Agenda and minutes

None.

None.

It was confirmed that all items on the agenda would be considered in Part 1.

The minutes of 8 June 2010 were agreed as an accurate account of the meeting.

The Committee questioned Officers whether the consultation period for the Policy Framework Document – LDF Core Strategy could be extended, and some members of the public were not aware of the document. Officers informed Members that a further 6-week consultation would take place after the changes had been made from the first 6-week consultation period. Members asked that Officers be more pro-active in advertising the consultation through Hillingdon People magazine and local newspapers.

Members agreed to submit the following comments to Officers:

• RESPOC had concerns over the effectiveness of the communication of the consultation and asked Officers to take pro-active steps to ensure the wider community was consulted.
• Members asked Officers to use the term ‘Culture’ on the contents page in the title “Sports, Leisure & Culture.”
• The Committee highlighted their concerns over the user-friendliness of the consultation document, and asked Officers to keep the target audience in mind while writing the document.

The Committee requested to be consulted on the consultation document during the second 6-week consultation.

To Note:

The Committee noted the consultation document.

The Quarterly Performance Information Report provided a review of the actions taken to meet the Council Plan targets, the Local Area Agreement targets (both of which are outcome driven), performance indicators (local and national) that the groups used to manage and monitor their performance (and were available quarterly).

The total spend for 2009/10 was £1,728k, representing 72% of the budget, £2,411k. The largest area of variance was the Libraries refurbishment programme and the fit out and joinery works for the new Botwell Library, with the enhancements that were made to the specification, this work was slipped into April and May 2010 and is now completed. All other capital projects in the P&CS programme were ‘on track’ against quality, cost, time and business benefits

To Note:

The Committee noted the Performance and Budget reports, and were in agreement that the departments were performing well.

Officers introduced the scoping report for the Committee’s first review on the legal high Khat.

Members of the Committee were encouraged to see an extensive list of witnesses, and highlighted the need to ensure each witness was made to feel comfortable when attending Committee meetings. Members suggested involving residents who live around Khat houses, but suggested this needed to be approached cautiously.

Media representation would be encouraged at meetings, where appropriate. The Committee were informed that Sky News had recently covered a story on Khat which was filmed near Heathrow Airport. The Committee discussed inviting Sky News, national newspapers and local newspapers to future meeting where Khat would be discussed.

Members agreed the following format for the forthcoming Committee meetings:

22 September 2010            importation and distribution

7 October 2010                     social issues

16 November 2010               health issues

14 December 2010              crime and ASB

18 January 2010                   national issues

15 February 2010                 conclusions / recommendations

9 March 2010                        1st draft of report

12 April 2010                        agree final report

22 May 2010                        report to cabinet       

Agreed:

Members delegated the task of writing lines of questioning to the Chairman and Democratic Services Officer.

The Committee agreed that Hayes Town Partnership Chairman, David Brough, be invited to attend meetings where Khat would be discussed as a Standing Witness.

The Committee agreed the Forward Plan.

The Committee agreed the Work Programme for 2010/11.