Economic Development and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Panel – 1 February 2011

PRESENT: Councillor Jawaid MBE in the chair.

Councillors Glover (Vice-Chair), Bainbridge, Barkworth, Ellerby, N Sherwood and Waltham.

The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

225 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUCICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interest.

No whip was declared.

226 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on17 January 2011, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chair.

227 PUBLIC SPEAKING – There were no requests received.

228 (24) CENTRE FOR PUBLIC SCRUTINY GOOD SCRUTINY AWARDS 2011 – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated a submission form and category definitions for the Centre for Public Scrutiny Good Scrutiny Awards 2011. The 2011 awards recognised and rewarded non-executives across the public sector for the accountability, transparency and contribution that non-executives made towards achieving value for money.

The Service Director suggested that members may wish to consider the panel’s review into sickness absence as an entrant in the Good Scrutiny Awards 2011 due to the reduction achieved in absence levels as a direct result of the recommendations made by the panel.

Members were also provided with various statistics, as well as the recent report on sickness absence considered by the Audit Committee at its meeting on 25 January 2011.

Resolved – (a) That the panel unanimously supports the submission of its review into sickness absence as an entrant in the Centre for Public Scrutiny Good Scrutiny Awards 2011, and (b) that following consideration of the Audit Committee report on sickness absence, the panel, at their meeting on 28 February 2011, invite the Service Director Neighbourhood and Environmental Services and Director of Children’s Services, as well as the relevant Cabinet Members to explain the drop in performance of their absence statistics.

229 (25) THE DECENTRALISATION AND LOCALISM BILL – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated a briefing paper on the Decentralisation and Localism Bill and its potential impact on local democracy and governance (overview and scrutiny) in North Lincolnshire. The report had previously been considered by the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Panel at its meeting on 13 January 2011.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

230 THE PANEL’S FUTURE PRIORITIES AND WORK PROGRAMME – Further to Minute 221, the Service Director Legal and Democratic updated the members on the progress being made in scheduling the panel’s agreed work programme for the remainder of the municipal year.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

231 (26) LEADER OF THE COUNCIL’S FORWARD PLAN – FEBRUARY TO MAY 2011 – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council’s Forward Plan for February to May 2011.

The plan contained details of all matters and issues likely to be the subject of key decisions for a period of the next four months, updated on a monthly basis. Members discussed various items on the Forward Plan.

Resolved – That the Leader of the Council’s Forward Plan for February to May 2011 be noted.

232 ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.