Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Bolton, H Farrow, B Gibb-Gray, R Heard and D Smith.

To confirm the minutes of the Scrutiny Board held on 21 May 2013.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Board held on 21 May 2013 be approved as a correct record.

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.

There were no declarations of interests from any of the members present.

The Chairman commended the Panels for all their efforts and the recent significant work they had been undertaking.

The Board received a report from the Service Manager (Marketing and Customer Relations) providing an update on progress with regard to the recommendations arising from the Marketing and Development Panel’s review of Customer Access and Channel Shift, carried out in September 2012 (minute 54/09/2012 refers).

The Portfolio Holder, the Executive Head for Marketing and Development and the Service Manager for Marketing and Customer Relations were invited to join the meeting for the debate on this item and answered members’ questions in connection with the report.

An update was provided on what progress had been achieved over the last 12 months and the Board was pleased to note that the majority of recommendations had been actioned. It was recognised that some had not yet been implemented due to cost issues, however business cases were being developed to take these forward.

In response to  a suggestion from the Board that future resident surveys be combined with the distribution of electoral registration forms, it was agreed to consider this in future. The Board was reminded of the importance Councillors’ played in establishing the needs of the local population and their assistance in gathering this information would be invaluable.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and that the Scrutiny Panel be requested to build upon work to date.

The Board considered a report from the Marketing and Development Panel setting out the Panel’s findings in connection with its policy review of the Council’s Marketing Strategy.

Members of the Scrutiny Panel presented their report to the Board and answered members’ questions in connection with the Panel’s proposals.

Several questions were submitted to the Panel before the meeting and these and their related responses are attached to these minutes at Appendix A.

The Board discussed the importance of investigating the different options available to the Council of providing and maintaining an excellent service to its customers particularly with regard to potential future financial constraints. In response to a suggestion that a review of alternative methods of potentially administering the borough in the future be undertaken, the Board considered that this matter should be subject to scrutiny by the Governance and Logistics Panel.

At the conclusion of the debate the Chairman thanked the Panel for all their hard work and effort in producing an interesting and informative report.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that

(1)       The Council adopts the process of Commissioning as set out in paragraph 3.10 of this report;

(2)       all potentially appropriate service delivery models be considered, not limited to those referred to in this report, in taking forward future customer-focused service delivery, in line with the mixed economy approach set out in the Council's Marketing Strategy; and

(3)      any proposals for the implementation of alternative service delivery models, in relation to any particular service, be in line with the Council's Corporate Strategy priorities and supported by a sound business case.

RESOLVED that the Governance and Logistics Panel be requested to review alternative methods of administration for the borough.

The Board was given an opportunity to review progress with regard to the work undertaken by the scrutiny panels since the last meeting and to identify any additional matters for inclusion in the Board’s work programme.

RESOLVED that progress to date with regard to the Board’s work programme be noted and that no additional matters be selected for scrutiny/policy review at the present time.