Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             after notifying the Chair at the start of the meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:-

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interest made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this meeting.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

RESOLVED:  That (1) agenda item 11 be considered after agenda item 8; and

(2)  all items be considered with the press and public present.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September and 8 November 2005, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2005, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were received at this meeting under the provisions of the Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 13 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions were received at this meeting under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 13 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations were received at this meeting under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

Report of the Director of Business Development.

Members received a report of the Executive Director (Business Development) on the redevelopment of the Council’s website.  Following questions from Members, an officer stated that the costs set out in the report included the cost of setting up the new website with new software and one off staffing costs.

The Panel was shown a draft version of the updated website.  Members made comments and suggestions about potential improvements, which were noted by officers for consideration when developing the website.  In particular, Members were of the view that the front page of the website should be improved to feature more images and less text.  A Member also stated that the website should be easily accessible to the public and that it should include a public forum site.  Members requested that an updated draft, incorporating their suggestions, be submitted to the next meeting of the Panel.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Oral report of the Director of Business Transformation.

The Panel received a verbal report on the Business Transformation Partnership (BTP).  A document was tabled at the meeting which provided information on communications relating to the BTP.  An officer stated that information on the BTP was to be included in the Council Tax information booklet which would be launched in Harrow town centre.  Members were of the view that all Councillors should be kept informed about the BTP.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Group Manager of Communications.  

The Panel received a verbal report which outlined the financial position of the Harrow People magazine.  A financial statement was tabled, which detailed income and expenditure from September 2005.  An officer stated that the readers’ survey had indicated that the majority of respondents had positive views about Harrow People.  In response to questions from Members, an officer stated that the jobs supplement was open to all advertisers but that income from this had decreased due to a reduction in the number of posts advertised by the Council.

A Member stated that Harrow People could be used to more widely reflect the views of the community in the same way as the Council’s Youth Participation Strategy.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Oral report of the Group Manager of Communications. 

The Panel received a verbal report which advised that a new contract for notice boards was due to be finalised in Summer 2006.  An officer requested Members’ views on the future of the community notice boards.  A Member expressed the view that the notice boards had been of little value and were often placed at inappropriate locations.  Members suggested that a survey might help identify different ways of communicating information.  Members stated that, as the income from the notice board contract was greater without the provision of community notice boards, it would be appropriate to remove these from the contract and investigate alternative options.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To be discussed.

[The papers relating to this item will be circulated under separate cover to Members of the Panel only].

Members received a verbal report on the Council Tax Supplement.  Copies of the initial draft of the 2006/07 guide to Council Tax had previously been circulated to Members of the Panel.  Members made a number of comments and suggested improvements to the guide, which would be included in the final version.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

In accordance with the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 12.1 (Part 4E of the Constitution) it was

RESOLVED:  (1)  At 10.00 pm to continue until 10.10 pm and;

(2)  at 10.10 pm to continue until 10.15 pm.