Issue - items at meetings - ECSOSC Work Programme

48.1 The Committee’s Work Plan was noted; the 2010/2-11 draft would be drawn up shortly together with a schedule for scrutiny panels.

36.1    The Head of Scrutiny referred to the briefing he had tabled at the start of the meeting which summarised the scrutiny panel options for ECSOSC.

36.2    On 14 September ECSOSC resolved to set up a Panel to investigate road safety. On 8 October, Council agreed to refer two notices of motion to ECSOSC for scrutiny: reducing the default speed limit to 20mph and rape support services. Councillor G Theobald also asked that ECSOSC conduct a review into the possibility of introducing a 20mph speed limit.

36.3    Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 20 October prioritised the list of Panels as follows:

1) 20mph speed limit (to start asap)

2) Rape and Sexual Assault support services (to start asap)

3) Disabilities (to start asap)

4) Cultural provision for children (to start February 2010)

5) Alcohol-related hospital admissions (to start March 2010)

36.4    ECSOSC therefore had the option of two simultaneous reviews that would be possible on 20mph and rape support services; or the wider topic of road safety which would necessitate the review of rape support services being delayed.

36.5    Councillor Ben Duncan set out the reasons for his Notice of Motion agreed at 8 October Council as set out at Item 32C on this agenda. He said that local voluntary and statutory services provided only limited services to support victims of serious sexual assault. There was an urgent need for a review of current services and how they are funded. It was important to hear from partner agencies and victims to help identify gaps in provision and to make recommendations on how to address these.

36.6    Members discussed priorities and agreed not to go ahead with road safety at this stage but instead to establish two scrutiny panels; support services for rape victims and 20mph default speed limits. This latter should be carefully focussed so as not to include more general road safety issues. The four Councillors who had agreed to serve on the road safety panel would be asked if they were still content to be part of the 20mph panel.

36.7    RESOLVED to establish two scrutiny panels as follows:

1)     Support services for victims of rape and serious sexual assault as minuted above at 36.5 and in line with the Notice of Motion approved at 8 October Council

2)     To investigate 20mph speed limits/zones in line with the letter from Councillor G Theobald (Item 32A on this agenda) and the Notice of Motion approved at 8 October Council  (Item 32B)

19.1    Two requests were made for reports to future meetings;

--information on concessionary bus fares for children and young people, and making the use of buses as easy, cheap and safe for them as possible.

-- ‘Operation Reduction’ - policing the use of drugs

19.2    Councillors had been contacted by concerned residents about Downland Management and asked for an update following the Committee’s letter to 30 July Environment Cabinet Member Meeting.  

19.3 RESOLVED that these items be added to the Committee’s work programme