Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Panel made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.

The Committee noted the apologies of Councillors Keogh and Morrell, Mr Blackshaw and Mrs Topp.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 10^th October and 16^th October 2013 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes for the Committee meeting on 10^th and 16^th October 2013 be approved and signed as a correct record.  (Copy of the minutes circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, detailing items requested for discussion from the current Forward Plan, attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive, detailing items requested for discussion from the current Forward Plan.  (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

RESOLVED:

(i)  on consideration of the briefing paper relating to the forthcoming Cabinet Decision “General Fund Revenue Budget 2014/15 to 2016/17”, the Committee recommended that:-

a)  the Cabinet consider supporting subsidising Council Tax Benefits for two additional years to delay the impact of the imposed 10% reduction on some of Southampton’s residents;

b)  the Cabinet give consideration to commencing the commissioning of additional services immediately, so that the benefits can be realised in the short to medium term;  and

c)  the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee receives updates and reviews on the Transformation Programme at appropriate intervals.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive outlining the recommendations from the LGA Peer Challenge conducted at the end of July 2013 and the council’s action plan in response, attached..

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive outlining the recommendations from the LGA Peer Challenge conducted at the end of July 2013 and the Council’s action plan in response.  (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

RESOLVED

(i)  that the Leader explores at a Group Leader’s Meeting, how the Council can enable access to information and transparency at the same time as simplifying processes and reducing bureaucracy;

(ii)  that, to help change our culture, the Executive consider how to embed a strong performance management framework throughout the council.  This could include making performance an integral part of appraisals, helping link individual roles with the wider Council priorities;  and

(iii)  that the Executive consider how, through appropriate training and communication, understanding can improve across the authority of the Council’s decision making process and the recognition that we are “one Council”.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, detailing the actions of the executive and monitoring progress of the recommendations of the Committee, attached.

The Committee noted the report of the Assistant Chief Executive, detailing the actions of the Executive and monitoring progress of the recommendations of the Committee.  (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).