Issue - meetings

Report of Chief Executive

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor David Tutt

(Non-key decision):

(1) To note the progress made with the Recovery and Stabilisation Programme

(2) To note the Recovery and Stabilisation savings set out at Appendix A to the report.

(3) To note and endorse the assurance review update set out at Appendix B to the report.

(4) To note the information requested by the Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting on the 11 July 2022 and detailed in the minutes.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive, updating them on progress of the Recovery and Stabilisation Programme.

Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 11 July 2022, supported the officer recommendations to Cabinet. They also requested the following additional information, which was noted by the Cabinet:

(1)  That further analysis is provided on the £936,800 delivered on Homes First reshaping; and

(2)  That an item-by-item comparison on the CIPFA pro-forma, highlighting the status of each item and in particular those items with a six-month time frame that have not yet been enacted, is provided.

Part (1) of the requested information had been circulated to the Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet, following their meeting. Part (2) of Scrutiny Committee’s request would be circulated in due course.

It was further clarified that prior to the pandemic there had been an expediential increase in homelessness in the town. Council officers had worked to provide accommodation for many of those cases. The subsequent work with partners and the Rough Sleeper Initiative had led to greater access to temporary accommodation and less reliance on emergency accommodation, which was financially beneficial to the Council. This was reflected in the subsidy savings on Homes First reshaping.

The Leader commended Cabinet colleagues and officers for their work in securing the achievements as set out in the report.

Visiting member, Councillor Shore addressed the Cabinet on this item.

Resolved (Non-key decision):

(1) To note the progress made with the Recovery and Stabilisation Programme

(2) To note the Recovery and Stabilisation savings set out at Appendix A to the report.

(3) To note and endorse the assurance review update set out at Appendix B to the report.

(4) To note the information requested by the Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting on the 11 July 2022 and detailed above.

Reason for decisions:

The Recovery and Stabilisation programme provides a structured and accountable approach for delivering the level of significant organisational change needed to respond to current and future challenges.