Members are asked to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.

Members are reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they are 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.

The members of the Committee were asked to consider whether they had a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any item on the agenda and, if so, to declare it and to state the nature of such interest.  They 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 to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.  No declarations were made.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 December, 2008.

Resolved - The minutes of the previous meeting, held on 4 December 2008, be received as a correct record.

The Director of Finance reported on the outcome of the Audit Commission report on Access to Services, following the inspection undertaken in September 2008.  The inspection had assessed Wirral Council (on a scale of zero to three stars) as providing ‘good, two-star access to services that has promising prospects for improvement … because of its impact on improving and providing access to services to meet the needs of the borough’s diverse communities – one of the Council’s aims’.

Malcolm Flanagan, Head of Benefits, Revenues and Customer Services, explained the context of the inspection and referred to the strengths and weaknesses identified in the report.  He reported on the action being taken to address the Audit Commissions specific recommendations, in respect of:

• increasing the number of hours for telephone contact by the public – extended hours were already available in a number of key service areas such as Revenues and Benefits (8.00am to 6.30pm weekdays and Saturday mornings) and it was planned during 2009 to include more services where it could be demonstrated to be of value to service users;
• dealing with the number of abandoned calls – Streetscene had been identified as the problem area and additional staff had been put in place to deal with the issue;
• improving access to buildings for disabled persons – that was being addressed as part of the Strategic Asset Review.

Overall, however, Wirral had equalled the highest national grading so far under the new inspection criteria.

In response to members’ questions Mr Flanagan stated that the extended hours had been publicised and the most marked increase had been early in the morning; it was the aim to have made progress on the three key recommendations by June 2009 - they were part of a more comprehensive action plan, and the Committee would be able to see how the service improved from the regular performance monitoring reports.  Russ Glennon, Head of Policy, added that the inspection report would be incorporated into the Council’s overall CAA and referred to the action being taken to provide more targeted analyses of customer satisfaction.

Councillor Gilchrist referred to the proposal by the Cabinet to relocate the Eastham One-Stop Shop to Bromborough, as part of the Strategic Asset Review.  He asked how that could be justified, given that the Council had recently invested £240,000 in providing the facility, and queried whether the Council would, as a result, be failing in its LPSA target of having customer services within one mile of 95% of residential properties. Malcolm Flanagan explained that having attained that target for LPSA purposes, it was not now a measurement that central government required from the authority. Councillor Kelly responded that it was likely that an information point might still be required in Eastham, but in an alternative location, such as a post office - he would take account of the views of local councillors on that issue.

Councillor Gilchrist also asked about the cost of relocation – his estimate was £100,000 – but was advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

The Committee considered a comprehensive report on the progress made over the third quarter towards achieving Level 3 of the Equality Standard for Local Government.  Russ Glennon, Head of Policy, stated that the external assessment was likely to take place in mid-2009.  He pointed out that where figures for the percentage of progress made appeared low it was because the main task(s) in that area had yet to be commenced but that the necessary preparatory work was well in hand.

The Chair reported the intention to invite two of the Departmental Equality Groups to the next meeting.

Resolved – That

(1)  the progress being made towards reaching Level 3 of the Equality Standard for Local Government be noted;

(2)  individual members of the Committee be urged to complete an equality impact assessment by the date of the next meeting;

(3)  members be provided with details of the marketing strategy for children’s centres.

Resolved – That

(1)  the Committee receive a report on the nature and processing of requests made under the Freedom of Information Act;

(2)  members advise the Chair as soon as possible of any other items that they would wish to be considered at the next meeting.

The Chair reported that Russ Glennon, Head of Policy, would shortly be leaving the authority to take up a post with the new Cheshire East Council.

Resolved – That the Committee record its thanks to Mr Glennon and its best wishes for success in his new post.