Meeting documents
Regeneration and Planning Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 8th October 2007
Present
Chair
AT Jennings
Councillors
JR Cocker, GD Mitchell, SR Mountney, JV Stapleton
Deputy
Ann McLachlan (for Cllr ED Prout)
A Pritchard (for Cllr IJ Mackenzie)
Index to Minutes
- Minute 11 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
- Minute 12 - MINUTES
- Minute 13 - PROPOSED SAVINGS
- Minute 14 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - FINANCIAL MONITORING
- Minute 15 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - CAPITAL PROGRAMME MONITORING
- Minute 16 - CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT - STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT SECTION - FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE MINITORING REPORT
- Minute 17 - WIRRAL EMPLOYMENT LAND AND PREMISES STUDY - APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS
- Minute 18 - EXEMPT INFORMATION - EXCLUSION OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
- Minute 19 - REGENERATION UPDATE
- Minute 20 - ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Minute 11 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Minute Text :
Members of the Committee were requested to declare any interest they may have, either personal or prejudicial, in any of the items on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they were.
Members were reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they were subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement. No declarations were made.
Minute 12 - MINUTES
Minute Text :
The committee was requested to receive the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June, 2007 which were received by Council on 16 July, 2007.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the minutes be received.
Minute 13 - PROPOSED SAVINGS
Minute Text :
Following the Cabinet meeting on 6 September (minute 203 refers) which had recommended to Council for approval a number of budget savings, the following item had been referred to this overview and scrutiny committee for consideration:-
Merge Building Control and Development Control Administration teams into single integrated system - £50,000
The Director of Technical Services outlined the background to this savings proposal.
Councillor Mountney expressed his concern that savings proposals were being presented to this committee without a written report.
Councillor Cocker referred to the recent review of planning procedures and systems by the Planning Committee and reported that this particular proposal had already been agreed in principle because it was considered that the merger of the two administration teams would produce a more efficient system.
On a motion by Councillor Cocker seconded by Councillor Mitchell it was:-
Minute Decision :
Resolved (5:2) (Councillors Mountney and Pritchard dissenting) - That this Committee support the following proposed saving:
Merge Building Control and Development Control Administration teams into single integrated system - £50,000
Minute 14 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - FINANCIAL MONITORING
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a report highlighting the financial performance of his department.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Committee note the content of the report.
Minute 15 - REGENERATION DEPARTMENT - CAPITAL PROGRAMME MONITORING
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a report comprising a regular update on his department's Capital Programme.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the Committee note the contents of this report.
Minute 16 - CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT - STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT SECTION - FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE MINITORING REPORT
Minute Text :
The Director of Regeneration submitted a report providing an overview of performance, at the first quarter, of those indicators that were reported for the Strategic Development Section of the Corporate Services Department. The report also included summary financial information. Further detailed information was contained within the financial monitoring report for the same period (see minute 14 ante).
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the committee note the performance of the Strategic Development Section at the first quarter.
Minute 17 - WIRRAL EMPLOYMENT LAND AND PREMISES STUDY - APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS
Minute Text :
The Director of Corporate Services reported that consultants had now been appointed by the Director of Corporate Services under delegated powers to undertake an Employment Land and Premises Study for the Borough in accordance with the resolution of Cabinet on 24 January 2007 (Minute 245 refers).
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the appointment of BE Group for the sum of £46,370 under the delegated powers of the Director of Corporate Services be noted.
Minute 18 - EXEMPT INFORMATION - EXCLUSION OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Minute Text :
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That, under section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the relevant paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.
Minute 19 - REGENERATION UPDATE
Exempt :
NOT FOR PUBLICATION: Exempt by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a (as amended) of the Local Government Act, 1972.
Minute Text :
The Directors of Corporate Services and of Regeneration gave a verbal report on the progress of major development schemes within the borough.
Minute Decision :
Resolved - That the report be noted.
Minute 20 - ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Minute Text :
The Chair reported that he had been consulted regarding the following item of business and had agreed to accept it as a matter of urgency in view of the need to make a decision within the current committee cycle.
The Director of Corporate Services reported that, following the Cabinet meeting on 4 October (minute 268 refers) which had recommended to Council for approval a number of budget savings, the following item had been referred to this overview and scrutiny committee for consideration:-
Strategic Development staff reductions - £75,000.
The Director outlined the background to the Council's current financial position and the reasons for budget savings to reduce the projected shortfall. He outlined the details and implications of this particular savings proposal.
Councillor Mountney asked for this matter to be deferred for a written report from the Director.
Councillor Mitchell stated that the background information had been fully presented by the Director and there was therefore no reason to delay a decision on this matter.
It was moved by Councillor Mitchell seconded by Councillor Cocker that:
" That this Committee support the following proposed saving: Strategic Development staff reductions - £75,000."
It was as an amendment by Councillor Mountney and seconded by Councillor Pritchard that:
" This matter be deferred for a written report by the Director of Corporate Services."
The amendment was put and lost (2:5).
The motion was put and carried (5:2)
Minute Decision :
Resolved - (5:2) (Councillors Mountney and Pritchard dissenting) - That this Committee support the following proposed saving: Strategic Development staff reductions - £75,000.
(Minutes Published: 10 October 2007)