Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Leader welcomed Members to the meeting and advised that this was the first Executive meeting to be webcast.

The Executive considered an exception report on financial and performance monitoring for March 2011.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the budgetary variances set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report submitted, be noted; and

(B)    in accordance with Financial Regulation 4.7.3, the carry forward of the capital budgets not spent in 2010/11, as set out in Essential Reference Paper ‘D’ and summarised at paragraph 2.32, be approved and added to the 2011/12 capital estimates.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2011 (previously circulated in the Council Minute Book).

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2011, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

RESOLVED – that (A) the Executive response, as set out in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’, be approved:

(B)     the Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee be invited to consider and recommend practical options for implementation by November 2011.

The Executive considered a report setting out the key findings of the Community and Public Engagement Task and Finish Group.  The report also included a proposed Executive response to the recommendations.

The Leader welcomed the report and commented that the work of the task and finish group exemplified the valuable role that scrutiny enjoyed in influencing and developing the policies of the Authority.

The Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support thanked the task and finish group for its work and in particular, expressed gratitude to its Chairman, Councillor M Wood.  She commented on the importance of community leadership and the need for effective communications to ensure engagement with all sections of the community. 

The Executive Member welcomed the findings and suggested that Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee should be asked to explore the options and to consider how the concepts could be turned into practice.  She emphasised that this needed to be done within existing budgets and staffing resources.

A number of Members commented on Community Voice and how unsatisfactory some of them had been.  The Executive Member responded by suggesting that greater flexibility was needed as local ward councillors would know what would be most effective in their areas.

A number of comments were also made in respect of more modern communication tools, such as Facebook and Twitter.  The Executive noted that whilst some sections of the community would prefer more traditional communication, it would be important to balance this with the need to utilise new media forms to engage with younger people.

The Executive approved the recommendations as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the Executive response, as set out in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’, be approved; and

(B)     the Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee be invited to consider and recommend practical options for implementation by November 2011.

RESOLVED – that (A) the budgetary variances set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report now submitted, be noted; and

(B)     the capital re-profiling, including the acquisition of Apton Road and Baldock Road car parks, as identified in Essential Reference Paper ‘D’, be approved.

The Executive considered an exception report on financial and performance monitoring for February 2011.

In response to a question, the Executive Member for Finance commented that purchasing Apton Road and Baldock Road car parks provided an opportunity for the Council to invest in assets it owned rather than leased.

The Executive approved the proposals as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) the budgetary variances set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report now submitted, be noted; and

(B)     the capital re-profiling, including the acquisition of Apton Road and Baldock Road car parks, as identified in Essential Reference Paper ‘D’, be approved.