CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL

 

To: Councillors White (Chair), Bagnall, Bradnack, Dryden, Ellis-Miller, Griffiths, Liddle, Smart, Smith and Stebbings

Alternate member:  Councillor Ward

Executive Councillor:  Amanda Taylor

 

(Despatched and placed on public deposit:  21 October)

 

COMMERCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

 

Date:           Tuesday 29 October 2002

Time:          4.30pm

Place:         Committee Room 1, The Guildhall

Contact:      Gary Clift                                                   Direct Dial:  (01223) 457011

                                                            

AGENDA

 

1       MINUTES

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 2 July and 15 August 2002.

 

2       APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence.

 

3       DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members are asked to declare at this stage any interests which they may have in any of the following items on the agenda. If any member is unsure whether or not they should declare an interest on a particular matter, they are requested to seek advice from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services before the meeting.

 

4       PUBLIC QUESTION TIME – see below details of the scheme and other public information.

 

5              RESURFACING OF ARBURY COURT PUBLIC CAR PARK & ANCILLIARY

WORKS – PROJECT APPRAISAL

 

            Appendix 1: Project Appraisal

         Report by the Head of Property & Building Services [pages 1 - 10]

 

6       FREEDOM OF INFORMATION PUBLICATION SCHEME

 

         Appendix 1: Publication Scheme

Report by the Director of Central Services [pages 11 - 31]

 

7       KEY DECISION  CREDIT CARD PAYMENT – LOCAL TAXES AND REPAYMENT OF OVERPAID HOUSING BENEFIT AND COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT

Exclusion of Press and Public

Regarding the appendix, if wishing to discuss it the Committee is recommended to exclude members of the public from the meeting on the grounds that, if they were present, there would be disclosure to them of information defined as exempt from publication under items 3 and 7 of the exempt information categories as defined on pages 153 and 154 of the Council’s Constitution

Report by the Director of Finance [pages 32 - 39]

 

8       KEY DECISION  INTRODUCTION OF SURVEILLANCE AS PART OF AN INTEGRATED BENEFIT FRAUD PREVENTION AND DETECTION POLICY

Report by the Director of Finance [pages 40 -44]

9       SERVICE PLANS                      Pages         45 – 51

         Appendix A: Comparison of original & revised budgets for 2002/03

         Appendix B: Main variations between 2002/03 original & revised budgets

         Appendix 1: Strategy & Partnerships Service Plan October/November 2002

        

Accountancy and Support Services    Pages 52 - 76

Legal Services and Land Charges      Pages 77 - 92

Democratic Services                      Pages 93 – 102

Internal Audit                             Pages 103 - 126

Human Resources                        Pages 127 - 145

Revenue Services                        Pages 146 - 156

IT Contract Management Service      Pages  157 - 165

Property and Building Services         Pages 166 - 178

Reception and Office Services          Pages 179 – 188

City Services External Trading          Pages 189 - 195

Markets                                   Pages 196 - 201

 

10      TRADE UNIONS FACILITY AGREEMENT

 

            Appendix A: Trade Union Representatives – Time Recording Code List

         Appendix 1: Unison & GMB Time Analysis by Activity

         Appendix 2: Unison & GMB Time Analysis by Department

Report by the Acting Head of Personnel [pages 202 - 213]

 

11      KEY DECISION  OFFICE ACCOMMODATION STRATEGY

         Report by the Head of Property and Building Services [pages  214 -223]

 

The Office Accommodation Working Party (OAWP) considered an earlier version of the report at its meeting on 16 October.  The report included on this agenda has been updated to reflect the debate at that meeting and include further information from the Council’s consultants.  The notes of the OAWP will be circulated to the Scrutiny Committee before 29th October

 

Exclusion of Press and Public

If wishing to discuss the appendix to the report on this item, the Committee is recommended to exclude members of the public from the meeting on the grounds that, if they were present, there would be disclosure to them of information defined as exempt from publication under items 8 and 9 of the exempt information categories as defined on page 154 of the Council’s Constitution

 

12      EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

Before considering the next items on this agenda, the Committee is recommended to exclude members of the public from the meeting on the grounds that, if they were present, there would be disclosure to them of information defined as exempt from publication by Categories 3 and 7 as defined in the Council’s Constitution part 4B (pages 153/4).

 

13      GENERAL DEBTS – BAD DEBTS FOR WRITE OFF

Report by the Director of Finance

 

14      BUSINESS RATES – DEBTS TO BE WRITTEN-OFF

Report by the Director of Finance

        

THE NEXT MEETING FOR COMMERCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2003 AT 4.30 PM.

 

Information for the public

You are welcome to attend this meeting as an observer, although it may be necessary to ask you to leave the room during the discussion of matters which are described as confidential.

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You can ask questions on an issue included on the agenda below, or on an issue which is within this committee’s powers. Questions can only be asked during the slot on the agenda for this at the beginning of the meeting, not later on when an issue is under discussion by the committee. If you wish to ask a question related to an agenda item contact the committee officer (listed above under ‘contact’) before the meeting starts.  If you wish to ask a question on a matter not included on this agenda, please contact the committee officer by 10.00am the working day before the meeting.  Further details  concerning the right to speak at committee can be obtained from the committee section.

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In the event of the fire alarm sounding  (which is a continuous ringing sound), you should pick up your possessions and leave the building by the route you came in. Once clear of the building, you should assemble on the pavement opposite the main entrance to the Guildhall and await further instructions. If your escape route or the assembly area is unsafe, you will be directed to safe areas by a member of Cambridge City Council staff.