10 08 2006

Councillors Mrs Champion (P),Mrs Cully (P), Farr (P), Dickson (P), Foster (P), Hicks (P), Jacobs (P), Philpott (P), Redrup (P) and Mrs Salter.

 

 

In accordance with Standing Orders, notification had been received that Councillor Carr would replace Councillor Mrs Salter for the duration of this meeting.

 

 

 

 

Apologies for inability to attend the meeting were received on behalf of Councillor Mrs Salter.

 

 

 

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 29 June 2006 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

 

 

 

 

The Committee received a report of the Chairman of the Committee to consider a review of the Terms of Reference of the Committee.  In this connection the following three documents were distributed to the Committee with the Agenda for information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chairman read out the item in the Constitution relating to the operation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees together with the relationship between these and the service Boards and the arrangement to make any necessary recommendations on such matters to Council.

 

 

The Chairman stated that he was unaware that it was stated in the Constitution that the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee should only review Policy Framework documents.

 

 

It was proposed by the Chairman that the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee should review any policy matters and that the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee deal with service matters.

 

 

The Borough Solicitor explained that, prior to the present arrangement, three Overview and Scrutiny committees existed to mirror the service Boards. The changes in 2003 were to ensure that the emphasis for the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee was on the Policy Framework documents with other policy matters being considered by Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

 

It was proposed by Councillor Philpott, seconded by Councillor Dickson that the two overview and scrutiny committees be amalgamated, although there was some support for the existing arrangement as there could still be confusion and overlap as to which committee dealt with any particular matter even with the Chairman’s proposed changes.  Members were also asked to consider if they wished to put a range of options to Council.

 

 

In response to a member’s question the Borough Solicitor confirmed that information regarding the number of meetings and matters considered by both overview and scrutiny committees since their inception in 2003 could be prepared.  This information could be available for the next Committee.

 

 

RESOLVED:  That the Borough Solicitor arrange for information to be prepared in relation to the number of meetings and matters dealt with by both overview and scrutiny committees, since their inception, for the next Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

 

 

 

 

The Committee considered the following two requests for scrutiny:

 

 

 

 

Following the decision of Council on 12 July 2006 it was suggested that the operational details for the introduction of the two hours free car parking should be scrutinised by the full Policy and Overview Scrutiny Committee.  This proposal was made by Councillor Philpott, seconded by Councillor Foster and the consensus was in favour of undertaking the scrutiny.

 

 

The Borough Solicitor advised members that the timescale for the legal procedure including statutory consultations was likely to be between three and six months.  It was also advised that the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee had intended to scrutinise this area of work but it was not known whether this was to take place prior to, or after the ensuing changes.

 

 

It was suggested that the scope of the scrutiny investigation include:

 

 

o       Focus on the practical issues, monitoring and policing of new arrangements and investigating staff resources

o       Inviting the proposer and seconder of the Motion to Council to attend the scrutiny to explain how they envisaged the arrangements operating

o       Invite other Members and officers who deal with such issues to attend to provide advice on options available.

 

 

RESOLVED:  That the operational details of implementing the Council’s decision of 12 July 2006 to introduce two hours free car parking to car parking charges be scrutinised by the members of the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee and that the proposer and seconder of the motion be invited to attend the next meeting where this scrutiny was being undertaken.

 

 

 

 

Following concern about the uses of the waterfront it was suggested that a scrutiny investigation be carried out by a three Member Working Group consisting of Councillors Mrs Cully, Hicks and Philpott.

 

 

The scope of the scrutiny investigation was likely to include the following areas:

 

 

o       The existing use of the waterfront including public slipways, jet-ski activities and facilities

o       Review the existing zoning of areas

o       Consider areas permitted for dogs and the problems of dog excrement

o       The potential for this review to form part of the tourism review and review of associated bye-laws

 

 

The Borough Solicitor suggested that a date be arranged for the first Working Group meeting and, that following completion of their scrutiny findings, a report be presented to Community and Environment Board early in the New Year in preparation for the 2007 summer season.

 

 

RESOLVED:  That waterfront zoning at Lee-on-the-Solent and Stokes Bay be scrutinised.

 

 

 

 

The following two matters were to be considered in the Work Programme:

 

 

(a)

The forthcoming changes to Car Parking charges was to be considered by the full Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee and was to take place with the first meeting to be arranged.

 

 

(b)

Waterfront zoning at Lee-on-the-Solent and Stokes Bay was also to be examined by a three Member Working Group with the first meeting also to be arranged.

 

 

 

 

There was no other business to discuss.