northlincs.gov.uk

Corporate Scrutiny Panel – 21 June 2012

PRESENT:  Councillor Robinson in the chair.

Councillors Wilson (vice-chair), England, Jawaid MBE and Wardle.

Councillor Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.36 (b).

The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.

86  DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – The following member declared a personal interest –

No whip was declared.

87  MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceeding of this panel held on 7 June 2012, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the Chairman.

88  PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK – There were no requests received.

89  (4)  CORPORATE SCRUTINY PANEL – Further to Minute 80, the Chairman welcomed the Director of Policy and Resources to the meeting.  The Director had been invited to assist members’ understanding of their terms of reference due to the Policy and Resources service mirroring the terms of reference of the scrutiny panel.

Consequently, the Chairman welcomed the council’s Director of Policy and Resources, and Assistant Directors for Human Resources, Legal and Democratic Services, Financial Services and Business Support to the meeting, namely Mike Wedgewood, Helen Manderson, Will Bell, Peter Fijalkowski and Jason Whaler respectively.  The Director and his Assistant’s gave an oversight of their service areas, paying particular attention to the future challenges and policy developments in the service.

Following the presentation, the Chairman invited members to question the council’s Director of Policy and Resources and Assistant Directors for Human Resources, Legal and Democratic Services, Financial Services and Business Support.

Resolved – (a) That the Director of Policy and Resources, and Assistant Directors for Human Resources, Legal and Democratic Services, Financial Services and Business Support be thanked for their attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions, and (b) that the potential work streams suggested by the Director for the panel be discussed later in the meeting (minute 91 refers).

90  PROPOSED CHANGES TO COUNCIL EMPLOYEES CASUAL AND ESSENTIAL USER MILEAGE RATES – Further to Minute 79, the Chairman informed the panel that he had met with the council’s Chief Executive and Assistant Director Human Resources to discuss how members could pursue their investigation into the proposed changes to council employees casual and essential user mileage rates.

Resolved – That consideration of the proposed changes to council employees casual and essential user mileage rates be deferred until the next scheduled meeting of the panel.

91  CONSIDERATION OF WORK PROGRAMME AND FUTURE PRIORITIES – Further to Minutes 83 and 89, the Chairman facilitated a discussion with members with the aim of agreeing the panel’s work programme for the municipal year 2012-2013.

Resolved – That the Corporate Scrutiny Panel work programme for the municipal year 2012-13 be as follows –

• Impact and implementation of the changes to council tax benefit,
• Success of joint procurement arrangements with North East Lincolnshire Council and further opportunities for shared services
• Progress on the implementation of the new Standards regime
• Impact of the changes to the voluntary and community sector funding arrangements

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