Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 17th September, 2009 were agreed as a correct record.

With regard to Minute No. 13 (Alternative Technologies – Pow Wow Now and Meet Me) information had been sent to all Members.

With regard to Minute No. 15 (RIEP Bid) work was ongoing.

With regard to Minute No. 21 (Single Equality Scheme) discussions were ongoing with ICOCO (Institute of Community Cohesion) relating to some collaborative South Yorkshire training. It was felt appropriate for parish councils to be invited.

With regard to e-learning it was noted that it would be ensured that Members were up to date with what they wanted to do. It was felt that e-learning should be included in the inductions sessions for new members.

Alan Matthews (Emergency and Safety Manager) accompanied by Claire Hanson (Business Continuity Officer) gave a presentation on the submitted draft elected member guidance document on Business Continuity and Emergency Planning.

The presentation covered:-

-                      Why an elected member business continuity and emergency guidance document

-                      Purpose of the document

-                      Outcome for members

-                      What next

The proposed launch date for the document, which would also be available on CD, was 27th October, 2009.

The document covered:-

-                      Introduction

-                      Risks and Hazards

-                      Business Continuity within Rotherham MBC

-                      Emergency Planning in Rotherham

-                      The Role of Elected Members

-                      The Role of the Emergency and Safety Team

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-

-                      lessons learnt from the 2007 floods

-                      communications during an emergency and adoption of the Neighbourhood Watch system operated by the Police which could give regular updates to all Members

-                      making training more interesting

-                      national to local response arrangements

-                      need to notify that a swine flu presentation would be part of training

-                      training sessions to be open to parish councils

-                      document to be made available to parish councils when launched

-                      launch arrangements

-                      difference between business continuity and emergency planning

-                      Member awareness of what to expect schools to have in place, responsibilities of schools and all the implications

-                      reception centres and member awareness of such in their areas

-                      media sound bites and need to incorporate into training

-                      media arrangements for the launch

-                      need for member induction to signpost to emergency planning and the need to attend this training

Agreed:-  (1) That the document be approved.

(2) That the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation be requested to authorise distributing the document to all parish councils.

CathSaltis, Head of Scrutiny Services, presented the submitted report updating members and raising awareness of the forthcoming training sessions as outlined in the work programme:-

Planning          -           26th November, 2009

Media              -           25th November, 2009

Finance           -           13, 19th and 29th October, 2009

Members noted the information  and the receipt of good feedback from the first two finance sessions.

Agreed:- That the Planning training, schedule for 26th November, 2009, be postponed until the new year.

Cath Saltis, Head of Scrutiny Services, presented the submitted report providing feedback from the above meeting she chaired on 29th September, 2009 with member development officers from Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield.

With regard to the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP) bid, a meeting had been arranged for 2nd November, 2009 between elected members of the four local authorities to consider proposals.

Representatives from the South Yorkshire Joint Secretariat, South Yorkshire Police Authority and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority had also been invited.

Agreed:- That the information be noted and any suggestions be forwarded to Cath Saltis as a matter of urgency

Members considered correspondence regarding the above.

Agreed:- That the matter be raised at Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee and Democratic Renewal Scrutiny Panel with a view to one scrutiny member being nominated to attend alongside a member of the Executive.

Agreed:- That the next meeting of the Members’ Training and Development Panel take place on Thursday, 19th November, 2009 at 2.00 p.m.