Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 22 February 2011. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2011 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no items of urgent business.

Report of Leader of the Council.

The panel received a report from the Leader of the Council in respect of the third quarter Performance Review Team meetings for 2010/11 recently undertaken by individual cabinet members. The report had been considered by the Leader on 17 February 2011, and Cabinet at its meeting on 15 March 2011.

The third quarter of individual cabinet member Performance Review Team (PRT) meetings for 2010/11 had taken place between 24 January and 17 February 2011. Each meeting had monitored progress against the actions included in the Corporate Plan for each cabinet member and any outstanding issues from the previous round of meetings.

The Corporate Financial Monitoring report of the Head of Financial Services set out an indicative corporate picture of the Council’s financial performance relating to the period ending 31 December 2010 and summarised the variances reported through Services’ quarterly Performance Review Team meetings and identified any omissions, updates and actions required, and was based on the Revised Budget. In addition there were specific sections for salary monitoring, capital expenditure and financing, Housing Revenue Account (HRA), revenue collection performance and insurance and Risk Management.  

Following the leader’s report members asked extensive questions regarding areas of concern, which the leader advised would be referred to the relevant portfolio holders.

Resolved:

(1)               That Officers/Cabinet Members be invited to provide briefing notes and attend future meetings of the Panel to report on progress being made in the following service/portfolio areas:

1.      Building Control

The Leader left the meeting at this point and did not return.

Report of Assistant Head of Community Engagement (Partnerships)

The Assistant Head of Community Engagement (Partnerships) presented a report to provide the panel with an update on the children and young people agenda in respect of recent progress and changes.

Members were reminded that the panel had previously requested two reports relating to this policy area. As circumstances had changed very quickly in this portfolio area it had been agreed with the Chairman that an extract from the executive annual report which provides a summary of recent developments and progress in the children and young people portfolio area be reported to the panel instead of the requested reports. This extract would provide members with the most up to date information available.

The panel were advised that as part of the restructure of council services the Children and Young People Team had moved into ‘Community Engagement – Partnerships’ Service at the beginning of the municipal year.

The Lancashire Children’s Trust had also undergone a restructure during late 2010 to become more streamlined and focused on priorities. The district Children’s Trusts had been required to restructure themselves as well, splitting their membership into a small strategic Board and a wider Operational Partnership.

The Assistant Head of Community Engagement (Partnerships) advised the panel of the priorities on which the Children’s Trust had agreed to focus its energies. It had been agreed that in delivering the agreed priorities there would be a strong focus on developing and embedding integrated working and early intervention.

These priorities were summarised as follows:

• Improving the health and wellbeing of C&YP
• Reducing the number of young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)
• Improving outcomes for vulnerable groups
• Better access to positive activities for C&YP

The Assistant Head of Community Engagement (Partnerships) gave the panel an overview of the activities of relating to Children and Young People during 2010/11, and members asked questions accordingly.

Resolved:

(1)               That the Children and Young People Team be formally thanked for all their hard work over the past municipal year.

Report of Head of Governance.

The Democratic Support Officer presented a report detailing the Panel’s Work Programme.

The Accountancy Services Manager advised that the briefing note on Pension Liabilities would be circulated to members of the panel in due course.  

Resolved:

(1)               That members note the items to be carried forward for consideration at future meetings as detailed in Appendix A to the report.

(2)               That the Chairman be advised of any additional reports to be considered at the next meeting of the panel before determining whether to defer the meeting.