To note that Council has appointed Councillors Mitchell and Cordingley as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of this committee for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

RESOLVED – That it be noted that Councillors Mitchell and Cordingley had been appointed by Council at its meeting on 11 June as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of this committee for the municipal year 2014/15.

To note the membership of this Committee, as determined by Council, for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

RESOLVED – That the Membership of this committee, as appointed by Council at its meeting on 11 June, be noted.

To note the terms of reference for the Committee, as determined by Council, for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

RESOLVED – That the Terms of Reference for this committee, as agreed by Council at its meeting on 11 June, be noted.

To receive and, if so determined, to agree as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 5^th February, 2014.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meetings held on 5^th February be approved as correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members to give notice of any interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

No declarations were made by Members.

To receive a report from the Director of Finance

The Committee received a presentation from the Executive Member for Finance and the Head of Revenues and Benefits on Trafford’s Universal Credit Delivery Partnership Agreement which had been implemented on 23^rd June 2014.  The Scrutiny Committee had requested information on the impact of the agreement on the delivery of the Council’s local welfare provision, Trafford Assist.

The Committee were informed that, as the agreement was fully funded by the Department of Work and Pensions, the Council was able to provide the local services requested by the DWP to support their Universal Credit roll out programme which included additional Trafford Assist resource. In addition to the Universal Credit services, the additional resource could be used to support other Trafford Assist customers requiring personal budgeting support.

The Head of Revenues and Benefits gave an overview of the services provided and the support that they were providing to people. The Committee asked a number of questions about the scheme including questions about people in hardship, the impact on students and support for people to make online applications. 

RESOLVED - That the Scrutiny Committee notes the contents of this report and that a further update is provided in 12 to 18 months.

To note the outcome of the Scrutiny topic group’s review of Cycling, which has been passed to the Executive Member and will be formally referred to the Executive, at its meeting on 28/7/14, for response.

The Committee received an update on the Scrutiny Topic Group’s review of Cycling which had been led by Councillor Chilton.  The Topic Group had welcomed the on-going partnership engagement between Transport for Greater Manchester and the Council, and noted the funding that has been secured for on-going works. 

The Topic Group had made a number of recommendations to improve cycling in the borough including the on-going maintenance of the Transpennine Trail, improvements to communication about cycling and involvement in the development of a cycling strategy. They also commented on highways and parking and the importance of securing long-term funding to promote and encourage cycling.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and that an update be provided in 12 – 18 months.

To receive a report, recently referred to Council, of the Corporate Director, Transformation and Resources / Statutory Scrutiny Officer.

Members will be invited to consider potential issues to be incorporated within the Scrutiny Work Programme.

The Chairman reported that the abolition of the Topic Group Chairman role provided an opportunity to review the approach to scrutiny. The general principle was that Scrutiny Committees should be flexible in their approach and consider issues at the most appropriate and relevant time.

The Committee would need to prepare an overview work programme for the year. This would include any significant items on the horizon and any follow up issues.  However, the work programme should provide sufficient capacity for ad hoc and current issues to be added to the agenda as and when they arose.

The Chairman reported that there were a number of items that the Committee would need to consider over the year. These included the budget and the Reshaping Trafford programme. The Committee discussed the need to consider education related matters later in the municipal year. The Chairman and Vice Chairman would consider the programme and submit a report to the next meeting.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the report be noted.

(2)       That the Chairman and Vice Chairman report to the next meeting on the work programme for the Committee.