To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were submitted from Mr Bleasdale, Mr D Roberts, Mr M Stephenson and Mr J Stephenson.

To report any changes to the membership of the Board

There were no changes in membership to report.

To disclose any interests relating to any item on the agenda.

There were no disclosures of interest

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

There were no items for which the press and public should be excluded

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 12 June 2012 (copy enclosed)

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 12 June

2012 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no call in items for this meeting.

For members to be informed of any CCfA received by the County Council and consider whether any further action needs to be taken by the Board

There had been no Councillor Calls for Action.

To consider the latest scrutiny work programme (copy enclosed)

The Board considered the latest work programme.

The Chair reported that he had received a request from Mr Knowles, Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, for the Board to look at Sellafield’s Design Services Alliance and in particular whether changes in Sellafield’s procurement arrangements wee having any negative impacts on the local supply chain. It was agreed that a report be brought to the next meeting on this issue which outlined the current situation and also looked at whether this could be included as part of the current review of private sector procurement.

The Board discussed how members and Chairs were selected for Task and Finish Groups. A report would be brought to the next meeting on this.

Regarding the proposed review of on street parking charges the Chair of the Board queried whether this was necessary given a review of the same issue had recently been carried out. After a discussion it was agreed that the Scrutiny Advisory Board – Economy and Environment should be recommended not to pursue this review.

RESOLVED,  that

(1)               the report be received

(2)               the Scrutiny Advisory Board – Economy and Environment be recommended not to carry out a review of on street parking charges at this point in time.

(3)               papers be brought to the next meeting on Sellafield’s Design Services Alliance and also the process for selecting members of, and appointing Chairs to, Task and Finish Groups

To consider a report by the Corporate Director – Resources and the Corporate Director – Safer and Stronger Communities (copy enclosed).

Following the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 each police area in England (other than the metropolitan police district) was required to establish a Police and Crime Panel to publically scrutinise the new Police and Crime Commissioners.

Members considered a report which sought the Board’s nominations to member representatives to serve on the Police and Crime Panel.

Full Council had agreed that SMB be authorised to appoint the County Council representative from any of the non executive Members on the authority. In addition SMB were asked to recommend the balancing two appointments to the Panel from the non executive members on the Council. The Board were advised that, following discussion with the Group Leaders, the Chair of the Safer and Stronger Scrutiny Advisory Board was recommended as the Council’s representative and Mr Cowell and Bingham were recommended as the two balancing appointments.

Several members expressed concerns about the process for appointing members which they felt was not transparent and also believed the Board should not be presented with a fait accompli about who should be appointed. Other members felt that the process should be accepted for this year but reviewed for when appointments were made next year.

The proposal that the three councillors referred to above be nominated was agreed following a vote.

RESOLVED,  that

(1)       the development and responsibilities of a Police and Crime Panel for

Cumbria be noted

(2)       Mr J Stephenson, Chair of the Safer and Stronger Scrutiny Advisory Board, be appointed to the Panel as the County Council representative

(3)       Mr Cowell and Mr Bingham be appointed as the two additional Members to serve on the Panel to ensure political proportionality

To consider a report from the Animal Health Task and Finish Group (copy enclosed).

The Board considered a report on the outcomes of the scrutiny review work on the topic of animal health arrangements at the County Council.

Mr Lowther presented the report and answered a number of questions from members.

RESOLVED,  that the report be approved and submitted to Cabinet.

To consider a report from the Customer Services Task and Finish Group (copy enclosed).

The Board considered a report on the outcomes of the scrutiny review work on the topic of customer services.

Mrs Carrick circulated a revised version of the report and answered a number of questions from members. She advised that the content of the report did not differ from the one circulated to members with the agenda papers but the recommendations had been revised to make them more logical as well as prioritised.

The Board thanked the officers from other Councils who had helped with the review.

RESOLVED,  that the report be approved and submitted to Cabinet, together with an Equality Impact Assessment.

To consider a report from the Scrutiny Manager (copy enclosed).

The Board considered a paper which updated Members on a number of issues and developments regarding Scrutiny that had taken place since the last meeting of the Board.

A member commented that surplus to requirements IT equipment was being disposed of which could be used by schools. The Corporate Director -Organisational Development undertook to look at this.

RESOVLED  that the report be received.

Date: 18 September 2012

Time: 10.00 am

Venue: County Offices, Kendal

18 September 2012