{Disestablished Committee} - Resources and Governance Overview and Scrutiny Committee

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24 May 2007

Present:

• Councillor Watson - In the Chair 
• Councillors Andrews, Clayton, Judge, Morrison, P. Murphy, Brian O'Neil, Sandiford, Smith and Trotman. 

Present by Invitation:

• Councillor Priest, Executive Member for Finance and Human Resources

RG/07/1 Manchester Partnership

The Committee received a presentation and report on the structure and work of the Manchester Partnership, and particularly the Manchester Board and the Public Service Board, primarily to assist it in identifying those elements of the Boards' work in which the Committee could add value in terms of promoting democracy and accountability within the partnership, and influencing policy development.

Members expressed specific concerns that Manchester Airport and Manchester University as key players in the local economy did not appear to have an appropriate level of representation on a number of specific partnerships in which their inclusion could be seen as beneficial. Officers indicated that the Private Sector Engagement Group was seen as being the vehicle by which these organisations would be able to make an effective contribution to local employment and attainment issues, and to bring a wider understanding of private sector perspectives.

Members remained concerned that the review process had failed to achieve an effective separation of executive and non-executive functions such that there was full transparency of roles, clarity about the role of internal scrutiny of decision making, and that the rationale in relation to individual membership decisions remained unclear. Some members suggested that the there needed to be greater democratic accountability in the work of the partnership boards which could only be achieved by representation across the political spectrum. Officers acknowledged the points made by members in relation to transparency of roles and suggested that there was an emerging rationale from the review that would clarify roles and responsibilities and deliver improved consistency in approach, and this would be more clearly articulated when the final proposals from the review were presented in July.

Decision

1. To thank the officers for the presentation.

2. To note, without prejudice, the current review of the Manchester partnership arrangements. In terms of decision making in relation to the allocation of resources from the single funding block, the Committee is concerned that robust mechanisms are in place for the effective scrutiny of those decisions, and the officers are therefore requested to report to a future meeting to enable this Committee to consider the arrangements that are being proposed.

3. To request that the proposals from the review in relation to the membership of individual thematic boards are reported to this Committee so that the Committee can express views to the Partnership Board about the appropriateness of what is being proposed.

4. To request that consideration is given to the wider involvement of Manchester Airport and Manchester University in all relevant aspects of the Partnership.

5. To invite the Chairs of the appropriate Boards to attend future meetings when relevant issues are being considered.

RG/07/2 Work Programme 2007/2008

The Committee considered suggested issues to be included in the work programme for the year, reflecting the strategic priorities of the Council, and to contribute to the continued development of an external focus embracing the work of the Council's key partners. Members were also concerned to ensure that the programme was seen to be relevant in a way that could generate public engagement in the scrutiny process.

Decision

1. To agree the following issues as forming the core work programme of the Committee -

• Manchester Partnership - membership proposals 
• Area Working in the Manchester Partnership 
• Local Area Agreement review 
• Strategic Review of Local Area Agreement Resources 
• Transformational Government 
• Asset Management Plan 
• Achieving the MIP vision 
• Benefit Fraud - BFI Report and local mapping/dynamics 
• Comprehensive Performance Assessment - one year on 
• Manchester Working - review of arrangements 
  SAP implementation 
• Street Lighting PFI - value for money review 
• EC Grant administration 

2. To re-establish the Human Resources Sub Group comprising the Chair and Councillors Andrews, Isherwood and Trotman.

3. To re-establish the MEP Sub Group comprising the Chair and Councillors Andrews, Sandiford and Smith, to work jointly with a similar group established by the Children and Young people Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

4. To re-establish the Post Offices Sub Group comprising the Chair and Councillors Morrison, Sandiford and Trotman to meet urgently to respond to any further threat to the future of post offices in the city.