None

Members are asked to declare any interests in matters for consideration at this meeting.

None

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2008 attached

The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2008 were received and approved and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

Further to Minute 21 of that meeting, the Twickenham Riverside Scheme, the Chair requested that the Environment Trust’s full Business Plan be circulated to Committee Members as soon as possible.

This report provides an update on the follow up work undertaken since the Council’s 2007 Staff Survey.

Report of the Corporate Head of Human Resources attached.

The Commission received a report on follow-up work undertaken since the Council’s 2007 Staff Survey.

Commission Members raised a number of issues including:

• Recruitment and Retention issues not being included in the action plan.
• How staff responses to Executive Board communications would be evaluated.
• The reasons why satisfaction rates regarding equality and diversity were lower for Black and Minority Ethnic staff.
• The cost of the survey and the focus groups.

In response, the Interim Head of HR Operations reported that:

• Recruitment and Retention had not been raised as an issue in the Staff Survey.  However the Council had a range of policies and procedures which were accessible via the Intranet.  Staff turnover rates were as expected for an organisation of the Council’s size.
• The first monthly communication from Executive Board had been circulated to all staff in December with the opportunity for them to respond to the Chief Executive direct.  An encouraging level of responses had been received and levels of responses to future communications would be monitored.
• Officers were seeking to identify particular issues of concern for Black and Minority Ethnic Staff via the Equalities Group.
• Details of the cost of the Staff Survey and focus groups would be reported back to Members

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

This report provides a summary of progress on the development of the Corporate Plan 2009-2010.

Report of the Assistant Director, Commissioning, Corporate Policy and Strategy attached.

The Commission considered a report on the development of the Corporate Plan 2009/10.

In response to concerns expressed about the length, style and user-friendliness of the current Plan, the Assistant Director, Commissioning, Corporate Policy and Strategy reported that the new version would be more accessible. She also reported that priority outcomes would be measured as part of the business planning process.

The draft Corporate Plan would be considered by Cabinet on 23 March 2009 and regular performance digests would be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committees for information.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Commission is asked to establish a Task Group on ‘Business and Employment Support to Small Businesses’ by setting its remit, scope and terms of reference.

Officers will provide a verbal presentation to assist Members in their discussions.

Consideration was given to the establishment of a Task Group on Business and Employment Support to Small Businesses.

Details of the range of measures agreed by Cabinet in December 2008 together with an overview of the support that could be provided to small businesses was tabled.

RESOLVED – That a Task Group on Business and Employment Support to Small Businesses be established comprising Councillors Fleming, Khosa and Miller and Barrie Hatch.

The draft work programme has been drawn up, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair, from items in the forward plan and from action arising from previous meetings of the Committee.    

The Committee is requested to consider the items within the proposed work programme, set out at Appendix 1 to this report, and suggest any amendments or additional topics to be included in the future.

Report of the Senior Democratic Services Officer attached.

RESOLVED –

(1)   That the February and April meetings be single issue meetings regarding Budget 2009/10 and Twickenham Riverside respectively.

(2)   That the report of the Business and Employment Support Group to Small Businesses Task Group be considered at the first meeting in the next municipal year.