Maidstone Borough Council

Corporate Service Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Future Work Programme & Forward Plan of Key Decisions

Report of: Overview & Scrutiny Officer

1.      Introduction

1.1     For the Committee to consider it’s future work programme and the Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

2.      Recommendation

2.1        That the Committee considers the draft 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.

2.2        The Committee considers the suggested addition to the work programme outlined at 3.2.

2.2              That the Committee considers the sections of the Forward Plan of Key Decisions relevant to the Committee and discuss whether these are items requiring further investigation or monitoring by the Committee. The report with further details on this is attached at Appendix B.

3.      Future Work Programme

3.1     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.

3.2     A new topic has come forward for consideration by the Committee, barrier busting.  Communities and Local Government has set up a barrier busting team to look at how red tape can be reduced to solve local problems.  The team is looking for suggestions from local individuals, community groups and local authorities, “local authorities also have a particular, vital role of encouraging local debate and harnessing local people’s enthusiasm for improving the place where they live.” It is suggested that if the Committee are interested in identifying and submitting barriers to central government a small task and finish group is set up to complete this work supported by the Head of Change and Scrutiny. It is envisaged that this would run in a similar way to the balance of power review whose evidence was submitted to a parliamentary select committee.

3.3     The Forward Plan for 1 March 2011 – 30 June 2011 contains the following decision relevant to the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

·         Additional revenue streams

·         Information Strategy 2011-14

·         Performance Plan 2011-14

·         Annual Governance Statement – Cabinet

·         Energy Purchasing Options

·         High Street Improvement Project - Cabinet

4.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

4.1    The Committee will consider reports that deliver against the following Council priority:

·         ‘A place with efficient and effective public services’.

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.