Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 9th March, 2009 be approved as a correct record.

Stuart Booth, Director of Central Finance, gave a presentation in respect of the above.

The presentation covered:-

-                      Use of Resources 2009

-                      RMBC Use of Resources 2008

-                      Changes to Use of Resources

-                      Key Lines of Enquiry

-                      The Challenges

-                      What we have done so far

-                      Timetable

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

-                      arrangements to work with partners

-                      governance arrangements with regard to significant partnerships

-                      embedding of scrutiny process into partnership arrangements

-                      future emphasis on outcomes : the ‘so what’ test

-                      increased difficulties in maintaining Use of Resources scores due to the new system and changing criteria and impact of potential negative perceptions of lower scoring levels

Resolved:- That the information be noted.

Tim Littlewood, Performance and Quality Team Manager, presented the submitted briefing paper outlining audit and inspection activity in 2009.

Key audits and inspections to be carried and before 31st July, 2009 included:-

-                      Corporate Area Assessment : self assessment to be submitted by 31st May with inspectors on site in June

-                      Use of Resources : self assessments submitted to KPMG on 7th May – indicative score by 31st May with further work in June and July

-                      Joint inspection of Physical Disability Service and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults : self assessments to be submitted to QCC on 15th May  with inspectors on site on 23rd June

-                      Fostering Inspection : self assessment submitted on 5th May with inspectors on site on 22nd June

-                      Children’s Assessment : dates to be confirmed

Although the Audit and Inspection Plan 2009 had not yet been finalised, it was expected that KPMG activity (other than Use of Resources and Financial Matters) would focus on :-

-                      Town Centre development : ongoing from 2008

-                      Waste Management : ongoing from 2008

-                      WorkSmart : likely to concentrate on pilots

The full list of inspection activity was submitted.

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

-                      inspections were now much more labour intensive

-                      inspections were now cross Council

-                      priority of inspection regimes amongst partner organisations

-                      Fostering inspection

-                      difficulties in evidencing benefits now regarding longer term initiatives e.g. WorkSmart

-                      initial focus being on governance issues but turning to outcomes by 2010

Resolved:- That the information be noted.

Matt Gladstone, Assistant Chief Executive, indicated that the final report in respect of the above had been submitted to the Children’s Board and was to be considered by Cabinet in early July.

Issues requiring scrutiny included:-

-                      leadership, management, accountability and governance

-                      performance management

-                      locality working

-                      benchmarking/resourcing

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

-                      performance management

-                      resources

-                      fostering

-                      Comprehensive Area Assessment

-                      potential presentation

Resolved:- That the information be noted.

Matt Gladstone, Assistant Chief Executive, presented briefly the submitted report considered by Corporate Management Team relating to the above.

The Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) Framework officially became effective from 1st April, 2009 and much activity had already taken place within the Council and the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) in relation to refreshing our Community Strategy, Local Area Assessment and Corporate Plan and raising awareness of the framework.

The Partnership now needed to submit a self assessment to the Audit Commission Comprehensive Area Assessment lead by the end of May, 2009 which the Council would take the lead on

The report gave a brief overview of the work undertaken to date and highlighted a proposed way forward to ensure the Authority and partners produced and submitted the self assessment in accordance with national timescales.

A report would be submitted shortly to Cabinet.

Resolved:- that the information be noted.