Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Pam Denton Email: pam.denton@wiltshire.gov.uk
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Apologies Minutes: Apologies were received from Mr Philip Gill MBE JP, Cllr Julian Johnson, Mr Paul Neale, Mr John Scragg and Mr Keith Wallace. |
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Minutes of previous meeting To confirm and sign the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 20 July 2011 (copy attached).
Supporting documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 20 July 2011 were presented
Resolved:
To approve and sign the minutes as a correct record |
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Chairman's announcements Minutes: The Chairman welcomed Mrs Barbara Hedley, Assistant Local Government Ombudsman and Mr Nick Breakwell, Strategic Operations Manager, Department for Children and Education.
The Chairman drew attention to the proposed senior management restructure and said that the proposal was to reduce the senior management team by the chief executive post and one corporate director post. This would be considered by Cabinet on 6 October 2011. Although the substantive proposal was not a matter for this committee, if the proposal was agreed, there could be some changes to the constitution which would need to be addressed by the Constitution Focus Group.
The Chairman and Monitoring Officer had met with the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council at the beginning of August 2011. They had discussed the ongoing culture development work including the introduction of a behaviours framework, which underpins the values of the Organisation. The Monitoring Officer will prepare a report on this which will be brought to the November meeting. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest |
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Public participation 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 the agenda (acting on behalf of the Director of Resources) no later than 5pm on Wednesday 14 September 2011. 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.
Minutes: There were no members of the public present.
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Local Government Ombudsman Presentation and Report
To receive
(a) a presentation by Mrs Barbara Hedley, Assistant Local Government Ombudsman
(b) to consider the annual review letter of the Local Government Ombudsman (attached) to be presented by Mrs Barbara Hedley
Supporting documents: Minutes: Mrs Barbara Hedley, Assistant Local Government Ombudsman, gave a presentation on the role of the Ombudsman including recent changes and possible future development. Mrs Hedley also spoke on the Ombudsman’s annual letter to Wiltshire Council for the year ended March 2011.
The Chairman thanked Mrs Hedley for her presentation. She added that it was disappointing to see that response times had slipped but would look forward to receiving the results of the systems review of complaints when this is completed.
The Committee discussed the merits of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee having sight of complaint outcomes, to help ensure lessons are learnt and delivery of services is improved.
Resolved
1. To bring a report on the scope and timetable for a systems review of the complaints service to the next meeting of the Committee.
2. To request that the review considers giving the Overview and Scrutiny Committees sight of complaint outcomes.
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Review of the Standards Committee Plan 2010-2014 To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer Supporting documents:
Minutes: The Chairman apologised to the Committee that the incorrect document had been circulated. She agreed to work on the plan with the Vice Chairman and issue a revised version to the Committee in mid-October. |
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Status Report on Complaints made under the Code of Conduct To consider the report of the Head of Governance Supporting documents: Minutes: The Head of Governance presented the report. The Committee noted the high workload at present due to the large numbers of complaints received over the summer period.
Resolved
To note the report |
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Forward Plan Supporting documents: Minutes: The Committee’s forward plan was presented. There were 2 items to be added:
A report on the behaviours framework
A scoping report on the systems review of complaints.
Resolved
To note the forward plan and add the above items.
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Urgent Items Any other items of business, which in the opinion of the Chairman, should be taken as a matter of urgency. Urgent items of a confidential nature may be considered under Part II of this agenda.
Minutes: There were no urgent items |