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Maidstone Borough Council

 

Maidstone Borough Council

 

Corporate Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee

 

Tuesday 5 July 2011

 

The Leader and Cabinet Priorities for the Municipal Year 2011-12

 

Report of: Overview & Scrutiny Officer

 

1.          Introduction

 

1.1        The joint report made to the Standard’s Committee by Head of Democratic Services and the Monitoring Officer on 27 April 2011 detailed the ‘outcomes of a review of Committees undertaken before and implementation at the start of the municipal year 2011/12.’

 

1.2        This report detailed three considered options for Scrutiny Committee’s.  The third option was judged to be the most viable and was recommended in the report:

 

          ‘The third option is to have 3 Committees based on the Council’s       new strategic priorities. This option makes a saving of 1 fewer SRA,      a saving of £5,831. The Committees would be based on the new

          Strategic Plan and will reflect the new priorities. By reducing to 3

          Committees there is the potential to reduce the scrutiny staff time

          needed and assists in achieving the £30,000 saving required by

     2013/14.’

 

1.3        The preferred option was adopted.  This resulted in a refresh of the remaining three Committee’s remits and the decision that Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny would take an overarching role to include sole responsibility for Cabinet Scrutiny.

 

1.4              The Leader of Maidstone Borough Council for the 2011/12 Municipal Year is Councillor Chris Garland.  His Cabinet comprise of Councillor         Malcolm Greer, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Transport and Deputy Leader, Councillor Marion Ring, Cabinet   Member for the Environment, Councillor Eric Hotson, Cabinet    Member for Corporate Services and Councillor John A. Wilson,   Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services.

 

 

2.          Recommendation

 

2.1     The Committee are advised to consider the available written     updates (Appendix A); updates from the Leader and the Cabinet      Member for Corporate Services to follow.   Members should      highlight any areas of responsibility that they feel needs          further   explanation; the relevant Cabinet Members can be          called upon at a     later meeting to give evidence.  The priorities included in these statements are detailed in the Strategic Plan (Appendix B).  The Committee are solely responsible for holding the Leader and Cabinet Members to account. Any issues that are considered by the Committee as priorities should remain foremost in their minds and they should look to include these issues in their future work programme.

         

 

3.      Reasons for Recommendation

 

3.1     The areas of relevance of the Leader and Cabinet Member’s      portfolios are as follows:

 

          Leader of the Council

 

·       Strategic Planning and Policy Development

·      Performance Management and External Affairs

·      Partnerships

 

 

         Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Transport

 

  • Economic Development
  • Visitor Economy
  • Development Management
  • Building Control
  • Park and Ride
  • Local (district) highways functions

 

         Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

 

  • People Strategy
  • Customer Service
  • Corporate Finance
  • Legal Advice
  • Information Technology
  • Council Tax
  • Housing Benefit
  • Democratic Services

 

 

         Cabinet Member for the Environment

 

  • Waste and Recycling Management
  • Air Quality Management
  • Climate Change and Carbon Management
  • Cleansing Services
  • Environment Health
  • Licensing
  • Bereavement Services
  • Parking Management

 

 

         Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services

 

  • Strategic Housing Management
  • Community Safety
  • Community Development
  • Parks, Open Spaces and Allotments
  • Leisure Activities
  • Community Engagement
  • Allocation and Monitoring of Grants

 

4.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

 

4.1     The Committee will consider reports that deliver against all the          Council priorities:

 

·         ‘For Maidstone to have a growing economy’, ‘For Maidstone to be a decent place to live’, and ‘Corporate and Customer Excellence’.

 

          4.2    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.