Corporate Scrutiny Panel – 2 October 2014
PRESENT: – Councillor Robinson in the chair.
Councillors Wilson (Vice-Chair), Ellerby, P Vickers and Wardle.
The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.
278 DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and personal or personal and prejudicial interests
No whip was declared.
279 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 11 September 2014, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman.
280 PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK – There were no requests received.
281 CABINET MEMBER AND SERVICE AREA PRIORITIES – The Chairman welcomed Councillor Poole to the meeting, the council’s Cabinet Member for Policy and Resources. Councillor Poole had been invited to the panel meeting to update members on any key decisions, important business or key developments, which had occurred during the last quarter. The Cabinet Member focussed on partnership working, commercialisation, work with the voluntary and community sector and the ‘buy for Northern Lincolnshire’ initiative.
Following the update, the Chairman invited members to question the Cabinet Member for Policy and Resources.
Resolved – (a) That the oral update be noted, and (b) that the Cabinet Member for Policy and Resources be thanked for his attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions.
282 COUNCIL SPENDING WITH SMALL BUSINESSES – The Chairman informed the meeting that this item had been listed on the agenda as part of the panel’s review in to ‘regenerating North Lincolnshire’. The council, through successful procurement from the small business community, could fundamentally contribute towards achieving local economic growth.
Consequently, Councillor Poole, Cabinet Member for Policy and Resources had been invited to comment on how the council ensured it procured local goods and services.
Councillor Poole informed the meeting that the council was committed to supporting small businesses of all sizes in North Lincolnshire. Businesses could now access the council’s ‘Buy4Northern Lincolnshire’ website that provided access to public sector procurement opportunities across Northern Lincolnshire.
The Centre for Entrepreneurs think tank recently announced that over 19 per cent of work procured by the council ended up being carried out by small companies. In a league table of councils evaluated for their spending with small businesses, the council was listed as thirteenth in the new small business procurement index out of the 158 councils analysed nationally.
Following the update, the Chairman invited members to question the Cabinet Member for Policy and Resources.
Resolved – (a) That the oral update be noted; (b) that the Cabinet Member for Policy and Resources be thanked for his attendance and for answering members’ questions, and (c) that the panel revisit council procurement during the municipal year 2014-15.
283 REGENERATING NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – The Chairman provided the panel with an oral update on the status of the review.
Resolved – That the update be noted.
284 ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.