Issue - meetings

The Monitoring Officer to report on any questions, representations or statements of case received.

A statement of Case has been received from the Chair of Women’s Aid Leicestershire, in respect of the Changing Specialist Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, consultation.

In accordance with Rule 10 of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, further questions have been received as follows:

1)    Will the Council ensure that the Advice Services review includes a full assessment of the current need for welfare rights’ services in the city and likely future needs?

2)    Will the committee recommend that a full public consultation is carried out in relation to the Advice Services review with the citizens of Leicester and relevant organisations which work with city residents who require these services?

In accordance with Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10 of Part 4E of the Council’s Constitution, the Chair informed the Committee that the Monitoring Officer had received a Statement of Case from the Chair of Women’s Aid Leicestershire in respect of the Changing Specialist Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland consultation.  This had been circulated with the agenda.

The Chair also informed the Committee that, in accordance with Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10 of Part 4E of the Council’s Constitution, two questions had been received.  These had been circulated to Members prior to the meeting, but were read out by the Chair for the sake of clarity:-

a)     Question from Mrs Sandra Thomas:

“Will the Council ensure that the Advice Services review includes a full assessment of the current need for welfare rights’ services in the city and likely future needs?”

b)     Question from Lorna Anderson:

“Will the committee recommend that a full public consultation is carried out in relation to the Advice Services review with the citizens of Leicester and relevant organisations which work with city residents who require these services?”

As the questioners were not present, full written replies would be sent to each.  The Chair further suggested that the matters raised in the questions could be considered in the forthcoming discussion on the recent Executive decision on the Welfare Advice Services review, (minute 105, “Executive Decision: Welfare Advice Services Review”, referred).

RESOLVED:

1)    That the Assistant Mayor (Neighbourhood Services) be asked to send a full written reply to Women’s Aid Leicestershire in response to its Statement of Case regarding the Changing Specialist Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Services in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland consultation, copying interested Members in to that reply; and

2)    That the Assistant Mayor (Neighbourhood Services) be asked to send a full written reply to each of the Questions recorded above to the respective questioners.