Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel – 2 February 2011

PRESENT:  Councillor Davison in the Chair.

Councillors Ali, Armitage, Clark, T Foster, Poole and Simpson.

The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

365  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.

366  MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 18 January 2011, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chair.

367  PUBLIC SPEAKING – There were no requests received.

368  (31)  PRELIMINARY FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENTS – SUBMISSION TIMETABLE – The Service Director Legal and Democratic informed the meeting that Richard Benyon MP, Flooding Minister had created a new flexibility for Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs), in response to concerns raised by the Local Government Association and authorities over the very challenging timetable for completing the assessments and securing internal approval and sign off by June 2011.

Members were informed of the new arrangements, and engaged in a discussion on the implications for the scrutiny panel’s work programme.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

369  (32)  SCRUTINY OF FLOODING TOOLKIT – The Service Director Legal and Democratic informed the meeting that the Local Government Improvement and Development and the Local Government Information Unit had convened a scrutiny of flooding learning network for local authorities to improve understanding of scrutiny of flooding and identify challenges that councils face in delivering the process. Arising from the network event, a scrutiny of flooding toolkit had been drafted.

Although members had already undertaken a review into flooding, the Service Director circulated the toolkit for member’s information.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

370  (33)  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.

371  (34)  THE PANEL’S FUTURE PRIORITIES AND WORK PROGRAMME – Further to Minute 360, the Service Director Legal and Democratic updated members on the progress being made in scheduling the panel’s agreed work programme for the remainder of the municipal year.

Resolved – (a) That the update be noted, and (b) that the panel’s previous review into Neighbourhood Action Teams in North Lincolnshire be re-visited.

372  (35)  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.

In addition, further to minute 362, the Service Director circulated a response from the council’s Head of Safer Roads following the member’s query regarding item 12/10 (03) Speed Limit Review.

Resolved – (a) That the Leader of the Council’s Forward Plan for February to May 2011 be noted, and (b) that the Head of Safer Roads response to the panels query on the Speed Limit Review be received with thanks.

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