Item 6.1

North Somerset Council

REPORT TO THE sTRATEGIC pLANNING AND eCONOMIC dEVELOPMENT policy & scrutiny panel

Date of Meeting: 8 January 2006

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.[J1]

1. Summary of Report

This report provides a copy of the panel's current work plan. The work plan has been updated to take into account a number of issues that the Panel will need to consider for the coming months. These include the 2007 /8 budget, Waste Local Plan ( Planning issues ) and the road safety action plan. A number of topics have also been concluded and therefore removed from the draft work plan. These include the concessionary travel scheme, and the statement of community involvement. The Section 106 agreements work plan item has been removed in agreement with the Panel.

2. Policy

Potential Policy Implications dependent on outcome of any investigations. [J2]

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.

Once items of investigation have been decided, a terms of reference 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. [J3]

4. Consultation

Panel Members[J4]

5. Financial Implications

None[J5]

6. Equality Implications

The work of the Panel is based on a commitment to treat everyone equally [J6]

7. Corporate Implications

Potential Policy Implications dependant on outcome of any investigations [J7]

8. Options considered

[J8]

Author
Michael Joy - Scrutiny and Performance Team Officer

Michael.joy@n-somerset.gov.uk

[J9]

Background Papers –

Work Plan report from November 2006

Minutes from previous meetings[J10]

Appendix ‘One’

Strategic Planning and Economic Development Policy and Scrutiny Panel Work Plan

January 2007

Panel remit	Town and Country Planning, Highways and Transport, Economic Development
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
Economic Development Strategy	Being developed in accordance with I&Dea guidelines. More long term work to be undertaken in evolving the action plans and working with external partners	Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity	Economic Development Team to have a regular slot at every other Panel Meeting on progress of Strategy and economic prosperity
2007/08 Budget and Medium term Financial Forecast	To understand pressures on Council spending, figures to date and implications for services in medium to longer term. To help identify priorities for funding and where savings can be made in line with the Gershon report.	All 6 Corporate Aims	October 2006 – Feb 2007
Parking Strategy – Decriminalisation of on street parking	To examine issues surrounding the decriminalisation of on – street parking. Under the proposals, which will not be operational until mid 2006, when on street parking will change from being a criminal offence to a civil offence.	Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting & Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health & Well being Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities	Winter 2006– Ongoing Working group meetings to discuss financial appraisal,TROs etc. Final Working Group Report to be decided based on revised action plan dates of Project
Current Topics for investigation	Details/ Notes / Progress	Corporate aim	Timescale
Sea Front Enhancements ( including Sea Defences)	The effect that the issue has on tourism and economic development. Related Executive Report : http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/docs/doc10017.htm	Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity	Winter 2006 – Final design and options, after current options have been assessed
Bristol International Airport	To examine the effects with regards to traffic management and operational issues. Related South Area Committee Report : http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/docs/doc9905.htm December 2005 – Executive Report	Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity	Autumn 2006 – Response to consultation on draft Masterplan
Replacement Local Plan	Three joint SPED/Member Workshops have been completed to discuss matters and issues arising from the findings of the Inspector’s report into the NSRLP . March 2006 – Workshop 1 Notes Workshop 2 Notes	Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health and Well being Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity	Post modifications consultation
Road Safety Action Plan	Development of the Road Safety Action Plan. Working Group has been established in conjunction with officers.	Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities	October 2006
Current Topics for investigation	Details/ Notes / Progress	Corporate aim	Timescale
Joint Local Transport Plan Greater Bristol Transport Strategy	Progress to be monitored on the Weston-super-Mare Package	Corporate Aim 2 – Enhancing Health and Well being Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 4 – Building Safer Communities	Ongoing
Sub Regional Spatial Strategy	To examine issues relating to North Somerset This is a large topic & the Panel will also need to consider any issues that arise from looking at the Local Development Plan. e.g.Green Belt Review Strategic Sustainability Assessment Linkages to Transport issues	Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity	Summer 2006 - ongoing
Civic Pride	Weston Gateways Pier Square	Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment Corporate Aim 5 – Increasing Prosperity Corporate Aim 6 - Ensuring Continuous Improvement	Ongoing via monthly briefing meetings
Current Topics for investigation	Details/ Notes / Progress	Corporate aim	Timescale
Kewstoke Toll Road	To examine the issues surrounding the toll, including a financial appraisal, issue of health and safety measures and public acceptability	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	January 2007 - Update
Weston Area Action Plan	October report to Executive seeking approval to consult with a view to establishing the ADF as an Area Action Plan. The Executive to involve Members of the Panel in the WADF Related Executive Report : http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/council/docs/doc9795.htm	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
Current Topics for investigation	Details/ Notes / Progress	Corporate aim	Timescale
Waste Local Plan – Planning Policy Issues	cross-party/cross-district involvement (including parish councils) with all the issues, such as land use planning, and the implications clearly spelt out. Strategic Consultation Forum be established comprising of six Members from each of the four Unitary Authorities in the former Avon area.	Corporate Aim 3 - Protecting and Improving the Environment	October 2006 onwards
Connecting villages in North Somerset to a major bus route by means of a subsidy	bus services are due to be reviewed shortly Panel Members are interested in examining exactly what bus routes are needed to connect villages in North Somerset.	Corporate Aim 6 - Ensuring Continuous Improvement	October 2006 – Position statement on subsidised bus routes January 2007 – Work with Executive Member to consider tenders
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	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.

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[J1]The Recommendation must be clear and complete in itself, so it can be understood without needing cross reference to another document, and can be copied directly into the minutes.

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[J2]Summarise the part of the Corporate Plan, Directorate Business Plan or other plan or policy document that supports the report.

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[J3]The detail of the report should not exceed four pages in addition to the standard paragraphs 4 – 9 and any appendices. Additional paragraph headings 4.2, 4.2 etc can be added as required.

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[J4]Summarise who has been consulted internally and externally eg., statutory, trades union, parish councils, ward members, other. List response received.

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[J5]Give the revenue and capital cost of the proposal, and whether it is in addition to existing approved budget.

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[J6]State any implications for equality in either employment or service provision. Consider how your report could affect sections of the community in terms of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion or other belief, age, social exclusion and other groups.

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[J7]List any cross service implications, eg for Children, Sustainability, Legal, Human Resources, Property, Human Rights, Proportionality, Crime and Disorder, etc. and include comments on any which are relevant.

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[J8]List all other options which have been considered in making the recommendation, with a brief explanation of why they have been rejected.

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[J9]Give the name, job title and telephone number of the person who actually wrote the report.

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[J10]All background papers significantly used in preparing the report must be listed, together with an official departmental file reference. Directors are responsible for ensuring that background papers can be accessed by the public for up to six years.