Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of 3 September 2018.

The minutes of the meeting of 3 September 2018 were confirmed and signed.

Councillor Booth apologised for missing the previous meeting as he had noted the incorrect time.

Councillor Boden thanked Councillor Seaton and Paul Medd for their attendance at today’s meeting.

Members directed their questions to Councillor Seaton in the first instance.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows;

1.    Councillor Boden asked Councillor Seaton what his strategic objectives were when he became Leader and have these been achieved. Councillor Seaton explained his aim was to deliver the objectives set out in the Council’s adopted Business Plan and to improve the quality of life for people living in the local area. He explained that the main achievements include securing millions of pounds of funding from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), launching the Growing Fenland initiative, driving forward the Wisbech 2020 Vision project, delivering a Planning Advisory (PAS) review, a successful tender process for the management of the Council’s Leisure Centres and continuing to deliver core services with a reduced budget yet ensuring that customer satisfaction rates remain high. Councillor Seaton confirmed that going forward; he intends to work with members to draft next year’s Business Plan and Corporate Budget to enable a seamless transition into the next term of office.

2.    Councillor Booth said in relation to the core services, he has received complaints from residents in relation to the time spent on hold whilst calling the Council and asked Councillor Seaton how this could be improved.  Councillor Seaton explained that there has been additional pressure on the service due to the introduction of Universal Credit in the District and confirmed that Councillor Mrs Hay is investigating this issue further.

3.    Councillor Boden asked if the Contact Centres call waiting times are measured. Councillor Mrs Hay confirmed they were and said these figures can be included in future reports to members. She highlighted that the service has had issues with staffing in recent months which they are hoping will be rectified soon.

4.    Councillor Seaton reminded members that the service suffers from seasonal periods where incoming calls are higher than unusual, such as during a new Council Tax year however this should not impact the service customers receive.

5.    Councillor Tierney suggested members of the public could be reminded to contact their Local Councillor in the first instance as this would alleviate the pressure on the Contact Centre.  Councillor Seaton agreed to consider this.

6.    Councillor Boden asked officers to provide further information to members in relation to the Contact Centre’s call statistics.

7.    Councillor Booth asked if the processing of phone enquiries could be refined. At the moment, all calls go through to the Contact Centre and it would be useful if there was a system that directed callers to the relevant teams. Councillor Seaton agreed to consider this.

8.    Councillor Boden asked Councillor Seaton which Cabinet Members have been successful in achieving the strategic objectives. Councillor Seaton said members are regularly provided with updates on the delivery of the Business Plan and Portfolio Holder reports. He explained that following the resignation of Councillor Mason due to ill-health, his responsibilities have  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC22/18

Members to receive an update on the actions raised at the previous meeting.

Members were provided with an update on the status of actions they had raised at previous meetings of the Committee.

Members thanked officers for their response and statistics in relation to the Wisbech Alcohol Partnership but said the success and impact of the project have not been measured or reported adequately.

To consider the Draft Work Programme for Overview & Scrutiny Panel 2018/19.

Members agreed the Future Work Programme 2018/19 for the Overview and Scrutiny Panel subject to the following additions;

-       An Item exploring the achievements of CSR1 and the aspirations of CSR2 is to be included in the next meeting’s agenda.

-       Due to the current Member-Led Review into the Economic Development service, it was decided that the ‘Progress of Corporate Priority – Economy’ Item be removed from December’s agenda.

-       Due to Purdah, members requested that the meeting scheduled to take place on 8 April 2019 is cancelled and re-scheduled to a date in March 2019.

-       Members agreed to consider an Item in relation to the Powers of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel after the elections in May 2019.