Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 5th March 2015.

The minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 5 March 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 relation to any Agenda Item.

No declarations of interest were received.

A copy of the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions, which was published on 24th March 2015, 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 Notice of Key Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).

To receive a presentation for Mr W Grimsey on the subject of “Preparing Town Centres and High Streets for the 21st Century”.

The panel received a presentation from M W Grimsey on the subject of “Preparing Town Centres and High Streets for the 21^st Century” (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).

Members thanked Mr W Grimsey for his interesting presentation.  It was agreed that Mr W Grimsey’s contact details would be made available to members of the Panel meeting

To consider a report by Head of Operations on the proposed 2015/16 capital programme.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute book) on the proposed 2015/16 capital programme.

Members expressed interest in seeing more detail on the proposed capital scoring system which the Finance Governance Board had used to access the proposals, details of which will be provided via email.  The Head of Resources confirmed that this scoring system was based on methodology from CIPFA.

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to approve the Capital Programme attached at Appendix 2.

To consider a report on the findings and recommendations of the Project Management Select Committee.

The Panel received and noted a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the findings and recommendations of the Project Management Select Committee, which will be submitted to Cabinet 23 April 2015.

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to approve the recommendations contained in the report now submitted.

To consider a report on the work programmes of the Social and Environmental Well-Being Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

Consideration was given to a report on the work programmes of the Social and Environmental Well-Being Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

A volunteer was requested to be co-opted on to the Affordable Housing Working group led by the Social Well-Being Panel.  Councillor P L E Bucknell was appointed to this group.   

To consider a report on progress of the Panel’s activities.

The Panel received and noted a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining the progress that has been made on matters which had previously been discussed.

Following the presentation from Mr W Grimsey earlier, it was noted that Councillor Sanderson would be attending the next meeting to give an update on the Economic Growth Plan.

Councillor P G Mitchell was thanked for his work on the Great Fen Project and other work during his time as a District Councillor and was wished all the best on his retirement.  It was agreed that the Great Fen Project would now be overlooked by the Environmental Panel.

Following the receipt of a report from Councillor Hayward on behalf of the Budget Working Group, it was agreed that this item would be removed from the Work Plan however a similar approach may be followed in future years.

It was requested that reports on Facing the Future and Zero Based Budgeting be submitted in June 2015.

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

The Panel received the latest edition of the Decision Digest (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).