Agenda and minutes

Matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting dated 3 February 2020:

·       Councillor Smart requested that the ‘heat’ map of houses of multiple occupancy in the borough requested at the previous meeting be made available to the Committee.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2020 were submitted and approved and signed as a correct record by the Chairman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sabri and Burton.

There were none.

On matters not already included on the agenda and for which prior written notice has been given (total time allowed 15 minutes).

There were none.

The Chairman to notify the Committee of any items of urgent business to be added to the agenda.

There were none.

The Chairman to report any requests received to address the Committee from a member of the public or from a Councillor in respect of an item listed below and to invite the Committee to consider taking such items at the commencement of the meeting.

There were no requests.

Report of the Chief Executive

Andrew Clarke, Deputy Chief Finance Officer, presented the report to Members. During discussion the following points were highlighted:

·       In relation to borrowing costs, in future, revenue income to be generated from capital schemes funded from borrowing would be shown within the services to which it related.

·       The figures in the report for the transfer of reserves were included to explain how the transfer took place. More detail on the individual elements of the transfer figures would be provided following the meeting. £1.7 million had been budgeted for as part of the reserve transfer in 2019/2020. However, the reserves would not be sufficient to cover projected losses in the current year and discussions with the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government on opportunities to address the Council’s current and future financial position were ongoing. The Council’s Corporate Management Team will be undertaking a review of all council services as part of the 2020/21 budget setting process, taking on board the significant impact the Pandemic is having on the Council’s financial position.

·       Income had reduced by £250,000 from the previous financial year and could be attributed to the Pandemic. The total cost to the Council was approximately £300,000. The Council faces a significant financial challenge as a result of the Covid pandemic.

RESOLVED to note the update

Part A - Portfolio Progress and Performance - Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Regeneration and Planning

Part B - Financial Performance - Report of the Chief Finance Officer

Millie McDevitt, Performance and Programme Lead and Rosalind Irving, Project and Performance Analyst, presented the report. During discussion the following points were highlighted:

·       The programme for visits and inspections of licenced houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) had resumed and the Housing Team was undertaking as many inspections as it could within the Covid guidelines.

·       New performance indicators had been introduced for Rough sleeper numbers during the Covid period and included those that were newly accommodated within each month, and those that had refused accommodation over the quarter.

It was agreed that responses would be provided to the following points:

·       Whether the percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling and composting included recyclables refused because of contamination.

·       Updates on progress towards the Council’s projects including the Devonshire Park redevelopment, the Sovereign Centre review and increasing the Bandstand renovations.

RESOLVED to note the report.

To receive the Forward Plan of the Cabinet.

The Chair, Councillor Freebody, introduced the Forward Plan of Decisions. Members requested that and update on the Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy provided to the Committee.

RESOLVED to note the Forward Plan of decisions.

To receive the Scrutiny Work Programme.

The Chair, Councillor Freebody, introduced the Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme.

Members requested that the Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy be included on the Committee’s Work Programme.

RESOLVED to note the Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.

To note that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to be held via Microsoft Teams on 2 November 2020 commencing at 6:00pm.

RESOLVED:  that the date of the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee is scheduled for Monday, 2 November via Teams.