Why Not Recommended

1.4.1   The Committee could choose not to consider the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture’s priorities, 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 Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture’s priorities for his portfolio are 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 statement of the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture about his priorities for his portfolio for 2010-11.

1.7        Other Implications

1.7.1    

1.8        Relevant Documents

1.8.1 The statement of the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture is at Appendix A.