Contact your Parish Council

Maidstone Borough Council

External Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Thursday 8 January 2009

Call-In: CCTV – Operations Appraisal

Report of: Senior Overview and Scrutiny Officer

1.        Background

1.1.   Councillors FitzGerald and F Wilson have called-in the decision of the Cabinet with regard to the CCTV – Operations Appraisal.

1.2.   In order to assist Members in their consideration of this issue the following documents have been attached to this agenda:

1.3.   The Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Garland, the Cabinet Member for Community Services, Councillor Marion Ring, and the Assistant Director of Development and Community Services, Brian Morgan, will be in attendance at the meeting for interview.

2.        Recommendation

2.1.   The reasons for calling-in the Cabinet’s decision are stated as:

“Serious concerns about the lack of evidence, both financial and operational, to support the selected option.”

2.2.   The Committee should consider the decision of the Cabinet against the above reason. 

2.3.   Having considered the call-in the Committee has three options for action:

(i)       Take no action – the decision will be implemented as taken by the Cabinet on 10 December 2008.

(ii)      Refer to the Cabinet– the comments of the Committee will be referred to the Cabinet for reconsideration of the decision within five working days, after which a final decision will be made.

(iii)    Refer to Council – the comments of the Committee and decision of the Cabinet will be referred to Council.  If Council does not object to the Cabinet‘s decision it will be implemented.  If Council does object, it does not have power to make a decision unless the Cabinet’s decision is against the policy framework or contrary to or inconsistent with the budget.  Unless that is the case, Council will refer its comments back to the Cabinet for reconsideration of the decision within five working days, after which a final decision will be made.