Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes from the meeting held on 31^st January 2017 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            Arising from the last meeting, Ed Dawson emailed additional information to Members of the Board. It was requested that this be recirculated.

            The Board was advised that no public questions had been received.

            The Board was presented with the Minutes relating to the Corporate Services Portfolio which had been considered by the Executive Board since the last meeting of the Board.

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be noted.

            The Board considered a copy of the Annual Report from the Chair of the Corporate Services Board, 2016/17. The Board met four times during the year and the report set out the work carried out and the recommendations throughout the Municipal Year April 2016 to March 2017.

            RESOLVED: That the Annual Report be noted.

The Board considered the minutes of the Member Development Group meetings held on 31 March 2016 and 15 December 2016.

RESOLVED: That the Board note the minutes.

The Board was provided with a report from the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which presented details of corporate accident statistics with associated trends, from 1 April 2016 to 31^st March 2017.

Officers commented that the report highlighted the national and local health and safety information, in particular the new HSE strategy, and together with performance and incident trends, these formed the basis for the recommended actions for 2017/18. In order to be proactive in health and safety management the report also indicated the number of completed risk assessments and training delivered to staff.

            It was highlighted that there had been a year by year reduction in the number of accidents leading to ‘days lost’, with 19 this year and 40 last year; a decrease in the number of actual ‘days lost’ with 369 this year compared to 671 last year; and only one compensation award for an injury to a pupil within the last 5 years out of a total of 845 accidents reported.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board received an update from Simon Riley, Operational Director, ICT and Support Services, on recent security measures undertaken by the Council’s ICT Services as a result of the recent global cyberattack. The department had taken sufficient measures prior and following the cyberattack to ensure the Council’s systems remained secure. Staff had been reminded of their responsibility to remain vigilant and not to open documents from unknown sources and to forward these onto ICT for investigation.

            Members also received information on the Council’s two data centres, implications of the integration of the Council’s systems with external systems and continuity planning measures.

            On behalf of the Board, the Chair thanked Simon Riley for his informative presentation and acknowledged the work of the ICT department.

            RESOLVED: That the update be noted.

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which presented the Performance Monitoring Reports for Quarter 3 and 4 of 2016/17.

The reports related to the following functional areas which reported to the Board and detailed progress against service objectives and milestones, and performance targets and provided information relating to key developments and emerging issues that had arisen during the period:

·         Finance;

·         Human Resources and Organisational Development;

·         ICT and Administrative Support;

·         Legal and Democracy;

·         Policy and Performance;

·         Property Services; and

·         Catering, Stadium and Registration Services.

            It was agreed that with regard to the tendering exercise for the reroofing works to Widnes Market, additional information would be circulated to the Board.

            RESOLVED: That the third and fourth quarter performance monitoring reports be received and noted.

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which sought to develop a work programme of topics for the Board to examine in 2017/18. It was noted that the Board had previously arranged a Topic Group to consider the Discretionary Support Scheme and it was proposed that this would continue to meet and include the impact of Universal Credit on residents in the Borough. Consideration would be given to setting up a second Topic Group if required.

            RESOLVED: That

1.    the Discretionary Support Scheme Topic Group continue to meet and include the impact of Universal Credit on residents in the Borough; and

2.    consideration would be given to setting up a second Topic Group if required.