Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Howard Greenman and Christine Crisp, substituted by Councillors Phillip Whalley and Paul Oatway QPM respectively.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 6 September and 10 October 2016.

The minutes from the ordinary meeting held on 6 September 2016 and the special meeting held on 10 October 2016 were presented for consideration, and it was,

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes as a true and correct record.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations.

There were no announcements.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named on the front of the agenda for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on 25 October 2016 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on 27 October 2016. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

There were no questions or statements submitted.

To receive updates from the Chairmen and/or Vice-Chairmen of the Select Committees in respect of the topics under scrutiny in their areas, including any recommendations for endorsement by the Management Committee.

Updates were received from Select Committee Chairmen on recent activity and proposed forward plans including the following:

Environment Select Committee

It was stated that due to meeting cancellations the Highways and Streetscene Task Group had been unable to conclude its work on performance indicators, that it was proposed Cllr Linda Packard be replaced on the Passenger Transport Review Task Group by Cllr Peter Evans and that it was suggested the proposed work on the Investment Team as suggested by the Corporate Director did not need to take place given the pressure on resources. Details were also provided on recent updates including on the Flood Management Strategy and Highways Maintenance. The Committee also advised several items on the plan should be confirmed or removed as items of interest.

Resolved:

To support changing the membership of the Passenger Transport Review Task Group as proposed, and removing the Investment Team item from the Forward Plan, and to note the other updates from the Environment Select Committee.

Health Select Committee

Updates were provided on work the Health Select Committee had undertaken for future scrutiny of Clinical Commissioning Group services, and poor grades received at Wiltshire hospitals. The Committee had also received updates and provided comment on changes to Minor Injury Unit opening hours and the South West Ambulance Service, and that there would be major work on the Sustainability and Transport Plan moving forward.

During discussion from the Committee it was requested the Health Select Committee continue to monitor the situation regarding Minor Injury Units (MIUs) and potential impacts on out of hours doctor’s being unable to see patients due to the lack of other staff present overnight now the MIUs would be closed overnight. It was also confirmed the Better Care Plan Task Group final report would be received in early 2017.

Resolved:

To note the update from the Health Select Committee.

Children’s Select Committee

It was detailed that the Children’s Select Committee had received a briefing on the Child and Adult Mental Health Service (CAMHS), reporting details of a youth project to provide a qualified online counselling service for young people, and that work on recommissioning the CAMHS service was progressing. Work was also being identified where topics required major work which would be recommended for the next Council, including Special Educational Needs, in particular in relation to passenger transport. The final reports of the Child Sexual Exploitation and Safeguarding Children and Young People Task Groups would be completed shortly.

Resolved:

To note the update from the Children’s Select Committee.

A report is attached presenting an update on recent activity on the following:

·         Financial Planning Task Group

·         Military-Civilian Integration Partnership Task Group

·         Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Task Group

·         MyWiltshire System Task Group

·         High Speed Broadband Project Board member – Cllr George Jeans

And to receive a verbal update on the resolution from the meeting on 10 October 2016:

To investigate establishing a task group to engage with the Wiltshire One Public Estate programme to support the identification and delivery of savings across the public sector in Wiltshire.

The One Public Estate (OPE) programme is a Cabinet Office programme to help rationalise the public sector estate and help organisations work together to make the best use of their assets in order to deliver integrated services. Having been successful with earlier bids, the council has submitted a bid for Round 4 of the OPE funding.

Written updates were provided from the Management Committee Task Groups, along with verbal updates as follows:

Financial Planning Task Group (FPTG)

The recent work of the FPTG scrutinising the Medium Term Financial Plan was noted, and consideration was given to the approved recommendation of the Task Group to investigate establishing a Task Group to specifically focus on the One Public Estate Programme, which involved partners working together to maximise the efficient use of their capital assets, from which significant savings had been predicted.

The Committee discussed the most appropriate level of scrutiny involvement, taking into account the nature of the programme involving multiple external partners and the closeness to the unitary elections in 2017, as well as the possibility of establishing a Task Group or Rapid Scrutiny at a later date if appropriate, with a scrutiny member on the programme Project Board able to update the Committee moving forward, while not providing the same level of scrutiny as a Task Group at this stage.

After debate, it was,

Resolved:

To seek expressions of interest from all non-executive members to serve on the Project Board for the One Public Estate programme, and delegate the appointment to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

Military Civilian Integration Partnership Task Group (MCIP)

It was stated the 5^th Battalion, The Rifles (5 Rifles) had completed their transfer to Wiltshire from Germany, involving approximately 670 soldiers with approximately 475 spouses and children. The amount was significant although a minority of the total planned numbers, and would be used to assess how well the transfers were planned and lessons to be learned.

Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Task Group (SWLEP)

It was noted that the Task Group had taken some while to begin proper scrutiny work but that work was now progressing and the Director of the SWLEP had praised the role of the Task Group and was keen for it to continue in its role post May 2017.

MyWiltshire System Task Group

Task Group members expressed some concern that it was intended a contract be awarded for the progression of the MyWiltshire System within a few months, but the Task Group would continue to comment and challenge the work as appropriate. It was raised that it was presently unclear which Cabinet Member had overall responsibility for the development of the system.

Resolved:

To note the updates from the Task Groups

High Speed Broadband Project

A report was received from Councillor George Jeans, Scrutiny member on the High Speed Broadband Project Board, as detailed in agenda supplement 1. Contributions were also made by Councillor John Thomson, Deputy Leader of the Council.

Details were provide on current uptake levels, discussions with British Telecom (BT) to embed a BT staff member with the council to deal with customer complaints, and a £3.3million underspend due to good management of phase 1 of the project, which would be reinvested into the later phases. Comments in discussion included whether BT acknowledged adequate Broadband as an essential service, and the expectation 95% coverage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99.

To receive an update from the  meeting held on 18 October 2016, attended by Cllr Simon Killane, Chairman, and Henry Powell, Senior Scrutiny Officer.

An update was provided on the South West Overview and Scrutiny meeting held on 18 October 2016 attended by the Chairman, Councillor Simon Killane, and Henry Powell, Senior Scrutiny Officer. Details were provided on presentations regarding scrutiny inquiry days held at some councils, improved links being sought with the Care Quality Commission and comment upon Wiltshire and other Authority scrutiny work.

Resolved:

To note the update.

To receive an update on ongoing work to develop an OS legacy process leading up to the new Council in May 2017. In summary including,

·         On 17 January 2017, an OS member workshop to discuss the successes and challenges of OS during the 2013-17 council;

·         In March/April 2017, each select committee to be asked to consider its key pieces of work during the 2013-17 council and which work areas it would recommend as future priorities;

On 25 April 2017, the Management Committee to consider a report compiling the outcomes from the legacy process above for endorsement and referral to OS under the 2017-21 council.

As detailed in the agenda the Committee were updated on proposals for the Overview and Scrutiny Legacy process ahead of unitary elections in May 2017, which would include workshops for members, reports to each select committee and a final report from the Committee commenting upon overview and scrutiny work between 2013-2017 and proposed scrutiny priorities for the new Council.

Resolved:

To note the update.

To confirm the date of the next meeting as 3 January 2016.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 3 January 2017.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.