Agenda and minutes

TO RECEIVE apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Lloyd-Jones (DDC) and M Fisher (CCC)            .

TO RECEIVE declaration of interests

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman to report any notifications received prior to this meeting

regarding the attendance of substitutes for Members of this Committee.

The Chairman reported that Councillor A Friend (DDC) was present as substitute for Councillor D Lloyds-Jones.

TO CONFIRM as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the East

Kent (Joint Scrutiny) Committee held on 9 July 2008.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2008 were submitted, approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

TO NOTE the minutes from the East Kent (Joint Scrutiny) Committee

Waste Management Working Sub-Group meeting that was held on 9

September 2008.

The minutes from the East Kent (Joint Scrutiny) Committee Waste Management Working Sub-Group meeting that was held on 3 December 2008 were noted by the Committee.

To receive any items referred from the last meeting of the committee.

(None at this time)

There were no items referred from the last meeting of the committee.

TO CONSIDER the East Kent Joint Arrangements Committee report by

the Head of Policy and Improvement, Canterbury City Council and the

resolutions detailed in the minutes appended to this agenda.

The Committee considered the report which was presented by the Corporate Director, Organisational Performance, Shepway District Council.

The Committee were concerned that there was no ceiling on the amount of spending for one single item by Chief Executives.

RESOLVED:

         a)      To endorse the recommendations set out in the report as agreed by the East Kent (Joint Arrangements) Committee.

TO CONSIDER the East Kent Joint Arrangements Committee report by

the Head of Community Services, Thanet District Council and the

resolutions detailed in the minutes appended to this agenda.

The Committee considered the report which was presented by the Corporate Director, Planning and Communities, Shepway District Council.

The Committee requested that the minutes from the overview and scrutiny committees from each local authority in the partnership that has reviewed this item and notes of tenant group meetings, be circulated for the next meeting.  The Committee recognised and endorsed the need for robust tenant involvement and the critical role of independent tenant advisors.

In response to a question the Corporate Director said that consultation thus far had highlighted local service delivery and local decision making regarding service design as key considerations.  He said that each of the local Authorities would retain ownership of their stock and would therefore need to maintain individual Housing Revenue Accounts.  This would mean the individual Authorities would retain responsibility for key decisions such as HRA business planning, including stock investment programmes, rent setting etc. and that the role of the Shared Service Vehicle (SSV) would be to deliver services within these locally determined frameworks.  The Corporate Director also referred to the role that Area Boards could potentially play in monitoring local service delivery and as a conduit for tenant and elected member input regarding local priorities.

The Committee discussed whether Housing Cabinet members should be members of the SSV board and concluded that there were arguments for and against this.  The Committee therefore asked that this issue be considered as part of the consideration of governance options. 

RESOLVED:

         a)      To endorse the recommendations as agreed by the East Kent (Joint Arrangements) Committee.

b)      That information be brought to the next Committee meeting on outcomes achieved by other Local Authorities that have set up Arms Length Management Organisations and/or Shared Service Vehicles.

c)      That some councillors, officers, tenants, and independent tenant advisors who have been involved with councils that have set up Arms Length Management Organisations and/or Shared Service Vehicles be invited to attend the next meeting to share their views with the Committee.

d)      That 3 overview and scrutiny members from Ashford Borough Council be invited to join the East Kent (Joint Scrutiny) Committee as co-opted non-voting members under the same principles as their participation in the debate at the East Kent (Joint Arrangements) Committee.

TO CONSIDER the East Kent Joint Arrangements Committee report by

the Corporate Director, Shepway District Council and the Director of

Corporate Services, Canterbury City Council and the resolutions detailed

in the minutes appended to this agenda.

The Committee considered the report which was presented by the Corporate Director, Organisational Performance, Shepway District Council.

RESOLVED:

         a)      To endorse the recommendations set out in the report as agreed by the East Kent (Joint Arrangements) Committee.

It will be necessary to exclude the press and public for any business

under this item.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be at 9am on Tuesday 31 March 2009 at the Civic Centre, Folkestone.

         There being no other business the meeting closed at 11.00 am