Review of Support Services for Members : Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 03/04/2001

Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document

Meeting of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 03/04/2001
Review of Support Services for Members

This Scoping Report has been prepared following the Committee’s decision at the meeting on 26th February 2001 to include a review of support services for members in its Committee work programme. The report seeks approval to the content, timetable and parameters of the review of support services for members.

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APPENDIX D

WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - CORPORATE NO. 1 – 3RD APRIL 2001

Title:

REVIEW OF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR MEMBERS

[Wards Affected: N/A]

Summary and Purpose

This Scoping Report has been prepared following the Committee’s decision at the meeting on 26th February 2001 to include a review of support services for members in its Committee work programme. The report seeks approval to the content, timetable and parameters of the review of support services for members.

Introduction

1. On 26th February 2001, the Committee agreed to a proposal by the Chairman to conduct a review of support services to cover the range of support services for members such as the Members’ Room, car parking, IT facilities, support (Internet access and training) and Members’ Allowances (eligibility for travel and subsistence).

2. The Modernising Agenda and, specifically, the changing roles for members make it an appropriate time to reassess and examine the effectiveness of existing member facilities and support under the new political structures.

Scoping the issues

3. The Committee has suggested that there are several issues that need to be considered by the review and these are summarised under the following broad headings:

q accommodation and office facilities currently available to members at the Central Offices Godalming, or at other Waverley offices
q car parking facilities and other facilities currently available to members (i.e. WP, dictation etc)
q IT and communication facilities currently provided to members
q IT support and training provided to members
q Members’ Allowances specifically eligibility for travel and subsistence payments
q Facilities provided at meetings for both members and the public, including presentation facilities

Methodology

4. Officers suggest that the first stage of the review will gather information on the existing arrangements/provision for the areas set out above. Comparative information will be obtained from other authorities, particularly those with experience of working under the new political structures of the Modernising Agenda. The views of members in this review are paramount and it is proposed that a survey of members is undertaken and that the information obtained from the Members’ Workshop on Facilities Management held in September 2000 should be included in the process of information gathering.

5. It is intended to link relevant outcomes of the review to the Offices Accommodation Review which is included in the Executive Committee’s Four-Month Rolling Programme.

Timetable and resources and environmental

6. It is anticipated that a progress report on the review will be reported to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee No 1 on 25th June 2001 and that the final report be presented to the meeting of the Committee scheduled in September 2001.

7. There are no immediate resource implications in conducting the proposed review, proposed however there may be resource implications arising from the proposals that may emerge from the review.

Environmental Implications

8. There are no immediate resource/environmental implications arising from this report but the outcome of the review will have environmental implications which will be reported at that time. In particular, Members have been committed in the past to reducing the amount of paper the Council uses.

"Opportunities for All" implications

9. There are no Opportunities for All implications arising from this report.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this Scoping Report be approved and a review of support services and facilities for members as set out in the report be undertaken.

Background Papers
There are no background papers (as defined by Section 100D(5) of the Local Government Act 1972) relating to this report.

CONTACT OFFICER:
Name: Roger Standing Telephone: 01483 869092
E-mail rstanding@waverley.gov.uk