Agenda item

This report asks Members to agree their final recommendations for presentation to Scrutiny Management Committee.

Members considered a report which asked Members to agree their final recommendations for presentation to Scrutiny Management Committee.

An interim report on the work of this sub-committee was considered at Scrutiny Management Committee on 26 March 2007 and the sub-committee was asked to consider if their work was completed and agree their final recommendations.

Members were presented with the options of supporting all, some or none of the recommendations proposed as a result of this review, for submission to Scrutiny Management Committee and then to Executive.

Members commented that because the review had taken so long to be instigated since it was first registered, the first objective could not be fully achieved as a result and some of the bigger opportunities, especially in relation to the school site, had been missed. Members also highlighted that the timing of any future Area Asset Management Plan consultation should, if possible, be considered more carefully to tie in with the summer ward committee meetings which tended to have a higher attendance.

Members agreed the following changes to the draft final report:-

• The first line in Paragraph 14 be amended to read “Members discussed establishing a model for consultation processes in relation to future Area Asset Management Plans (AAMPs) that might be produced.”

• The first recommendation contained in paragraph 15 be amended to read “That Members ask Officers to adopt an appropriate range of the relevant research and consultation methodologies proposed in the model in paragraph 14 of the report when developing future Area Asset Management Plans. Area based consultation at appropriate location(s) within the community, involving residents and key stakeholders, and ward committee consultation are to be included as standard in all instances.  The cost effectiveness of the consultation method and the particular circumstances of the area being considered will be taken into account when making the decision in each case.”

• The second recommendation contained in paragraph 21 be amended to read “The Executive be asked to ensure the specific areas of need identified through this scrutiny review in paragraph 19 of the report are considered, as part of any future Area Asset Management Plan for Tang Hall.”

• Paragraph 25 be amended to include the special interest groups, such as the residents associations, that had been previously consulted.

• The third recommendation contained in paragraph 26 be amended to read “As standard practice, Ward Members should be included in the formulation of consultation plans from the start of the process for any future Area Asset Management Plans.”

Members highlighted that the timescales for when the draft AAMP would go to the Executive would need to be amended as the next Ward Committee meetings were not until July. It was suggested that the draft AAMP could still go to the Executive in June/July but with a recommendation that the draft plan must go to the Ward Committees before being finalised.

RESOLVED:             That the above changes be made to the draft final report and the completed final report be submitted to Scrutiny Management Committee and then to Executive.

REASON:                  In order to carry out their responsibilities as set out by SMC.