141111 FWP Covering Report

 

Maidstone Borough Council

 

Community, Environment and Housing  

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

 

Tuesday 11 November 2014

 

Future Work Programme and SCRAIP Update

 

Report of: Tessa Mallett, Overview and Scrutiny Officer

 

 

1.      Introduction

 

1.1        The Committee are asked to consider the future work programme, attached at Appendix A, to ensure it is appropriate and covers all issues Members currently wish to consider within the Committee’s remit.

 

1.2        The Committee are also asked to consider the List of Forthcoming Decisions relevant to this Committee attached as Appendix B.

 

1.3        The Committee are further asked to note the updates on the SCRAIP report attached as Appendix C.

 

 2.     Recommendation

 

2.1        That the Committee considers and notes the future work programme, attached at Appendix A, and the update provided in section 7.1 (below).    

 

2.2        That the Committee considers the List of Forthcoming Decisions, relevant to the Committee at Appendix B, and discuss whether any of these items require further investigation or monitoring.

 

2.3        That the Committee notes the updates on the SCRAIP report attached as Appendix C.

 

2.4        That the Committee considers its continuous professional development needs and recommends possible training or development sessions it would like to undertake.

 

2.5        That the Committee note the up and coming Questioning and Influencing Skills workshop programmed in for Wednesday 3 December 2014.  There are two sessions available, either 1pm until 4pm or 6pm until 9pm.  Please book your place by contacting Tessa Mallett.

 

3       Future Work Programme

 

3.1    At the future work programme workshop on 17 June 2014 members agreed the topics they wanted programmed in for the 2014-15 Municipal Year. The topic suggestions were made by members of the public, Parish Councils, officers and local press.

 

3.2    Throughout the course of the municipal year the Committee is asked to put forward, and review, work programme suggestions. 

 

3.3    The Committee’s work programme is currently very full. Members are asked to consider the work programme to ensure it remains appropriate, realistic and covers issues Members currently wish to consider within the Committee’s remit.

 

3.4    The Committee is reminded that the Constitution states under Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules number 9: Agenda items that ‘Any Member shall be entitled to give notice to the proper officer that he wishes an item relevant to the functions of the Committee or Sub-Committee to be included on the agenda for the next available meeting of the Committee or Sub-Committee. On receipt of such a request the proper officer will ensure that it is included on the next available agenda, the Member must attend the meeting and speak on the item put forward.’

 

4       List of Forthcoming Decisions

 

4.1    The List of Forthcoming Decisions (Appendix B) is a live document containing all key and non-key decisions. 

 

4.2    Due to the nature of the List of Forthcoming Decisions, and to ensure the information provided to the Committee is up to date, a verbal update will be given at the meeting by the Chairman.  The Committee can view the live document online at: http://meetings.maidstone.gov.uk/mgListPlans.aspx?RPId=443&RD=0

 

6.      Scrutiny Committee Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan (SCRAIP) Responses

 

6.1    The issue of making, and monitoring, recommendations is an important part of the scrutiny process.  SCRAIPs set out recommendations following scrutiny meetings/reviews and information is sought on the plan as to whether recommendations are accepted, the action to be taken and by who.

 

6.2    A SCRAIP update report for this Committee is attached as Appendix C.  SCRAIPs highlighted in grey have been responded to in full.  SCRAIPs in white are still waiting a response, a verbal update, where possible, for these will be provided at the meeting.

 

7       Future Work Programme Update

 

7.1     Following discussions between the Chairman and officers a report on the review of Street Cleansing will come to the committee at their meeting of 9 December 2014.  The update report on Maidstone Families Matter and Financial Inclusion will be on the same agenda as a written report only.

 

7.2     In order for the Committee to complete its review of Loneliness and Isolation in the over 65s of Maidstone borough, Young Carers has been taken out of the meeting for 10 February 2015 for consideration at a future meeting.

 

7.3     The Crime and Disorder Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting programmed in for 14 April 2015 has been brought forward to 10 March 2015 to enable the Committee to consider the Safer Maidstone Partnerships Annual Strategic Assessment and rolling plan before it is taken to Full Council for endorsement in April 2015.

 

7.4     The review of MKIP Shared Environmental Health Service; Housing Strategy Review and the draft report for the review of Loneliness and Isolation in the over 65s of Maidstone borough will be presented at the meeting of 14 April 2015.

 

8.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

 

8.1     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. 

 

8.2     The Committee will consider reports that deliver against the     following priorities:

 

·         ‘For Maidstone to have a growing economy’ and ‘For Maidstone to be a decent place to live”.  

 

9.      Financial Implications

 

9.1     To assist O&S committees in their inquiries, a small budget is available for the purchase of necessary equipment and to cover the costs of training, site visits, meetings in locations other than the Town Hall, witness expenses, specialist advice, books and any other cost that might be legitimately incurred by the committees in the course of their activities.

 

10.    Relevant Documents

 

10.1   Appendix A – Future Work Programme

          Appendix B – List of Forthcoming Decisions

Appendix C – SCRAIP update report

 

11.    Background Documents

 

11.1   None