Corporate Scrutiny Panel – 21 February 2013

PRESENT:  Councillor Robinson in the chair.
Councillors Wilson (vice-chair), England, Jawaid MBE and Wells.

Councillors Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37(b).

The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.

145  DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of pecuniary or personal and prejudicial interests.

No whip was declared.

146  MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceeding of this panel held on 31 January 2013, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the Chairman.

147  PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK There were no requests received.

148  NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL SELF SERVICE PORTAL – The Chairman welcomed Councillor Poole, Pete Hewson and Gary Dunn to the meeting, the council’s Cabinet Member for Policy and Resources, Senior IT Officers (Digital Services).  Councillor Poole, Mr Hewson and Mr Dunn had been invited to the meeting to guide members’ through the council’s new self service portal.

Mr Hewson informed the meeting that the council was making it easier to contact them by launching an online self service portal.

The portal would allow people in North Lincolnshire to complete a range of things all in one place offering a higher standard of customer service.  This new service would be more resourceful as residents could access the portal when you want and use it how you want to suit your needs.

Residents would be able to do everything from buying Normanby Hall season tickets; applying for a job, travel pass and free school meals to requesting a collection calendar and much, much more.  You could also report fly tipping, noise pollution and changes in circumstances.

The portal would be simple and convenient to use as it only takes a few minutes to create an account.  By creating an account it would mean that your contact information would automatically be completed when filling in a form.

Residents could also view the history of what they had done before and track the progress of any enquiries.

Members were then guided through a presentation of the self service portal, which encompassed examples of typical enquiries residents may make and how the enquiry would be logged, tracked and resolved.

Following the IT Officers presentation, the Chairman facilitated a discussion between panel members and Councillor Poole, Mr Hewson and Mr Dunn.

Resolved – (a) That the Cabinet Member for Policy and Resources and Senior IT Officers (Digital Services) be thanked for their attendance, oral presentation and for answering members’ questions, and (b) that the members review into the IT service commence as soon as was practicable.

149  (13)  COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT SCHEMES – WHAT’S HAPPENING – The Director of Policy and Resources circulated a policy briefing from the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) on the findings from the New Policy Institute and a report from the Resolution Foundation which gave an overview of the current position on the local council tax support schemes confirmed by 235 of the affected councils.

Resolved – That the policy briefing be noted.

150  ADDED ITEM – The Chairman informed the members on the progress being made in timetabling the added item on ‘grants to voluntary organisations’.