Agenda and minutes

An apology was received from Councillor Arnold.

The minutes of the meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on the 15 December 2011 were presented.

            Resolved

            That the minutes of the meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee            held on the 15 December 2011 be approved and signed by the             Chairman as a correct record.

To receive notice of any urgent business which the Chairman considers should be dealt with at the meeting as a matter of urgency by virtue of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Chairman reported that there were no items to be dealt with at the meeting as a matter of urgency by virtue of Section 100(B)(4)(b).

Members to indicate whether they will be declaring any interests under the Code of Conduct.

Members making a declaration of interest at a meeting of a Committee or Council are required to disclose the existence and nature of that interest.  This requirement is not discharged by merely declaring a personal interest without further explanation.

In accordance with the Member’s code of conduct the following declarations of interest were received.

Councillor Ward declared a personal and prejudicial interest in matters relating to the Ryedale Tourism Advisory Board, as she was employed by a company which supplied equipment to the tourism industry.  Councillor Ward withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of the Ryedale Tourism Advisory Board Call in.

Councillor Cussons declared a personal interest in relation to Ryedale Tourism Advisory Board as he owned holiday cottages within Ryedale.

At the last meeting of the Commissioning Board held on the 26 January 2012 consideration had been given to the above item (agenda item 8, recommendation 2.1 (i) a)).  A copy of the report presented to the Commissioning Board had been previously circulated.  The Commissioning Board had resolved:

(i)   That the following recommendation of the Ryedale Tourism Advisory Board be not endorsed;

a)   The ‘Y Charter’ mark be used for businesses engaged in Council funded activities, in addition to other recognised Quality Assurance marks;

(ii)   That the following recommendations of the Ryedale Tourism Advisory Board be endorsed;

b)   There should be ongoing investment in the development of the discovernorthyorkshire.co.uk website, using existing budgets;

c)   Ryedale District Council commits to the partnership approach established in the VHEY ERDF bid ‘Partners for Growth’;

(iii)  The timetable for the relocation of Malton TIC be noted.

The Chairman reported that, in accordance with the procedures detailed in the Council’s Constitution, the above decision, which had not yet been implemented, had been called in for review by the Committee. 

The call in had been initiated by the Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee as he did not believe that the ramifications of this decision were fully understood by the Committee members. He was of the opinion that the Council had a policy to support, wherever possible, local business, and this decision was contrary to that policy.

            Resolved

            In light of a call in by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee of the decision by the Commissioning Board on the 26 January, agenda item      8, recommendation 2.1 (i) a), the Scrutiny Committee requests that the             Commissioning Board consider again their decision not to endorse the          Ryedale Tourism Advisory Boards recommendation of the ‘Y charter         mark’ be used for businesses engaged in Council funded activities, in   addition to other recognised Quality Assurance marks.

            The Scrutiny Committee draws to the attention of the Commissioning Board further information received from Officers around the report and        meeting notes when the matter was considered by the Tourism          Advisory Board on the 15 September 2011.  This stated that:

            The group discussed the Y Charter and felt that the self certification was not a quality mark, but did provide a necessary minimum standard.

            Concerns were expressed about a move away from the Visit Britain   quality standard, as this could lead to a general drop in quality of            provision in Ryedale.  However the VB standards were also changing        and it would be harder to achieve a gold rating.  Smaller          establishments will find it hard to afford the schemes.

            In addition, it was suggested that the Y Charter could be adapted for             attractions.

            It was agreed that the TICs can promote non QA property that does   have the Y Charter rating, whilst recognising that this is not a quality            mark.  This will be taken back to the RDC Commissioning Board as a     proposal supported by the TAB.

            Therefore the Scrutiny Committee believe that the Y charter should be             endorsed by Ryedale District Council to ensure a cost  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134.

The Corporate Director (s151) submitted a report (previously circulated) in order to consider the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategies, the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy and set the Prudential Indicators for 2012/13.

            Resolved

a.    That the report be received.

b.    The Treasury Management and Investment Strategies be noted and approved by the Council.

c.    The prudential indicators in the report be approved by the Council.

The Head of Economy & Housing submitted a report (previously circulated) in order to:

a.    Inform Members of progress towards the delivery of the 2011/12 Safer Ryedale Action Plan.

b.    Inform Members of priorities for the 2012/13 Safer Ryedale Action Plan

c.    Inform Members of the arrangements being made for the establishment of a Police and Crime Panel for York and North Yorkshire.

Resolved

            That the report be noted.

The Corporate Director (s151) submitted a report (previously circulated) in order to present the Internal Audit Plan for 2012/13 from the North Yorkshire Audit Partnership.  The plan would be delivered by Veritau North Yorkshire who will be providing Internal Audit from 1 April 2012.

            Resolved

            That the report be received and the plan endorsed.

The Corporate Director (s151) submitted a report in order to inform members on progress with the actions identified in the 2010-11 Annual Governance Statement Action Plan.

            Resolved

            That the progress made with identified actions in the 2010-11 Annual Governance Statement Action Plan be noted.

The Corporate Director (s151) presented the Interim Internal Audit Report covering the period to January 2012 from the North Yorkshire Audit Partnership.

            Resolved

            That the Interim Internal Audit report which outlined progress against    the approved internal audit plan be noted.

The Head of Planning presented a report (previously circulated) which gave details of the Service Risk register for those services within his remit.

Members reviewed the risk register and it was

            Resolved

            That the report be noted.

The Head of Transformation presented the Corporate Risk Register, and gave details of the areas of significant risk, and the procedures in place to mitigate those risks.

            Resolved

            That the report be received.

The Customer Services and Benefits Manager submitted a report (previously circulated) in order to inform Members of the number and type of complaints received under the Council’s complaint procedure for the period October to December 2011.

            Resolved

            That the report be received.

The Head of Transformation submitted a report (previously circulated) in order to present the progress of the scrutiny review currently being undertaken.

            Resolved

            That the progress be noted.

Commissioning Board held on the 26 January 2012 (attached).

Policy and Resources Committee held on the 9 February 2012 (to follow).

A report (previously circulated) listing the decisions taken by the Commissioning Board on the 26 January 2012  was presented.

Members were reminded that the Policy & Resources Committee meeting scheduled to take place on the 9 February 2012 had been cancelled due to bad weather conditions, and the items for consideration would be heard by Full Council at the meeting on the 8 March 2012.

            Resolved

            That the report be noted.

There were no other items of urgent business.

The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 7.45pm.