Minutes for Cabinet Member - Performance and Governance meeting, Aug 5 2009, 9.00AM official page

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Barber.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

RESOLVED:  

That the Minutes of the meetings held on 7 and 8 July 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Partnership and Communications Manager

Further to Minute No. 6 of 10 June, 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Partnership and Communications Manager assessing performance against LAA targets of the Children and Young People Theme (CYPT).

The report indicated that the Children and Young People’s Partnership completed a governance review in May 2009 to ensure it was fit for purpose to meet the future demands of the Every Child Matters change for children programme; and also considered its role within the greater Borough Partnership and the anticipated legal status of children’s trusts. The focus of the CYPTG’s would be to continue to develop the key elements of children’s trust arrangements, as set out in the report.

Details of the Key Strengths: Potential Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) Green Flag, Key Areas for Improvement, Key Strategies and relevant case studies were also set out in the report. 

Copies of the revised Partnership Agreement (Terms of Reference) and the Roles and Responsibilities were attached to the report as Appendices 2 and 3 respectively.

RESOLVED: That

(1)

the report be noted; and

(2)

it be noted that the governance arrangements of the Children’s Trust as set out in the revised Partnership Agreement and Roles and Responsibilities document attached to the report will be reviewed as part of the wider Governance Review.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 36 of 20 January 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the progress of the Economic Development and Sustainability Thematic Group of the Sefton Borough Partnership.

The report indicated that the Thematic Group had been conducting an internal review of governance and “fitness for purpose” in line with the overall Local Strategic Partnership governance review. The results of the governance review for Economic Development and Sustainability would be reviewed by the group in September and would result in an improvement plan.

The high-level priorities adopted by the Group for 2009/10 were set out in the report and were matched against appropriate LAA targets.  The report also set out the key issues dealt with by the Group in the last 6 months.

RESOLVED:  

That the report be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Chief Executive on the progress made on developing a strategic approach to Knowing and Understanding our Communities, which the Audit Commission were proposing as a red tag as part of the Comprehensive Area Assessment process.

The report indicated that at its meeting on 20 July, 2009, the Sefton Borough Partnership Executive had considered the report entitled ‘Strategic Approach to Decision Making by the SBP based on Knowing and Understanding our Communities’, a copy of which was attached to the report as Appendix 1, and had agreed to establish a partnership intelligence working group with representatives from all key agencies for the purpose set out in the report.

RESOLVED:  

That the content of Appendix 1 to the report and the actions being taken to address the issue of developing a strategic understanding by Sefton Borough Partnership of the needs of its communities, be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Chief Executive on the progress in preparing a Partnership Strategy for Older People, which the Audit Commission had identified as part of the emerging thoughts on the Comprehensive Area Assessment process.

The  report indicated that the Sefton Borough Partnership Executive, at its meeting on 20 July, 2009, had considered the report entitled ‘Older People Strategy for Sefton’, which was attached to the report as Appendix 1, and had agreed a timetable for the development of a Partnership Strategy for Older Citizens, as set out in the report.

RESOLVED:  

That the content of Appendix 1 to the report and the progress being made in relation to developing a Partnership Strategy for Older Citizens, be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Chief Executive on the progress made on developing a partnership response to the recession, which the Audit Commission had identified as a red tag as part of the Comprehensive Area Assessment process.

A copy of the report considered by the Sefton Borough Partnership (SBP) Executive on 20 July 2009 entitled ‘Responding to the Recession, Sefton’s Local Resilience Action Plan’ was attached to the report as Appendix 1.  The report to the Executive provided initial feedback on recent events and the work undertaken by the planning group which, it was suggested, would continue to meet in order to draft a local resilience action plan for Sefton, to be monitored by the SBP Board at every meeting.

RESOLVED:  

That the content of Appendix 1 to the report and the actions being taken to develop a Local Resilience Action Plan by Sefton Borough Partnership, be noted.

Report of the Equalities Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Equalities Director setting out the results of the Baseline Review of Public Engagement and Consultation in Sefton.

The report set out background information together with details regarding the purpose of the Baseline Review, the methodology, the key findings and recommendations, the next steps to be taken and the associated conclusions.

RESOLVED:  

That the report be noted.

Report of the Public Engagement and Consultation Officer

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Public Engagement and Consultation Officer setting out the initial results of the 2008 Place Survey for Sefton which provided information on people's perceptions of their local area and the local services received.

The report set out background information and the Place Survey National Indicator results for Sefton compared to the England and North West averages, neighbouring authorities and the 36 Metropolitan Authorities, together with other relevant information.

RESOLVED:  

That the report be noted.