Belfast City Council Policy and Resources (Policy and Performance Review) Sub-Committee Minutes 13 April 2005
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B3542
Policy and Resources Committee
Wednesday, 13th April, 2005
Contents |
MEETING OF POLICY AND RESOURCES (POLICY AND PERFORMANCE REVIEW) SUB-COMMITTEE
Members present: Councillor D. Browne (Chairman); and Councillors Crozier, McAuley, Template:Bcc0405-O’Neill, Rodgers and E. Smyth.
In attendance:
- Mr. J. Millar, Head of Business Improvement;
- Mrs. K. Russell, Business Improvement Manager;
- Ms. S. Donnelly, Policy Analyst;
- Ms. S. Grimes, Policy Analyst;
- Mr. J. Goodall, Senior Committee Administrator; and
- Mr. G. Graham, Members’ Support Assistant.
(The Deputy Chairman, Councillor McAuley, in the Chair.)
Apology
An apology for inability to attend was reported from Councillor Template:Bcc0405-O’Reilly.
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of 10th November, which had been printed and circulated, were taken as read and signed as correct.
Corporate Policy Unit Year End Report 2004-2005
The Policy Analyst, Ms. S. Grimes submitted for the Sub-Committee’s consideration the Corporate Policy Unit’s Year End Report for the period 2004-2005. A copy of the report is set out hereunder.
In response to a question from a Member in relation to the role of the Corporate Policy Unit in ensuring that the key tasks contained within the various Departmental Plans were co-ordinated, the Policy Analyst stated that the Unit had made available a template to ensure that there was a consistency of approach in the formulation of such plans and that the key targets identified were consistent with the objectives contained within of the Council’s Corporate Plan. Several Members expressed concern in respect of the lack of available time to consider the vast range of consultation documents to which the Council was required to respond. In response, the Head of Business Improvement indicated that guidelines had been established to assist in the formulation of such responses. However, in many instances the response times did not take account of the Council’s decision-making process.
The Sub-Committee noted the contents of the report and the Chairman (Councillor D. Browne), on behalf of the Sub-Committee, congratulated the Head of Business Improvement who was responsible for the operational management of the Unit and the staff on their achievements in addressing the key tasks contained within the Departmental Plan.
Policy Network Annual Conference
The Head of Business Improvement advised the Members that the Annual Policy Network Conference would be held in Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, from 15th till 17th June. He stated that the Conference was considered to be a major event for corporate policy performance review practitioners and that it would consist of a series of seminars and workshops with the speakers being drawn from a range of organisations such as the Cabinet Office, the Improvement and Development Agency and the Local Government Network. The total costs associated with participation in the Conference would be approximately £750 per person.
The Head of Business Improvement recommended that the Sub-Committee authorise the attendance at the event of the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Sub-Committee, together with a Policy Officer (or their nominees) and authorise also the payment of the appropriate travelling, subsistence and attendance allowances in connection therewith.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation.
Chairman
