12 10 2005

Councillors Bone, Mrs Cully, Dickson (P), Edgar (P), Jacobs (P), Kimber (P), Philpott (P), Redrup (P), Mrs Salter and Train (P).

 

 

 

 

Apologies for inability to attend the meeting were received on behalf of Councillors Bone and Mrs Cully. 

 

 

 

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 August 2005 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

 

 

(i)  Public Toilets Working Group

The Committee received a copy of the Working Group’s Action Plan, showing the areas of investigation to date and outlining the information that had been provided by officers as part of the scrutiny process.

 

Earlier in the day, Members of the Working Group had carried out site visits to those toilet blocks that had been closed for some time, with a view to assessing their potential for continued closure, alternative use(s) or demolition.  The Working Group had also visited the new facilities at Lee-on-the-Solent.

 

As one of the Working Group’s members was unable to attend this evening’s meeting, the Committee was informed that more detailed feedback would be given on progress at the next meeting of the Committee.

 

RESOLVED:  That the action plan and report of the Working Group be noted.

 

(ii)  Constitution Working Group

The Working Group had met recently and the action plan, showing the areas of investigation to be undertaken, was circulated to the Committee. 

 

As part of their information gathering, Members would be exploring scrutiny models adopted by other fourth option local authorities, seeking best practice by other authorities and considering the guidance for 4th Option councils offered by the Centre for Public Scrutiny..  The draft overview and scrutiny handbook was being developed as part of the Working Group’s remit and it was hoped that the final document would be completed in time for adoption by the Council in April 2006.

 

The Working Group’s main focus of the Constitution review related to the scrutiny functions of the Council and was due to be completed by the end of December 2005.  The Borough Solicitor reported that the democratic arrangements for the Borough were being reviewed and amendments to the Council’s Constitution would be completed by the end of the Municipal Year 2005/2006.

 

RESOLVED:  That the action plan and report of the Working Group be noted.

 

 

 

It was reported that the Borough Solicitor had not received any requests for matters to be scrutinised.

 

However, Councillor Edgar requested that tourism, marketing and promotion of the Borough be considered by the Committee as a matter for scrutiny.

 

Councillor Edgar referred to the District Auditor’s Report that had commented last year that the Council was not making the most of the opportunities and attractions in the Borough.  The report especially highlighted the Town’s 800th anniversary.  Councillor Edgar asked the Committee to consider whether there could be a positive way forward to raise the profile of the Borough for residents and to encourage visitors and this issue be scrutinised.

 

During a full debate, various matters were discussed.  Members questioned:

 

 

Members discussed the advantages and disadvantages of scrutiny being undertaken by the full Committee or by a small working group.  The Committee concluded that, in this instance, all Members should receive information about existing policies relating to tourism, marketing and promotion and then at the next meeting decide how the matter was to be scrutinised.

 

RESOLVED:  That

 

(a)  the request to scrutinise the issue of tourism, marketing and promotion of the Borough be approved;

 

(b)  officers be requested to provide information on current policies in relation to (a) above and that documents be forwarded to each member of the Committee by 10 November 2005; and

 

(c)   at their next meeting on 7 December 2005, the Committee considers how scrutiny of the issue should be scoped and progressed.

 

 

 

The Committee agreed their work programme which now included:

 

1.  Constitution (including the Overview and Scrutiny Handbook);

2    Public Toilets; and

3   Tourism, marketing and promotion

 

 

 

 

South East Employers Elected Members Network

The Chairman reported on a recent seminar that he had attended at Guildford University.  Most of the delegates had been from Councils operating the ‘Executive/Cabinet’ arrangements and the Chairman reported that there were few Members from 4th Option local authorities.

 

The Committee discussed again potential changes to the Council’s democratic arrangements and the need for Scrutiny Committees to prioritise requests and workloads due to limited staffing and funding resources.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Chairman’s report be noted