To receive Annual Reports for 2011/12 from the:

·        Audit Committee

·        Member Development Group

·        Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·        Council Member Champions for Children and Young People, Equalities, Health and Older People.

Cllr Birch presented the Audit Committee annual report, commenting that to see the committee's latest activities the minutes of its most recent meeting would be on the council's website the following day.

Cllr Thomson presented the Member Development Group annual report. He highlighted the attendance figures on agenda page 58, which he was assured were high for any council. The specific comments about training were very useful and member development had cost the council very little. He thanked Democratic Services for making ideas happen.

Cllr Stephens, who had previously been a member of the group, said that it was interesting work and had culminated in the achievement of the South West Charter for Elected Member Development.

Cllr Burford presented the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny annual report, highlighting the inquiry summaries in the second half of the report. He said that he made no apology for the length of the car park inquiry summary, as it had been such a major piece of work.

Cllr Horne, Council Children and Young People Champion commented that transport could be a problem for some youngsters. She also said that a future task would be to recruit more young people to become involved in initiatives.

Cllr Baynham, Council Health Champion updated members on the first bullet point of his report, saying that Ingrid Barker intended for Gloucestershire Care Services to become an NHS trust.

Cllr Hale added that the Community Engagement team, the cabinet and champion worked closely together in this area.

Cllr Whitburn, Council Equalities Champion, said that his role was interesting and that he was learning many new things. Additionally the Equalities Panel had several new members. He thanked officers for updating the website and organising meetings.

The Head of Paid Service confirmed for Cllr Gardiner that as a Cabinet champion he would present his report to the Cabinet in June.