Venue: Exe Room, Phoenix House, Tiverton
Contact: Julia Stuckey Member Services Officer
Link: audio recording
No. | Item |
---|---|
APOLOGIES AND SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any). Minutes: Apologies were received from Cllr Mrs Bainbridge who was substituted by Cllr Mrs F J Colthorpe, Cllr Mrs C P Daw who was substituted by Cllr Mrs E J Slade, Cllr T W Snow and Cllr J L Smith. |
|
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.
Note: A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item. Minutes: There were no members of the public present. |
|
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING PDF 209 KB To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the last meeting of this Committee.
The Committee is reminded that only those members of the Committee present at the previous meeting should vote and, in doing so, should be influenced only by seeking to ensure that the minutes are an accurate record.
Minutes: Subject to adding the wording ‘the part that the Tiverton Gazette had played in highlighting Safeguarding issues was acknowledged’ being added to Minute 125 the minutes of the last meeting were approved as a correct record and SIGNED by the Chairman. |
|
CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS To receive any announcements that the Chairman of Scrutiny Committee may wish to make. Minutes: The Chairman had no announcements to make. |
|
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT MEL STRIDE The Committee to welcome the MP and put questions. Minutes: The Chairman welcomed local MP Mel Stride and his assistant Mike Knuckey to the meeting.
The MP explained that due to his role as a Government Whip he had to be in London when the house was sitting, hence his attendance at the Committee on a Friday.
A number of questions had been forwarded to the MP in the advance of the meeting.
Cllr Mrs J Roach had asked would the government consider legislating to ensure that where there was a cycle track, cyclists who stayed on the road would be committing an offence.
Mr Stride answered that there were two types of cycle path; shared path and dedicated routes on the highway. The Highway Code determined what the cyclist should be doing on particular types. There were no plans to make changes at the current time but he was interested to know Members thoughts and asked that they put something in writing to him. He made comment that cyclists might say that the current cycle paths were not fit for use.
Cllr R J Rosamond said that according to an article in the Times rural areas were suffering from unfair funding for social care, receiving 60% less per head of population over 65 than in London. The funding was deemed regressive, unfair and opaque, and the gap was widening as the shire population of elderly people was increasing. Social Care funding should represent a needs based formula determined by demographic data. How was the government going to make society work for everyone?
Mr Stride replied that social care was one of the greatest challenges with an aging population that were living longer and in Devon 25% of the population being over 65. By living longer people were facing more complex conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Devon was geographically large and end of care life was very expensive. The MP explained that the Government did not specify an amount to be spent on adult social care and it was up to the local authority to decide how funding was divided, with the exception of the extra funding that had been announced in the budget. He agreed that there were huge challenges ahead and that the size of the challenge should not be underestimated.
Cllr T W Snow had asked with regard to a statement from the Government that it would limit the amount of money spent by patients, to a maximum of £75000, after that it would be government funded, where did the government now stand on this pledge?
Mr Stride replied that a review was currently ongoing but his personal view was that it was a weakness in the system if those that could pay had to pay and others didn’t have to pay anything at all. He was hoping that a cap would be put in place but it had not happened yet.
Discussion took place regarding ‘baby boomers’ and the need for all parties to work together to deal with long term problems. Mr Stride explained that the ... view the full minutes text for item 131. |
|
SCRUTINISING SCRUTINY PDF 248 KB An informal discussion regarding the role of Scrutiny. Minutes: The Chairman had requested that the Committee have an informal discussion regarding the role of Scrutiny. He had provided a report * which he had prepared for the recent Peer Review, for reference.
The Chairman asked Members to consider if the Committee was challenging enough, was it acting as a critical friend and was it expressing the voice of the public. He asked if the Committee was owning the process and looking to improve services.
Discussion took place regarding;
· The number of items on agendas, should the Committee be concentrating on fewer items in more detail?
· The lack of officer resource to support Scrutiny;
· Recent consultation by Government regarding scrutiny;
· The statutory obligation to hold six meetings a year;
· Duplication of work when reports were requested by Policy Development Groups and Scrutiny;
· Health Scrutiny at Devon County Council which Members could view by webcam or attend;
· Examples of where Scrutiny had worked well, such as the Supplementary Policy Document for waste.
Note: - Report * previously circulated and attached to Minutes. |
|
IDENTIFICATION OF ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING Members are asked to note that the following items are already identified in the work programme for the next meeting:
Note: - this item is limited to 10 minutes. There should be no discussion on items raised.
Police and Crime Commissioner Communications Working Group – annual update Cabinet Member for Working Environment and Support Services Community Safety Annual Report Chairman’s Report Minutes: Police and Crime Commissioner Communications Working Group – annual update Cabinet Member for Working Environment and Support Services Community Safety Annual Report Chairman’s Report Local Enforcement Plan Homelessness |