Agenda item

This report covers issues identified by the Panel at their November 2011 meeting as needing further consideration.

The Chairman took questions on each service area in turn:

Customer Services Revenues and Benefits

Divisional Director Ian Savigar updated the Panel. He informed them that the workshop on Universal Credit and New Tax Benefit would now take place in March.

Councillor Gerrish asked if there had been any progress around the area of accessing the new system (The panel had previously raised concerns about the level of internet use that was expected). The officer assured the Panel that he was putting forward their concerns.

Councillor Bull stated that some of the Service Plans mentioned the use of the internet to save money. The Strategic Director of Resources explained that they tried to offer a choice between digital and face to face service but if the balance was wrong, Councillors should say.

The Divisional Director explained that there had been no change in the implementation date in response to a question from Councillor Barrett.

Electoral Services

The Chair pointed out that the Panel would be getting a report to their March meeting on the outcome of the Elections workshop.

Councillor Paul Myers mentioned a lack of resources at polling stations – The Chair asked that he forward comments to the Overview and Scurtiny project officer for incorporation in her report to the Panel in March.

Improvement and Performance

In response to a query from Councillor Bull, David Thompson – Divisional Director for Improvement and Performance explained that the Horizon Scanning intelligence function was used for different purposes in his and the Policy and Partnerships service. He explained that in his service it was used to keep abreast of the raft of new initiatives and our response to them and also for benchmarking purposes. David Trethewey – Divisional Director for Policy and Partnerships explained how this intelligence function was used in commissioning in his service.

Information Technology

Councillor Nigel Roberts stated that there should be a link made between what is spent on IT and what we get as output and what the end user gains. Angela Parratt Head of Transformation explained that the strategy does take account of the fact that not everyone will use everything on their desktop. She explained that service specific training is being looked at and the customer satisfaction survey is being amended to cover IT capability. The Chairman pointed out that there would be an update report on IT at the Panel’s May meeting.

Equalities

Councillors had concerns about the impact of the reduction in the budget in this area. Councillor Gerrish stated that he had doubts that general officers would have a full understanding of Equalities issues. David Trethewey – Divisional Director Policy and Partnerships explained that work had been done with services on their Equalities Impact Assessments. Cabinet Member David Bellotti explained that there will always be a need for a central Equalities team but it was the size of the team which is the issue. He explained that there is a need for more ownership of the issues throughout the organisation and that there was a balance to be struck between a central function and wider training.

Councillor Barrett explained that he had used the team’s expertise in a case and that their advice had been crucial, he asked if the 40% cut was too much. The Strategic Director for Resources – Andrew Pate explained that it is a choice for the administration as it is a valuable service but the issue is getting the quality of advice to the right people at the right time.

Councillor Gerrish stated that he accepted the judgement that the administration had made and was reassured regarding the on-going training. He stated that while the Panel did not welcome the saving in this area it was recognised that it has to be made. Managers must take ownership of the Equalities brief and self-refer if they need guidance or training.

The Chairman thanked officers for the updates.