Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 8th October 2015.

Subject to the deletion of the words “an employee of NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough” to be replaced by “the Cambridge University Hospitals Trust and the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust were customers of his employer” in Minute No. 15/37, the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 8th October 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relations to any agenda item.

No declarations of interests were received.

A copy of the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions is attached.  Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items as contained therein.

The Panel received and noted the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been prepared by the Executive Leader for the period 1st November 2015 to 29th February 2016. Members noted that, following the decision on their remits, the Customer Services Strategy would be submitted to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny forum in December. They also were acquainted with the particular circumstances of the approval of the Council Tax Base 2016/17.

To receive a report on the Treasury Management 2015/16 Biannual Review.

(Councillor J A Gray, Executive Councillor for Resources, was in attendance for this item).

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing details of the Council’s borrowing and investments for the period 1st April to 30th September 2015. Having commented on a loan by the Council and on the spread of the Council’s investments, Members received additional detailed information on the terms of those investments.

RESOLVED

a)  that the contents of the report be noted; and

b)  that the Cabinet be recommended to endorse the report for submission to the Council.

To receive the Integrated Performance Report for Quarter 2.

(Councillors J D Ablewhite, D B Dew, J A Gray and R B Howe were in attendance for the discussion on this item).

Consideration was given to a joint report by the Corporate Team Manager and the Head of Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on progress against the Council’s Key Indicators for 2015/16 in the period 1st July to 30th September 2015, the status of current projects and financial performance on revenue and capital spend as at 30th September 2015. Members were informed that 83% of the key actions were on target and of the reasons why some measures had not been achieved.

This was the first time the complete set of integrated performance information had been submitted to the Panel. At the suggestion of the Chairman, it was decided that key areas would be allocated to Members of the Panel who would then focus on them. This task would be completed at the next meeting. The Panel proceeded to examine in detail the information presented.

With regard to the Strategic Theme – A Strong Local Economy, a comment was made that the Council appeared not to be achieving some Development Management targets but, at the same time, it had made savings by holding open a number of posts in that section. In response, Councillor D Dew, Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing, accepted that the service had experienced problems but he stated that the vacant posts had not necessarily caused them. The Development Management section was subject to review and practices had been changed, which had resulted in more effective recruitment. The appointment of a Planning Services Manager (Development Management) was the first step and he had been given a number of key additional roles. Improvements in performance had already been achieved.

With particular reference to fast track pre-application advice, Councillor Dew stated that although the target had been missed, he was most disappointed that only one such enquiry had been received. An Officer recently had been appointed who would be solely responsible for this service.

Members commented generally on the need to improve communications between Development Management and other sections within the Council and with developers. Having been advised that measures had been taken in these areas and that ambitious targets had been adopted, which were achievable, assurances were received that it was highly unlikely the Council would be put into special measures as it did not have a history of failing to meet its targets. It was suggested that future performance monitoring might include the length of time it took to issue decisions once planning permission had been approved.

In response to a question by Councillor J M Palmer, Members were informed that the Building Control shared service would achieve the expected savings because the budget allocated was net of the savings. Following a further question by Councillor T D Alban, it was reported that there was not a correlation between the collection of business rates and the collection of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

Daniel Buckridge, Policy, Performance & Transformation Manager is to update the Panel on the new scrutiny panel structure.

Consideration was given to a report by the Policy, Performance and Transformation Manager (Scrutiny), which recommended the adoption of a new structure for the Overview and Scrutiny function. Members were informed the intention was that the new arrangements would better reflect that Council’s strategic priorities, that more cross-remit working would be undertaken and that the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen jointly would determine how work was allocated. Having received further information on the options considered, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that Option 2 referred to in paragraph 3.1 of the report now submitted be endorsed as the new structure for the Overview and Scrutiny function, and

b)  that the amendments to the Constitution also contained in the report be referred to the Corporate Governance Panel and Council in December.

RESOLVED

  that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

To receive a report by the Head of Leisure and Health.

(Councillor Robin B Howe, Deputy Executive Leader and Executive Member for Commercial Activities, was in attendance for this item).

Consideration was given to a report by the One Leisure Business Development Manager – Development (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) seeking authority to undertake negotiations on behalf of One Leisure. On the understanding that reports on the progress of negotiations and on the terms of any agreement reached were submitted to Overview and Scrutiny, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that the Cabinet be recommended to approve the recommendations contained in the report now submitted, and

b)  that reports on the progress of negotiations and on the terms of any agreement reached are submitted to Overview and Scrutiny.

RESOLVED

  that the press and public be re-admitted to the meeting.

To consider the Work Programmes of the Social and Environmental Well-Being Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

The Panel received and noted a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained details of studies being undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels for Social Well-Being and Environmental Well-Being.

The Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) work programme.

The Panel reviewed a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on progress of its activities since the last meeting. Following a suggestion accepted by the Social Well-Being Panel the previous week, it was agreed to appoint Members to a Joint Working Group to collate the views of interested parties and partner organisations on the County Council’s budget proposals and to make a co-ordinated response to the consultation from a Huntingdonshire perspective. It would also enable Members to look at the actions the Council and other organisations might need to take if the proposals were implemented.

To view the 159th edition of the Decision Digest.

The Panel received and noted 159th Edition of the Decision Digest.