Maidstone Borough Council

Economic and Commercial Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Tuesday 23 December 2014

Future Work Programme and SCRAIP update

Report of: Sam Bailey, Research and Performance Officer

1.      Introduction

1.1        To consider the Committee’s future work programme (FWP).

1.2        To consider the information update given by the Chairman.

 2.     Recommendation

2.1        That the Committee considers the draft future work programme, attached at Appendix A.  Items on the draft programme were agreed at the meeting of 25 November 2014.

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

2.3        That the Committee notes the update in the SCRAIP from 21 and 28 October 2014 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.

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        At the meeting of 25 November, it was resolved that the committee should hold a scoping meeting for a potential review of skills and employability in the borough. The committee requested that the meeting be held in the evening to accommodate those members that work. This scoping meeting is scheduled for 5 January 2014, at 6.30pm at the town hall. A meeting request has been sent round to members of the committee via email. The suggestion on barriers and opportunities for local business may be considered as part of this review topic.

3.3        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

5       SCRAIP update

5.1     An update on the recommendations from the meeting of 29 July 2014 is attached as Appendix C.

5.2     Only one of the three SCRAIPs has a response. The two missing SCRAIP responses are available in draft form but had not been signed off by the Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development at the time of agenda publication. These SCRAIP responses will be reported to the Committee at the meeting of 25 November.

6.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

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

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

6.2     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.