Agenda and minutes

Minutes of meeting held on 6^th March, 2008 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th March, 2008 were agreed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Report of Corporate Director (Finance and Performance)

The Corporate Director (Finance and Performance) presented a report which requested Members to agree preferred priority outcomes and Key Performance Indicators for inclusion in the Corporate Plan 2008/09, that could be recommended to Council.  It was reported that Council had asked the Council Business Committee to consider options for inclusion in the Corporate Plan of targets and outcomes for each corporate priority, and report back to their April meeting.

A revised version was available at the meeting with suggested preferred priority outcomes and Key Performance Indicators.

Members asked a number of questions on the Corporate Plan.

In relation to Priority Outcome 12, Members suggested the inclusion of reference to empty and occupied properties falling into disrepair in and around Morecambe seafront.

In relation to Priority Outcome 16, Members suggested the inclusion of celebrating local heritage and asked officers to consider ways in which this could be measured.  

Resolved:

1. That the Corporate Plan as amended be referred to Council for approval.

2. That in respect of those priority outcomes still outstanding, officers continue to develop SMART targets for submission to Council.

3. That subject to 2 above, the Corporate Director (Finance and Performance) be given delegated authority in conjunction with the Chairman, to make additional recommendations to Council in respect of those outstanding priority outcomes and targets.

Report of Head of Democratic Services.

Members considered a report of the Head of Democratic Services requesting Members to consider the Local Government information Unit’s (LGiU) document ‘Supporting Councillors: a Manifesto for Councils. The LGiU document was requesting all local authorities to support and act on a dozen practical measures which could better support existing and future councillors.

Members supported the document in principle and acknowledged that the Council Business Committee was already undertaking many of the action points listed.  It was felt that the Council was not in a position to commit further resources to any of these proposals without giving more detailed consideration to the matter.  

Resolved:

(1)   That this Council considers councillors have a valuable representative role which helps to ensure that local people have an active role in the development and delivery of council services.

(2)   That this Council welcomes the LGiU’s document ‘Supporting Councillors: a Manifesto for supporting councillors’; considers it important to support actions that would help make a real difference to existing and future Councillors and calls on the government to introduce measures to help people be active and effective councillors

(3)   That the Head of Democratic Services be asked to report to the Council Business Committee in six month’s time on the action points listed by the LGiU to enable the Council to review action being taken to strengthen local democracy at that time.

The Committee will consider any appointments to committees and changes to membership.

Group Administrators were invited to put forward nominations for any changes to membership of Committees.  The Head of Democratic Services reported upon changes to add Councillor Heath as a named substitute to the Budget and Performance Panel.  The Independent Group put forward a change to delete Councillor Archer from Lancashire Local and add Councillor Roe.

Resolved:

Budget and Performance Panel

Add Emily Heath as a named substitute.

Lancashire Local – Lancaster District Joint Committee

Delete Evelyn Archer and add Bob Roe.