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POLICY AND RESOURCES CABINET PANEL
13 NOVEMBER 2008
M I N U T E S
ATTENDANCE
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
C Berry, D E Billing, R S Clements, D W Cullen, P V Goggins, D Hewitt, S M Holmes, I H Laidlaw-Dickson, D B Lloyd, D E Lloyd, A Mitchell (Chairman), A Oaten, S Quilty, R M Roberts, H M Saunders, R H Smith, S Taylor, R A C Thake
OTHER MEMBERS
J Lloyd, S M P Newton, A M R Searing
Upon consideration of the agenda for the Policy and Resources Cabinet Panel meeting on 13 November 2008 as circulated, copy annexed, conclusions were reached and are recorded below:
Note: No conflicts of interest were declared by any member of the Panel in relation to the matters on which conclusions were reached at this meeting.
PART 1
/ / ACTION /1. / CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Apologies were received from D Beatty, D Scudder and C White for this meeting only.
2. / MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 16 October 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
3. / PUBLIC PETITIONS
None
4. / COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT 2007/08
[Officer Contact: Peter Stanley, Performance Improvement Manager
Tel: 01992 555306]
4.1 / The Panel received a presentation from Andy Ford of PricewaterhouseCoopers which provided an overview of the County Council’s performance during 2007/08. The presentation contained comparative data benchmarking the organisation against other County Councils and detailed performance information on Children’s Services, Social Care, Environment, Transport, Community Safety and Corporate Health.
4.2 / The Executive Member for Performance & Resources thanked Andy for his detailed and informative presentation and welcomed the opportunity to compare the authority’s performance with its peers.
4.3 / Conclusion
The Panel noted the information. / All to note
5. / HCC PERFORMANCE REPORT – 1ST QUARTER 2008/09
[Officer Contact: Sarah Pickup, Director of Adult Care Services
Tel: 01992 556300]
5.1 / The Panel received a copy of the new style performance report that had been developed following last year’s Corporate Performance Assessment. Members were asked to consider whether this was in a suitable format for quarterly performance reporting.
5.2 / Concern was expressed at the level of information contained within the report, and the ability to work through this in a given meeting. Members also queried the timeliness of the information, specifically financial data, and requested that a figure be included against agency usage.
5.3 / With regards to performance clinics it was noted that these were set up ad hoc to improve performance against a target and included a cross section of people to interrogate the issue and would include the Executive Member when applicable.
5.4 / Conclusions
The Panel:
1. Agreed to set up a working group consisting of five members (3:1:1) to review the performance report in more detail to identify any key issues that would need further consideration by the Panel at their full meeting. [D E Billing and P G Goggins were nominated from the Labour and Liberal Democrat Group respectively. Conservative nominations to be notified in due course].
2. Subject to the above, agreed to receive the new style performance report on a quarterly basis.
3. Requested that the Director of Adult Care Services continue to identify ways of improving the timeliness of financial reporting. / Sarah Pickup / All to note
Sarah Pickup
Sarah Pickup
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6. / HCC CORPORATE PLAN PROCESSES AND PRIORITIES 2009-12[Officer Contact: Martin South, Head of Corporate Strategy
Tel; 07770 803442]
6.1 / The Panel received a report that advised them of the process for developing the Corporate Plan 2009-12.
6.2 / Conclusions
The Panel:
1. Agreed to establish a working group, consisting of five members (3:1:1) to support the Executive Member in the development of the content of the revised Corporate Plan. [Nominations were received for D W Cullen (L), P V Goggins (LD), R I N Gordon (C), D E Lloyd (C), and R M Roberts (C)].
2. Agreed that the working group should meet as agreed by the Executive Members, who would report to the Panel on progress.
3. Noted the text of the proposed section of the Plan dealing with the revenue budget and capital programme for 2008/09.
/ Martin South / All to note
Martin South
Martin South
7. / CUSTOMER CARE STANDARDS UPDATE
[Officer Contact: Bob Breakey, Customer Service Centre Manager
Tel: 01992 555603]
7.1 / The Panel received an update on what had happened since the introduction and implementation of the customer care standards on 10 April 2008.
7.2 / They noted that currently there were no plans to implement the use of SMS messaging as a way of communicating information.
7.3 / Conclusion
The Panel noted the very comprehensive report and agreed to receive a further update in six months time. / Bob Breakey
8. / DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY COHESION STRATEGY FOR HERTFORDSHIRE
[Officer Contact: Andrew Burt, Team Leader, Strategic Partnerships Unit
Tel: 01992 555213]
8.1 / The Panel received a report that advised them of the proposal to develop a Community Cohesion Strategy for Hertfordshire, and in particular it sought their views on:
· the scope and approach to Community Cohesion in Hertfordshire
· the new Community Cohesion Partnership and who should be included;
· the timetable
8.2 / Members requested that Age Discrimination be added to the legislative framework, and expressed concern over the creation of an additional partnership. They also queried how the hard to reach communities would be targeted and felt that the Youth Parliament and Criminal Justice Board should be included as Community Cohesion Partnership Members. The Executive Member for Corporate Strategy & Partnerships also questioned the extent to which economic empowerment would be recognised and encouraged and felt that further information was needed at the Panel’s next meeting.
8.3 / The Assistant Director (Strategic Planning & Partnerships) confirmed that strategy would be integrated within existing LAA processes where possible and noted that the main focus would be on economic inclusion and economic prosperity.
8.4 / Conclusions
The Panel:
1. Endorsed the development of a Community Cohesion Strategy for Hertfordshire;
2. Endorsed the scope and approach to the development of the Strategy;
3. Endorsed the formation of a new Community Cohesion Network and a Community Cohesion Strategy Group to drive forward the development of the strategy and the proposed timetable. / Andrew Burt
Andrew Burt
Andrew Burt
9. / A COUNTY FLAG FOR HERTFORDSHIRE
[Officer Contact: Andrew Laycock, County Secretary
Tel: 01992 555500]
9.1 / The Panel received information about the design of a County Flag for Hertfordshire.
9.2 / Conclusions
The Panel recommended to Cabinet that it resolves as follows:
1. This Council has, for the better representation of the County of Hertfordshire and its people, decided that the banner of the County Council’s arms, namely “Barry wavey of eight Azure and Argent an Inescutcheon Or charged with a Hart lodged proper” is a fitting and proper emblem for the county and its people and will from this day be the County flag for Hertfordshire. The use of the full achievement of arms, with supporters and mural crown as a crest, is still restricted to the County Council and those specifically authorised by it.
2. To authorise the registration of the flag with the Flag Institute so that it may be available to the general public. / David Roberts
10. / DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 11 December 2008 at 2.00pm in the Council Chamber. / All to note
Andrew Laycock
County Secretary
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