Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 15^th July 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 15^th July 2010 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda Item.  Please see Notes 1 and 2 below.

No declarations were received.

A copy of the current Forward Plan, which was published on 12^th August 2010, is attached.  Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

The Panel considered and noted the current Forward Plan of Key Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been prepared by the Leader of the Council for the period 1^st September to 31^st December 2010. It was agreed that the Asset Management Plan – Annual Report should be considered at a future meeting.

In respect of the item entitled “Sale of Land at Mill Road, Eaton Socon”, the Scrutiny and Review Manager explained that this related to a proposal by a developer to purchase a small area of land which was currently let to the Scouts in the area. The Scouts had no objection to the proposal.

To consider and comment on a report by the Director of Commerce & Technology prior to its submission to the Cabinet.

(Councillor T V Rogers, Executive Councillor for Finance and Customer Services was in attendance for this item).

(Councillors M G Baker, Mrs M Banerjee, J W Davies, R S Farrer, P M D Godfrey, C R Hyams, L M Simpson and  P R Ward were in attendance for this item)

Consideration was given to a report by the Director of Commerce and Technology (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) in relation to the Council’s financial forecast for the period to 2018/19. By way of introduction, the Chairman drew attention to the severity of the financial situation facing the Council, the likelihood of a reduction in the funding the Council received from the Government and the need for the Council to consider its future requirements and structure to respond to the current situation. This would require radical decisions to be taken, which were likely to affect most services in some way and the Chairman emphasised the importance of the role of overview and scrutiny in this process.

Councillor T V Rogers, Executive Councillor for Finance explained that the report by the Director of commerce and Technology provided Members with an update on the present financial position and on the adjustments that the Authority would be required to make. He went on to refer to the recent consultation on the budget, which had generated approximately 2000 responses, and to the need shortly for radical decisions to be taken, which were likely to affect all services. The Panel noted the intention of the Executive Councillor to involve the Overview and Scrutiny Panel in this process and that all Members were invited to submit ideas for spending reductions. An announcement by the Government was expected in October on the Revenue Support Grant for 2011/12 following which the Council would prepare the draft budget.

The Director of Commerce and Technology explained that cuts in Government funding were likely to amount to over £3m per annum within 5 years which would create a total budget shortfall of over £8m per annum in 4 years time. The scale of savings needed would require Members to approve substantial changes to the scope and nature of services provided by the Council starting with the current year’s budget and Medium Term Plan. The Panel’s attention was drawn to the circumstances that would influence the Council when setting the budget and the constraints that were likely to exist in relation to the level of Council Tax, which might provide an opportunity to increase Council Tax to a level closer to the average for District Councils.

Having acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the current forecast which contained a number of assumptions that would be clarified over the next few months, Members discussed whether the Council should start to take steps in preparation for the anticipated reduction in Government grant. While some Members were of the opinion that decisions could only be made once the level of grant and potential changes in the Council’s responsibilities were known, others considered it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

To consider a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships containing details of the Council’s performance against its priority objectives.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing details of the Council’s performance against the priority objectives in the Panel’s remit in the quarter to 30^th June 2010. Attention was drawn to the matters raised at the meeting of the Corporate Plan Working Group and, in relation to the measure “internal promotions as a percentage of all vacancies filled”, the Scrutiny and Review Manager reported that 8 fixed term posts had been advertised in the reporting period.

With regard to the fall in income from hospitality in the previous quarter following the closure of the St Neots bars and catering operation, Members were informed that it had been possible to accrue savings on staff costs, reduced opening hours, better supplier prices and less wastage. This had enabled profit margins to remain on target. Having noted that a further report on performance of the Leisure Centres would be submitted to the October meeting of the Panel, it was suggested that this ought to include details of any returns on the capital investment which had been made at the Leisure Centres in previous years. At the instigation of the Corporate Plan Working Group, Members also were advised that a bid had been submitted to the Government to establish a Local Enterprise Partnership for the Greater Cambridge – Greater Peterborough area.

The Panel discussed a previous request by the Corporate Plan Working Group for an update on the Council’s use of external consultants. Having noted that expenditure on consultants had amounted to £1.8 million in the previous year and in the context of the earlier discussions on the financial forecast, Members agreed that the Cabinet should be recommended to reduce the amount the Council spent on employing external consultants by £1.5m in the current financial year.

The Panel endorsed the recommendations of the Corporate Plan Working Group, which had been designed to enhance the Council’s approach to its strategic budget planning and performance management. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended

a)  to consider the Panels’ comments as part of its deliberations on the report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships;

b)  to seek contributions from opposition groups, all other Members, employees and the public in the search for the necessary financial savings;

c)  to take fully into account the views expressed by those identified in recommendation (b) above and review the Council’s priorities, aims and objectives in the Corporate Plan with the Overview and Scrutiny Panels being involved in the review process;

d)  to develop a clear vision of what services should be retained, delivered differently or withdrawn as a result of recommendation (c) above and use this as a guide in the application of the Council’s Redundancy Policy;

e)  to review all internal and external performance indicators to ensure that they are appropriate to the service delivered by or in partnership with the Council with the Corporate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

To consider with the aid of a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services, the current programme of overview and scrutiny studies.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing details of studies being undertaken by the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Panels. Attention was drawn to a recent article in the Hunts Post regarding the cost of alcohol related treatment at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. Having regard to the Panel’s ongoing study on the health implications of the night-time economy, the Scrutiny and Review Manager undertook to liaise with County Council colleagues to ascertain whether any work on this subject was being undertaken by the Cambridgeshire Adults Wellbeing and Health Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor G S E Thorpe reported that he had received further information with regard to the use of S106 money for transport schemes in St Neots and that he did not intend to pursue this matter any further at this time.

To consider a report by the Head of Democratic & Central Services on the Panel’s programme of studies.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) reviewing progress on matters that had previously been discussed.

To scrutinise decisions taken since the last meeting as set out in the Decision Digest and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that fall within the remit of the Panel.

The Panel received and noted the latest edition of the Council’s Decision Digest. Councillor G S E Thorpe commented that the project management costs associated with the Great Fen Project represented a potential area where savings might be achieved.