6.1

North Somerset Council

REPORT TO THE Community Services policy & scrutiny panel

Date of Meeting: 12 October 2005

Subject of Report: Work Plan

Town or parish: Not Applicable

Officer/Member presenting: Chairman of the Panel

Key Decision: None

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Panel identifies and agrees items for the update of the work plan.

1. Summary of Report

That the Panel discuss and review the current work plan items with a view to establishing an updated version for the coming year. In doing so, Members should also consider any new items (within the remit of the Panel), that may benefit from Panel involvement. This should also include forthcoming priorities based upon performance issues.

2. Policy

Potential Policy Implications dependent on outcome of any investigations.

3. Details

Members are requested to discuss whether these topics should be included on the work plan and identify any other items relevant to the remit of this Panel for future inclusion. In view of this it was felt beneficial to remind Members of the key considerations when discussing work planning.

Primarily, you will need to assess the relevance, interest and impact any investigation will have, for the Council and the Community.

Members are able to suggest items for their own Panel work plan at any time (in line with the Panel remit). The Panel can then discuss at its meeting whether or not it wishes for that item to be included on the work plan.

As part of the consideration of whether an item should be included on the work plan, you should bear in mind what the existing workload is and whether it is feasible to include another issue for investigation. It is better to consider a few topics in detail than skate over the surface of a large number of issues. Once the topics have been chosen, terms of reference should be set out as follows:

· Why - aims

· What - should be included/excluded

· How - appropriate methods of investigation

· Where - locations of meetings/any visits

· Who - use appropriate Members & Officers skills

· When - clear timescales for undertaking investigation and reporting back.

In order to ensure that items placed on the Work Plan have clear objectives and are relevant to the remit of each particular Panel, please find attached an example of a Terms of reference Matrix, Appendix ‘two’. This matrix is designed to provide clarity and direction for proposed topics of inclusion on the Work Plan. It sets out what the purpose of the work is and its anticipated value, key objectives, scope of work and can act as an ongoing record of all people involved in the information gathering process.

Once items of investigation have been decided, the Matrix will be completed by Members and Officers to act as a working guide for all topics included on the Work Plan.

Members are reminded that a range of approaches can be considered, such as single issue agendas, Individual Panel Members being assigned specific responsibilities or small working groups investigating a specific topic over a short period (but not ongoing sub-committees).

It is important that flexibility is also left in the work plan to allow for any unexpected issues that may arise during the coming year.

4. Consultation

Panel Members

5. Financial Implications

None

6. Equality Implications

The work of the Panel is based on a commitment to treat everyone equally

7. Corporate Implications

Potential Policy Implications dependant on outcome of any investigations

8. Options considered

Author
Michael Joy - Scrutiny and Performance Team Officer

Michael.joy@n-somerset.gov.uk

Background Papers –

Work Plan report from July 2005

Minutes from previous meetings

Appendix ‘One’

Community Services Policy and Scrutiny Panel Work Plan

October 2005

Panel remit	Sports & Leisure Facilities, Parks & Open Spaces, Libraries, Local Strategic Partnership, Community Safety, Community Legal Service
The Work Plan outlined below will be constantly reviewed and may be subject to change.

Current Topics for investigation	Details/ Notes / Progress	Corporate aim	Timescale
Library Service	The Panel may wish to consider the findings of the recent libraries inspection carried out on April 2005 and become involved in any subsequent improvement plans. Related Panel Report : http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/docs/doc9723.htm Executive Report: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/docs/doc9815.htm	Corporate Aim 1 – Promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity Corporate Aim 6 - Ensuring Continuous Improvement	Summer 2005 Panel / Working Group to monitor the progress of the Libraries Improvement / Project Plan Nominated Member to attend regular Libraries Performance meeting
Safer Communities Strategy	The Council is jointly responsible with Avon & Somerset Police for tackling crime and creating communities where people feel safe from crime and the fear of crime and harassment. Executive Report: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/docs/doc9805.htm	Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities	September 2005 Panel to monitor progress against aims six monthly October 2005 Panel Members to visit CCTV operational Room
Current Topics for investigation	Details/ Notes / Progress	Corporate aim	Timescale
Corporate Plan	To monitor performance progress against the councils aims as set out in the Corporate Plan http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/how+we+perform/corporate+plan/index.asp	Corporate Aim 1 – Promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health and Well being Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity Corporate Aim 6 - Ensuring Continuous Improvement	October 2005 Panel to monitor Councils progress against the Corporate Plan
Quality of Life Indicators	To comment on the Development of QOL for N-Somerset Relevant Panel Report: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/docs/doc9721.htm	Corporate Aim 1 – Promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health & Well being Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting & Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity Corporate Aim 6 - Ensuring Continuous Improvement	August 2005 – Oral report and to the Panel October 2005 - Follow up Report / Presentation on consultation Findings
Current Topics for investigation	Details/ Notes / Progress	Corporate aim	Timescale
Town and Parish Council Charter	The Executive reviewed part one of the Charter in March 2005. It is envisaged for part two that the Executive will recommend a cross panel scrutiny working group review the charter. The group will be made up of representatives from O&E, F&R and Community Services - plus any interested back bench members. The aim will be to review the draft and supply comments/suggestions The results/conclusions of this working group would then be raised at the next scrutiny panel meeting. Relevant Executive Report : http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/docs/doc9779.htm	Corporate Aim 1 – Promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health & Well being Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting & Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity Corporate Aim 6 - Ensuring Continuous Improvement	Autumn 2005 Consultation and involvement in part two of the town and Parish Council Charter
General Performance Monitoring Incl. · Key Corporate Performance Indicators (KCPI’s)	The Council is improving its approach to performance management through the adoption of a new framework, part of which identifies a key role for Overview and Scrutiny in reviewing and monitoring on a regular basis the performance of the Council in relation to its improvement objectives and performance targets Last Executive Performance Report: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/docs/doc9784.htm Excel Table: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/docs/doc9785.xls	Corporate Aim 1 – Promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health and Well being Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity Corporate Aim 6 - Ensuring Continuous Improvement	KCPI reports are received on a quarterly basis. Date for reports: Quarter 1 2005 / 6 October 2005
Current Topics for investigation	Details/ Notes / Progress	Corporate aim	Timescale
Local Strategic Partnership	Panel to consider aspects of the Strategic Partnership that may benefit from their involvement. Further details on this topic to be provided following officer update	Corporate Aim 1 – Promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health and Well being Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity Corporate Aim 6 - Ensuring Continuous Improvement	October 2005 Update presentation from officers to ascertain panel involvement
Community Strategy	The Strategy is currently in development and the Panel is to consider their role in the monitoring of and the implementation of the Strategy Panel also to consider - does the Corporate Plan reflect the priorities set out in the Community Strategy? Community Strategy: http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/how+we+perform/corporate+plan/community+strategy1.asp	Corporate Aim 1 – Promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health and Well being Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity Corporate Aim 6 - Ensuring Continuous Improvement	Ongoing – October 2005 - Panel to monitor the effectiveness of the Strategy at six monthly periods.
Possible Future Topics for investigation	Details/ Notes / Progress	Corporate aim	Timescale
Community Facilities on school sites	To assist with a review of current provision on school sites, and specifically, the future development of community facilities at Priory School	Corporate Aim 1 – Promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health and Well being Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity Corporate Aim 6 - Ensuring Continuous Improvement	Summer 2005
Open Space Strategy	To assist with the future development of an open space strategy	Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health and Well being Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities	Summer 2005