Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9^th February, 2009.

Further to Minute No. 57 (Procurement Panel), it was noted that the name of the award was the Local Government Chronicle and Health Service Journal Sustainable Procurement Award.

Resolved:-  That, subject to the above clerical correction, the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th February, 2009, be approved as a correct record.

Mark Gannon, Transformation & Strategic Partnerships Manager, presented the submitted report which summarised RBT’s performance against contractual measures and key service delivery issues for January, 2009, across the areas of Customer Access, Human Resources and Payroll and Procurement.

Key points for this period included:-

§               All contractual targets had been achieved in Customer Access, Human Resources and Payroll, ICT and Procurement

§               Work had commenced on site at Aston

§               Ongoing work for Customer Service Excellence

§               ABACUS recruitment management software now installed with configuration work progressing.

§               The TSP Team had negotiated improved PC pricing with RBT

A discussion ensued and issues were raised and clarified on the following points:-

-              Some very good results across the whole Council from the recent Mystery Shopper exercise

-              Encouraging numbers had signed up for on-line pay slips

-              A visit was to be made by a senior civil servant to observe Tell Us Once

Resolved:-  That RBT’s performance against  contractual measures and key service delivery issues for January, 2009, be noted.

- minutes of meeting held on 9^th February, 2009

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Procurement Panel held on 9th February, 2009.

It was noted that the recent Meet the Buyer event had been a tremendous success with over 250 delegates in attendance.  Thanks were given to the TSP Team for co-ordinating the event.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

- minutes of meeting held on 19^th January, 2009

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Complaints Forum held on 19th January, 2009.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

- minutes of meeting held on 2^nd February, 2009

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Customer Access Group held on 2nd February, 2009.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

A Member of the Council had raised a query with regard to the processing of a request.

It was noted that a representative from RBT had spoken with the Councillor concerned and the work was now in hand.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council)).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in those paragraphs indicated below of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council)).

Consideration was given and discussion took place on the minutes of the E-Government Board held on 23^rd February, 2009.

It was noted that a presentation was to be made to the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee on the ICT Capital Strategy.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council)).

Mark Gannon, Transformation & Strategic Partnerships Manager, presented a report which summarised RBT’s performance in respect of Procurement savings achieved and in respect of the Revenues and Benefits Service.

Resolved:-  That RBT’s performance against contractual measures and key service delivery issues for January, 2009, be noted.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council))

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council)).

In accordance with Minute No. 18 of July, 2008, the Revenues and Benefits Client Manager submitted an update on the implementation of the NNDR Collection Action Plan.

Significant progress had been made in respect of 12 of the 13 identified actions.  The exception related to the use of insolvency where a tendering process was required before any further action could be taken.

Resolved:-  That the progress made in implementing the NNDR Action Plan be noted.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council))

The Chairman welcomed Janet Scott and Anthony Dockray, Welfare Rights and Money Service, to the meeting.

Janet reported that the Service was facing increased demand due to the economic downturn.  Intervention by experienced Money Advisers at an early stage could result in the prevention of repossession and, therefore, decrease the impact and cost to social landlords and the effect of homelessness on families and communities.  The Service only had 2 full-time Money Advisers

In the last months there had been a 68% increase in customers.  Many were unable to get advice elsewhere as they did not qualify for assistance under Legal Aid which had had the knock on effect of longer waiting times for appointments.  In addition, staff were attending the credit crunch roadshows.

The report set out Government initiatives and the implications for staff.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That a proposal be developed on the requirements and associated costs to supplement staff.

(3)  That discussions be held with the Director of Internal Audit and Governance.