Hertfordshire Local & Libraries Cabinet Panel Minutes 11 July 2011

MEMORANDUM ______

To: All Members of the Panel, From: Legal and Member Services Jan Hayes-Griffin, Alex James, Ask for: Nicola Cahill Trevor Mose Ext: 25554 My ref: Your ref:

HERTFORDSHIRE LOCAL & LIBRARIES CABINET PANEL 8 NOVEMBER 2011

M I N U T E S

ATTENDANCE MEMBERS OF THE PANEL

D Andrews (Vice Chairman), C L Berry, C Clapper, C M Hayward (Chairman and Executive Member for Hertfordshire Local and Libraries), S M Holmes, P V Goggins, D B Lloyd, J Lloyd, A Oaten, E T Roach (substituting for T W Hone), P A Ruffles, J W A Usher (substituting for K F Emsall), C J White, A D Williams, C B Woodward

Upon consideration of the agenda for the Hertfordshire Local & Libraries Cabinet Panel meeting on 8 November 2011 as circulated, copy annexed, conclusions were reached and are recorded below.

Note: No declarations of interest were made by any member of the Panel in relation to the matters considered at this meeting.

PART 1 ACTION 1. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2011 were confirmed as a correct record.

2. PUBLIC PETITIONS

There were no public petitions.

3. DEVELOPING LOCALISM IN HERTFORDSHIRE

Officer Contact: Trevor Mose, Herts Local Programme Manager Tel: (01992) 556658

3.1 The Panel considered a report which set out how the County Council intended to further progress the development of localism in Hertfordshire.

3.2 The Panel received a presentation. Members heard that the Herts Local Programme had first been launched by the Leader

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ACTION of the Council in 2008. Focus upon the programme had intensified following a number of subsequent national developments such as the Government’s Big Society agenda, publication of the Localism Bill and the Open Public Services White Paper.

3.3 Members heard the Herts Local Action Plan had been developed with the Executive Member for Hertfordshire Local and Libraries,.

3.4 It was highlighted that work was being undertaken under a number of strands;

 Democratic Leadership, which centred on County Councillor activity. The Locality Budget Scheme and Highways Locality Budget Scheme allowed Councillors to distribute small amounts of money as befitted the local community.

 Participation and Engagement, focused upon enabling individuals to become involved in influencing local government.

 Volunteering and the Voluntary Sector focused upon encouraging individuals to become more involved with their communities.

 Communication and Partnership. This strand centres on a disseminating to the public the meaning of Localism within the context of Hertfordshire, utilising County Councillors as ambassadors.

 HCC organisational Culture. Members heard that further work would be needed to undertaken with service departments to build a localist approach.

 Community Celebration, which involved Hertfordshire County Council taking a positive attitude to community celebrations relating to the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics.

Conclusion

3.5 The Panel welcomed the presentation and requested that a report regarding volunteering be added to the agenda for the next meeting.

ACTION

4. HERTFORDSHIRE COMMUNITY COVENANT WITH THE ARMED FORCES

Officer Contact: Alison Brown Tel: (01992) 555642

4.1 The Panel considered a report which sought Cabinet approval for work with key partners, such as district and borough councils, to develop a countywide Community Covenant with the Armed Forces.

4.2 Members heard that the Community Covenant served as an opportunity to demonstrate the County Council’s continuing commitment to the Armed Forces.

4.3 Areas of activity would focus upon six main areas, which included: providing help with housing, schooling and family support, as well as access to skills training, health services and leisure facilities.

4.4 Community Covenants aspired to ensure that the Armed Forces community should not face disadvantage compared with other members of the public in terms of the provision of public and commercial services as a result of their specific circumstances. Members heard that the commitment of the County Council was important to the covenant as it played a key role in community leadership and service provision.

4.5 The Hertfordshire Community Covenant proposed the creation of a ‘Herts Heroes’ website. It was intended that the website would serve as a one-stop-shop for information that armed forces personnel past and present would require access to, particularly in relation to the availability of services.

Conclusion

4.6 The Panel recommended to Cabinet that;

 the Executive Member for Herts Local and Libraries continues to work with key partners to develop a countywide Community Covenant with the Armed Forces;

 the Leader of the Council demonstrates this commitment by signing the Community Covenant pledge at an event on Tuesday 13 December; and

 that County Council be asked to endorse the pledge on 29 November

ACTION

4.7 The Panel requested that officers give additional consideration Alex to the wording within the report, as Members sought James clarification regarding the definition of a veteran.

5. CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE VISITS

The Chairman agreed to the consideration of the following item as a matter of urgent business.

5.1 The Customer Service Centre (CSC) opened 67 hours a week providing information and advice to residents on a wide range of HCC services. The CSC dealt with approximately 720,000 calls each year regarding children and adult social care, education, passenger transport, libraries and highways.

5.2 As an induction to roles some Executive Members had visited the centre, in Kings Court, Stevenage to hear about the centre, plans for the future as well as listening in to some calls from residents. It was noted that the Herts Local and Libraries Cabinet Panel was keen to visit the centre and it was thought helpful to widen the visits to all County Councillors.

5.3 The dates set aside for members visits to the CSC were:

1 17 November 2 8 December 3 10 January 4 12 January 5 9 February

5.4 Members were advised to email [email protected] advising as to which date they would like to attend - places are limited for each visit. Additional dates would be announced if there was demand. All visits would start at 2 p.m. (and last up to 2 hours).

Kathryn Pettitt Chief Legal Officer

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