Agenda and draft minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 23^rd March, 2010 were agreed as a correct record.

With regards to Minute No. 46 (Safeguarding Issues) it was reported that the training with for Corporate Parenting would commence in the Autumn.

The first session in relation to Safeguarding would be on the 2^nd July, 2010 in partnership with the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel.  Further sessions relating to Safeguarding would be rolled out to the Locality Champions and other Members in due course.

Councillor Lakin, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services informed the Panel that he was to resume the visits to the children’s homes along with visits to other establishments shortly and would be inviting all Members as Corporate Parents.

Reference was also made to the role of Champions in general, along with the Locality Champions, and clarification was sought.  It was, therefore, proposed that the role of Champions be revisited by the Head of Scrutiny Services and Member Support.

Further information was also requested on the latest position with regards to CRB checks for Members and discussion ensued on:-

·              Whether a Member as a School Governor had to have a CRB check if they were not directly involved with children.

·              CRB checks being non-transferable and the requirement for individual checks being carried out for different activities.

·              Council Minute which referred to CRB checks being undertaken for all Members.

·              Clarification of the current status of CRB checks on Members.

Agreed:-  That the current situation with regard to CRB checks be clarified.

Further to Minute No. H109 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care held on 26th April, 2010 reference was made to the proposals for training for members on the Personalisation Agenda.

The Scrutiny Adviser reported that Tom Sweetman had previously provided some information to assist Members at their surgeries.

It was noted that some training had previously been provided on the Personalisation Agenda and it was suggested that further training be arranged as a refresher which should include new Members and where possible relevant information be provided on the intranet and website.

Agreed:-  That an “aide memoire” on two sides fo A4 be circulated to Members for them to use at their surgeries.

The Chairman introduced Charlie Longley, Senior Accountant, who provided information on the latest position with regards to the Member Training Budget.

The budget position for the period 1^st April, 2009 to 31^st March, 2010 was £25,052 underspent on a budget of £32,473.  The reason for the underspend being the £21,000 grant funding from R.E.I.P.  When used against the expenditure the net saving on the Member Training Budget was £7,421.  This year the budget stood at £30,975.

The Panel noted the current position, but asked if consideration could be given to carrying forward at least £7,000 of the underspend in view of potential cuts to budgets and for the potential of allocating some funds for ICT provision in the Majority Party Room.

Agreed:-  That the carry forward request be considered further and appropriate action taken.

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Scrutiny Adviser which gave an overview of proposed Member Development activity during the late summer through to December.

These already included a serious of development activities around:-

·              2nd July, 2010 -  Safeguarding Children – this will be an initial session for the Cabinet Member, Advisers and Members of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel.

·              Autumn, 2010 – The Member Role as a Corporate Parent – a series of sessions aimed at all Members.

·              Autumn, 2010 – The Councillor Role in Combating Climate Change – from an initial proposal by the Deputy Leader and the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel.

·              Autumn, 2010 – Updating our Knowledge of Licensing – a joint session with Sheffield City Council aimed mainly at Members of the Licensing Committee.

·              Autumn, 2010 – Ward Walkabouts for new Members.

·              Autumn, 2010 – An Effective Administration/An Effective Opposition.

It was noted that a workshop on the PREVENT agenda had been arranged for the 30^th June, 2010 on moving forward the Community Cohesion/Community Leadership Role of Councillors. 

Some Members asked for more information about the “Total Place” approach to Public Service management with some thirteen pilot schemes currently taking place which would help inform how this could be taken forward.  It would be helpful for Members of the Audit Committee or a wider audience to take this forward in conjunction with Local Strategic Partnership partners.

In addition a series of Member Development events have been organised by the Yorkshire and Humber Region.  Information about these had been circulated to all Members via email.

The programme for 2010/11 IDeA Leadership Academy had also been received with expressions of interest for the Graduate School from Councillors Pickering and Lakin and the Summer School from Councillors Falvey and Havenhand and for the Adults, Children’s Health and Wellbeing Programme from Councillor Paul Lakin (in his new Cabinet portfolio).  It may be that following the summer school Councillors Falvey and Havenhand may wish to attend the full Leadership Academy programme.

Reference was also made to training packages arranged by the Governors’ Support Section, which were available for those Members that were also School Governors.  There were also the opportunity to approach the Governors’ Support Section for specific information/training if there were several cluster schools that required some support.

As a result of information coming from National Government, there may be a need for some workshops related to the budget position in view of the proposals to reduce budgets by 25%.  The Comprehensive Spending Review was due for publication in October and may shed more light on the current positions.  It was suggested that some consideration given to the resurrection of the Our Future Groups with a view to them assisting with the process.

Agreed:-  (1)  That the proposed Member Development activities proposed in the report be approved.

(2)  That Members forward to the Scrutiny Team any additional proposals they may have for other activities.

(Councillor Lakin declared a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Scrutiny Adviser which provided information about the induction programme for new Members which was run after the election.

Following the May elections a two week induction course was held for the two new Members.  It was difficult to judge how to pitch induction as it was uncertain how many new Members would be elected.  Sessions were held at different times for the convenience of the new Members with a variation of early evening proving helpful.

Due to the election of a new Government and the many challenges and changes which local government would now face, it could well be that consideration should be given to a change in format for induction with fewer sessions initially, but with more spread in the early Autumn.

Members noted the sessions that had taken place and acknowledged that early notification to all candidates of the induction process before the election was important.

Agreed:-  That the report be received and the contents noted.

Agreed:-  That the next meeting scheduled take place on Thursday, 22^nd July, 2010 at 2.30 p.m.