Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 September 2012 (attached). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 25^th September 2012 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no items of urgent business.

To receive declarations by members of interests in respect of items on this agenda. 

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, members are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of the Assistant Head of Community Engagement (Partnerships).

The Assistant Head of Community Engagement (Partnerships) presented the corporate performance monitoring update report and progress as at September 2012 on actions in the Corporate Plan 2012 – 15 to the Panel.  The report provided an update on developments in, and plans for, improving corporate performance management arrangements in the future.

The report identified those activities with a ‘red’ status, where further intervention was likely to be necessary to achieve the stated outcome or realise the benefits of projects programmes. Members were advised that there was only one activity - Completion of New Homes in the District - where performance on the delivery of planned outcomes had not at that stage been achieved as planned.

The Head of Regeneration and Planning had stated that the performance indicator for completion of new homes in the district was coloured red to reflect the serious level of under performance with the completion of new homes in the district in relation to a target of 400 homes per annum. It was acknowledged however that much of the influence over new housing was outside of the council’s control. It was advised that the performance indicator for completion of new homes in the district would now be coloured amber, as the Council’s new Local Plan, which proposed housing schemes on green field sites, had been approved for public consultation. The indicator would be turned amber in recognition of the Council’s proactive action to mitigate the private sector’s poor performance.

The Panel queried how changes to planning regulations and the current economic climate had affected revenue coming into the Council. It was agreed that a report regarding this matter be requested for inclusion in the Work Programme for a future meeting of the Panel. 

The Principal Human Resources Officer advised members on the issue of reducing sickness absence. It was advised that the Council aimed to reduce the number of days lost to sickness absence per employee to less than 9.0 days by the end of the current financial year. For the financial year 2011/12 an average of 9.56 days was lost to sickness absence. It was advised that this figure was an average, which covered both long-term and short-term absences and did not mean that all employees had 9 days of sickness absence in a year. The majority of absence was long term in nature, which had a disproportionate impact on average absence levels,

The Panel was advised of a range of actions taken by the Council to assist employees in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including enhancements to the range of supportive measures available to employees who required additional assistance in returning to or remaining in work during a period of ill health. . In addition, the Council’s Sickness Absence Management Policy had been revised, following consultation and agreement by JCC and the Personnel Committee. It was expected that the introduction of a revised Sickness Absence Management Policy would have a further positive impact on absence levels.

It was advised that a new Payroll/Human Resources system,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Report of the Head of Governance.

The Democratic Support Officer presented a report to update Members on the Panel’s Work Programme. Members were reminded that consideration of the report had been deferred from the meeting of the Panel held on 25^th September 2012. 

The Panel was asked to consider whether they would like to include any further items in the Work Programme. 

Members discussed the meeting of the Panel scheduled to be held on 23^rd October 2012. It was advised that the agenda for this meeting had now been published, and that the reports included for consideration were as follows: -

·         Salt Ayre Sports Centre.

·         Storey Creative Industries Centre.

·         Partnerships.

·         Work Programme Report.

The Panel agreed that, as the consideration of the reports regarding Salt Ayre Sports Centre and Storey Creative Industries Centre was likely to take a significant length of time, consideration of the Partnerships report should be deferred to a future meeting of the Panel. The Panel requested that an additional meeting be arranged for 22^nd November 2012, commencing at 6.00 p.m. in Lancaster Town Hall, and that the Partnerships report be considered at this meeting. 

The Panel referred to the briefing note regarding Empty Houses, Voids, and why Properties are in need of Repair and it was agreed that a report from an appropriate officer should be requested providing further information and that this be included on the Panel’s Work Programme. 

The Panel referred to the briefing note regarding Section 106 Monies, which had been circulated to members on 16^th August 2012. It was agreed that a report should be requested providing further information for inclusion on the Panel’s Work Programme, specifically regarding the introduction of new legislation. 

Resolved:

(1)               That an additional meeting of the Panel be arranged for 22^nd November 2012, commencing at 6.00 p.m. in Lancaster Town Hall. 

(2)               That consideration of the Partnerships report be deferred and considered at the additional meeting of the Panel scheduled for 22^nd November 2012. 

(3)               That the Chief Executive be requested to arrange for the appropriate officer to attend and report on Empty Houses, Voids, and why Properties are in need of Repair, and that this be included in the Panel’s Work Programme. 

(4)               That the Chief Executive be requested to arrange for the appropriate officer to attend and report on Section 106 Monies, regarding the introduction of new legislation, particularly the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), and that this be included in the Panel’s Work Programme. 

(5)               That the Chief Executive be requested to arrange for the appropriate officer to attend and report on Building Control, and that this be included in the Panel’s Work Programme. 

(6)               That the Chief Executive be requested to arrange for the appropriate officer to attend and report on the issue raised at minute no. 21, resolution (2), and that this be included in the Panel’s Work Programme.