Issue - meetings

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Harris, Cabinet Member for Resources.

The Committee received the portfolio briefing from the Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Bob Harris, and advance questions.

The Committee asked for a future update about a new software package that could offer feedback to Members on repairs once a defect had been reported, e.g. a pothole fixed.

In response to Committee Members’ concerns that Ward Councillors were not offered the opportunity to be involved in discussions to improve town centres, the Cabinet Member for Resources agreed to address this issue outside of the meeting.

The Committee emphasised the importance of encouraging the use of local labour and services and suggested that consideration be given to raising the target of 10% local labour for major projects.

The Committee asked for a briefing note to explain the rationale behind the decision to remove a post from Bruce Castle Museum, highlighting that the service had recently won a national award.

Regarding the role of trade unions the Committee wanted to ensure that funding for time off was being resourced from appropriate budgets and it was agreed that the Committee would receive a supplementary report including: clarity on the difference between trade union duties and activities, a breakdown of the days per year that union officers attended regional/national union and/or General Teaching Council meetings (Unison Official – 8 days and NUT official – 60 days per year), whether the Council was reimbursed for the costs of union officers attending such meetings, and giving details of a previous report to the General Purposes Committee reviewing trade union facilities.

RESOLVED that the briefing be noted.