Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor P W Whittle, JP.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Scrutiny Board meeting held on 19 March 2015.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Board held on 19 March 2015 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

In accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct, Councillor Price declared a non-pecuniary interest in the Annual Report on the Performance of the Fareham Community Safety Partnership (minute 7 below refers).

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a report by the Director of Finance and Resources which invites members to review the Board’s work programme for 2015/16.

The Board considered a report by the Director of Finance and Resources on its work programme for 2015/16.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Mrs Trott addressed the Panel during the consideration of this item.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)          the progress on actions since the last meeting of the Board, as shown in Appendix A to the report, be noted;

(b)          it be noted that the items on the work programme relating to the Department of Work and Pensions (minute 7(c), (d) and (e) of 19 March 2015 refer) had been removed;

(c)          it be noted that a reference from the Health and Housing Policy Development and Review Panel meeting on 28 May 2015 relating to the scrutiny of the health service (minute 2(a) and (b) refer) was being held in abeyance pending the Chairman of the Panel’s meeting with representatives of the Clinical Commissioning Group on 15 July 2015;

(d)          it be noted that details of the next two year programme of question and answer sessions with individual members of the Executive, which was due to commence at the meeting on 19 November 2015, would be reported to the next meeting of the Board on 17 September 2015;

(e)          subject to (b), (c) and (d) above, the work programme for 2015/16, as shown in Appendix B to the report, be confirmed; and

(f)           any possible additional items for inclusion on the work programme be e-mailed to the Chairman, with a copy to the Director of Finance and Resources.

To consider a report by the Director of Community on the performance of the Community Safety Partnership.

Councillor Price declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item, stating that he was a member of Fareham Community Safety Partnership, representing Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority. Councillor Price indicated that, having consulted the Council’s Monitoring Officer, he would remain in the room but that he would not participate in the discussion relating to this item.

The Board considered a report by the Director of Community on the Performance of the Fareham Community Safety Partnership.

The Community Safety Manager presented the report and answered members’ questions thereon.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)          the performance and progress made by Fareham’s Community Safety Partnership and the risks and challenges it faces in the future be noted;

(b)          with reference to paragraph 29 of the report, the officers be requested to look into supplementing the information concerning the Prevent initiative supplied to members via their newsletter and to Community Centre leaders in leaflet form by arranging training sessions; and

(c)          that all the officers concerned with community safety be congratulated on and thanked for the excellent work that they do with the extremely limited resources available.

To give consideration to the nature of questions to be asked at the proposed question and answer session with the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership scheduled on the work programme for 17 September 2015. 

The Board was invited to give consideration to the nature of questions to be asked at the proposed question and answer session with the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership. A scoping report prepared by the Director of Finance and Resources was circulated to those present to assist members with their deliberations.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)          the proposed review of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership be carried out in accordance with the scoping report circulated and attached as Appendix A to these minutes; and

(b)          for the future, consideration be given to requesting that the Executive Leader include an update on the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership in the announcements he makes at Council meetings.  

If requested by a member, to consider any item of business dealt with by the Executive, since the last meeting of the Board. The relevant Executive meetings are 20 April 2015 and 18 May 2015. (This will also include any decisions taken by individual Executive members during the same time period.)

The Chairman invited members to indicate if they wished to consider any other item of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Board. There were no other items of Executive business considered.