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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

21 SEPTEMBER 2010

REPORT OF HEAD OF CHANGE AND SCRUTINY

Report prepared by Les Smith 

1.           Work Programming 2010-11

1.1        Issue for Consideration

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

1.2        Recommendation of Head of Change and Scrutiny

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, attached at Appendix B, 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 it 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 September 2010 – December 2010 contains the following decisions relevant to the Environment and Transportation Overview and Scrutiny Committee  :

·                     Waste and recycling strategy 2010 – 2015

·                    Approval of finalised Air Quality Action Plan for submission to DEFRA

·                     Fees and Charges – Bereavement Services 2011/12

·                     Crematorium – environmental considerations

·                     Crematorium – recycling of metal following cremation

An extract of the Forward Plan with the relevant items is 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 that is clean and green’

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

1.5.1 There are no risks involved in determining the Committee’s work programme.

1.7        Other Implications

1.7.1    

1.8        Relevant Documents

Appendix A – Draft 2010-11 Work Programme

Appendix B – Forward Plan (extract) September 2010 – December 2010