Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Alan Amos, Chris Bloore and Lynne Duffy.

None.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in writing or by e-mail indicating the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case 11 October).  Enquiries can be made through the telephone number/e-mail address below.

None.

(previously circulated)

It was reported that the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2016 should be amended to show that Tracey Onslow was the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and not representing Wyre Forest District Council.  Subject to the amendment, the Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 September 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Board received a presentation from the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive on the draft refreshed Corporate Plan - 'Shaping Worcestershire's Future (2017-2022)' (copies were circulated at the Meeting).

During the Presentation, the following main areas were highlighted:

·         The Council's current Corporate Plan was adopted by Council in January 2013 and was set to expire in 2017. Acknowledging the changing national and local landscape in which the Council was operating, the Plan had been refreshed to ensure that the content continued to be relevant over the next five years through to 2022.

·         The Plan reflected the Peer Review feedback and aimed to paint a vision of the County, which focused on 'People' and 'Place', a Council culture which embraced innovation and new ideas, was enabling and encouraged self-sufficiency all within a landscape of working with partners and stakeholders and focusing on the significant financial challenges.

·         The previous four key priorities were making a difference and had therefore been retained.  The Board were reminded that the priorities were:  Promoting Health and Well-being, Supporting Children and Families, Championing Open for Business and Protecting the Environment and some examples of successes in these areas were highlighted.

·         The key priority for the Council was to increase prosperity in the County and support self-sufficiency through generating wealth/income to invest in other Council priorities such as:

Ø  Promoting World Class Worcestershire

Ø  Delivering a connected County

Ø  Delivering game changer employment sires and locations

Ø  Creating a World Class workforce

·         It was a key ambition to see more children and young people (C&YP) being fully prepared to live happy, healthy, independent and prosperous adult lives whilst working closely with partners to keep C&YP safe:

Ø  C&YP achieving their full potential

Ø  More young people moving successfully into employment

Ø  Safeguarding at the heart of everything we do

·         The Environment including recreational, heritage and cultural offer is one of the County's unique selling points, the vision was to maximise the environmental assets in order to improve people's wellbeing, the economy and natural environment:

Ø  Being a responsible custodian of the County's environment

Ø  Commitment it improve transport networks and deliver resilient infrastructure

Ø  Minimising waste production

·         To support residents to become self-reliant in living longer, healthier, better quality lives and remain independent for as longs as possible by:

Ø  Promoting health and active lifestyles

Ø  Enabling vulnerable people to live as independently and safely as possible with the support of their fiends families and communities

Ø  Work with partners to make sure all health and social care services are evidence based, effective and value for money.

·         By working with communities a to enable self-reliance, resilience and unlock a greater level of community capacity to sustain those thing that we wish to see continue but which the public sector alone can't do

Following the presentation, there was an opportunity for questions and the following main points discussed were:

·         Scrutiny was very keen to be part of an innovative, progressive and forward looking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 952.

Economy & Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel early 2017. Councillor Taylor explained that Bromsgrove District Council had concerns about Worcestershire Highways and asked if there could be an opportunity for their views to be fed into the Process. Scrutiny Work Programme

During the Member Update, it was agreed that the following issues should be included in the Scrutiny Work Programme following the 2017 Elections:

·         Sexual Violence and Rape

·         Cycleways

·         Winter Service Policy

Overview & Scrutiny Footways Review

It was reported that a draft Report was being circulated for comment and would be discussed at the next OSPB.

Corporate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel

At its last meeting in September, the Panel received an update on the Property Asset Strategy and would be looking the Place Partnership and the Smallholdings Strategy at its meeting in November.

Economy & Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel

The Panel at its most recent meeting received an update on Broadband and would be meeting again to discuss its value for money.

Quality Assurance

All Panel Chairman were asked to prepare an update on how Panels had were ensuring that Quality Assurance was incorporated into all scrutiny for the January OSPB.

Forward Plan

The Forward Plan had been updated following the Agenda despatch – copies of the updated Plan were circulated to the Board.

It was confirmed that the Local Transport Plan 4 would be discussed at the Economy & Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel early 2017.  Councillor Taylor explained that Bromsgrove District Council had concerns about Worcestershire Highways and asked if there could be an opportunity for their views to be fed into the process.