To notify the Chairman of any items that appear later in the agenda in which you may have an interest.

No declarations of interest were received.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd November 2007

The Minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd November, 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Deputy Mayor.

Report of Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive (for copy see file of Minutes) setting out the Transition Plan for the Borough Council as a key consultative document within the transition process of implementing a single unitary council for County Durham.

The Transition Plan highlighted the major projects that the Council was seeking to undertake, internal arrangements for transition, guiding principles and values as well as the financial plan to deliver it. 

The report further set out the key issues that would affect the Council over the transition process and recommendations to address those issues.

It was noted that Cabinet had considered the Transition Plan at its meeting on 20^th November, 2007 and agreed to make recommendations to Council relating to approving the Transition Plan as an amendment to the Corporate Plan, amending the Constitution to revise the remit of the Chief Executive and delegation to the Chief Officer Appointments Panel to make changes to pay and conditions of Chief Officers.

RESOLVED :         1.   That the Transition Plan be approved as an amendment to the Corporate Plan.

                                 2.   That the Council’s Constitution be amended to give the Chief Executive a revised remit to facilitate the transitional process as set out in Paragraph 4.4 of the report.

                                 3.   That delegated authority be given to the Chief Officer Appointments Panel to make changes to the pay and conditions of Chief Officers as may be deemed necessary through the transition process.

Report of Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive (for copy see file of Minutes) relating to the above.

It was explained that Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been established as part of the County Durham Council change programme structure to deliver the accountability arrangements required for the Implementation Executive.  The joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee would operate in the first transitional period until May 2008 and would consist of a total of 18 Members including the Chairman or a Lead Member of Overview and Scrutiny from each of the Borough/District Councils.

The Council was therefore requested to appoint a representative together with a named substitute to the joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee which had been established to deliver the accountability arrangements required for the Implementation Executive.

RESOLVED :            1.            That Councillor A. Gray be appointed to the joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

                        2.            That Councillor J.E. Higgin be appointed as substitute.