Issue - meetings

That the Forward Work Programme as submitted be approved and that the Chairman and Vice Chairman acting in concert with the Member Engagement Manager and other Officers be given authority to vary the Forward Work Programme where circumstance dictate.

The Member Engagement Manager introduced the forward work programme which had been collated by the Committee’s former facilitator, Samantha Roberts, after the recent Forward Work Programme workshop.  He explained that the next meeting would include items on Repairs, Estate Management and Anti-Social Behaviour.  The Member Engagement Manager reminded Members that there would be a Welfare Reform workshop on 31 October 2012 in the Council Chamber.

Councillor A.M. Halford said that she had not been made aware in advance of the departure of a number of staff which included Mike Bernard and Samantha Roberts.  She asked if the Chair could send a note of thanks on behalf of the committee to them to wish them success in their new employment.  The Member Engagement Manager said that Samantha Roberts was the new Clerk of Mold Town Council.

Councillor Halford commented that Telecare had disappeared from the work programme.  The Member Engagement Manager replied that the Committee have the discretion to change items on the programme when it became necessary to do so.  He added that items did not disappear from the work programme and that at the workshops, Members could decide which items to add or remove from the forward work programme.

Councillor P.J. Curtis expressed his concern at the number and use of workshops. The Member Engagement Manager responded that such workshops were used in addition to formal scrutiny meetings to enable members to discuss issues such as the development of the work programme in a more informal session.  He added that the work programme item, usually at the end of the agenda was important, but that its consideration was often rushed because of the constraints.

The Member Engagement Manager also asked that the Chair and Vice Chair in consultation with himself and the other officers be authorised to vary the work programme from time to time.  Councillor Halford expressed a reservation, citing a specific example.  The Member Engagement Manager responded and explained that he had sought the variations to add rather than remove items from the work programme.

RESOLVED:

That the Forward Work Programme as submitted be approved and that the Chairman and Vice Chairman acting in concert with the Member Engagement Manager and other Officers be given authority to vary the Forward Work Programme where circumstance dictate.