|
BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (STEWARDSHIP) COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (STEWARDSHIP) COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY, 30 JANUARY 2007
Quick Links
- 58 - Declaration of Interest,
- 59 - Minutes,
- 60 - Petitions,
- 61 - Questions from Members,
- 62 - Work Plan,
- 63 - Budget Scrutiny,
- 64 - Draft 2007/08 Corporate Plan,
- 65 - Progress on Capital Programme,
- 66 - Finance, Risk and Performance Management - Quarterly Monitoring Report,
- 67 - 2005/06 National Performance Indicator Comparisons,
- 68 - Benefits Service Performance and Service Development - 1 October 2006 - 31 December 2006
PRESENT: Ms J A Jenkins – Chairman
|
Mr J C Brand
Mr D M Busby
Mrs S Carpendale
Mrs S P Clarke |
Mr N H J Irwin
Mr J M Owen
Mr G S White |
Mrs W J Sadler was unable to be present at the meeting.
There were no declarations of interest.
Back to Top
RESOLVED
(1) That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
(2) That the Minutes of the joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee held on 11 December 2006 be confirmed as a correct record, subject to the concurrence of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee.
Back to Top
None received.
Back to Top
None received.
Back to Top
The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper F169) which provided details of the Committee’s anticipated work for the remainder of 2006/07, including items which may be the subject of call-in procedures.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan submitted as Paper F169 be noted.
Back to Top
The Head of Finance presented a report (Paper F168) concerning scrutiny of the draft budgets. These had been approved by Strategy Committee on 11 January 2007, subject to further consideration on the capital programme and borrowing requirements. The report therefore provided a more detailed examination of these issues.
Paper F168 also included a recommendation for a temporary increase in the staffing establishment to deal with new smoke-free legislation. This matter had arisen since the Strategy Committee meeting.
The Head of Finance pointed out that all the forecasts in the report excluded provision for expenditure on the Hadleigh Swimming Pool, the current position on which was set out in paragraph 4.11.
In the ensuing discussion, the following were among the points noted:-
· The Council’s future capital programme beyond 2007/08 was non-committed, other than on any specific items that had already been approved by Members. It would be important for the new Council to review this programme thoroughly. Members were particularly concerned about the recurrent slippage on the capital programme. It was agreed that at a future meeting the Committee should discuss new mechanisms at Officer and Member level for controlling the capital programme, possibly through the establishment of a Capital Programme Working Group.
· The Department of Health had allocated £42,000 to the Council to enable it to meet its obligations relating to new smoke-free legislation. It was envisaged that this would involve a temporary increase in the staffing establishment for the Natural and Built Environment Division of 0.5 fte for two years, although Officers would look into the possibility of collaborating with other Suffolk Authorities on this.
· The CAST Project had been fully debated by the Council, and the business case had been accepted. The net cost of the project would be funded from borrowing and from reserves, so there would be no direct impact on the level of Council Tax for 2007/08 or future years.
· The LAMP Project would be funded by borrowing £1M over 3 years, but it was expected that it would result in some cashable savings and some non-cashable savings by 2010 which would offset the on-going borrowing costs. It would be very important for the Council to ensure that these savings were fully identified and service improvements achieved.
· The proposal to increase Council Tax for 2007/08 by 2.9% was generally supported.
· It was noted that the Government was not fully funding the estimated increased cost of the concessionary bus fares scheme in 2007/08, licensing legislation and standards. It was agreed that these points should be highlighted in the budget statement to be made to the press after the Council meeting on 26 February 2007.
RESOLVED
(1) That the Committee endorses the proposal that there be further consideration on the future capital programme and borrowing requirements early in the life of the new council.
(2) That Officers be requested to ensure that publicity relating to the budget and Council Tax for 2007/08 includes reference to new obligations placed on the Council by Central Government, but not fully funded by it.
RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE
(1) That provision be made in the draft budget for a temporary increase in the staffing establishment for the Natural and Built Environment Division of 0.5 fte for two years to deal with the new smoke-free legislation requirements.
(2) That the draft Budget for 2007/08 be approved as set out in Paper F168, subject to the amendment set out in Recommendation (1) above.
Back to Top
The Head of Corporate Services presented a report (Paper F165) setting out a draft Corporate Plan for 2007/08. This had been drawn up by the Corporate Plan Working Group which had met three times. The Strategy Committee had considered the plan on 11 January 2007 and made some amendments. The Committee was asked to review the plan for completeness and alignment of the key actions to key concerns and key objectives. The Corporate Plan Working Group would meet on 7 February, and the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees would be reported verbally before the Plan’s final consideration by Strategy Committee on 8 February.
A number of amendments were suggested relating to pockets of depravation, fear of crime and public satisfaction with Council services.
It was noted that the new Council would be asked to adopt the Corporate Plan for 2007/08 as a basis for its first year whilst it reviewed and revised a Corporate Plan for the period from 2008/09 onwards. It was envisaged that in future objectives would be more sharply defined and ranked in order of priority.
RESOLVED
That the Corporate Plan Working Group be advised that the draft Corporate Plan for 2007/08 be approved as set out in Paper F165, subject to amendments reflecting the comments referred to above.
Back to Top
The Head of Finance and the Head of Contract and Asset Management presented a joint report (Paper F167) indicating progress on the Capital Programme at the end of December 2006.
The Committee noted that excellent progress was being made on Council housing work. Progress on other projects was variable. It was agreed that where delays were inevitable, Officers should make strenuous efforts to keep residents informed of the reasons for the delay and the expected completion date.
Members noted the proposals aimed at reducing “slippage” on the Capital Programme set out in paragraphs 4.5 to 4.7 of Paper F167. In addition, it was suggested that in future Officers should provide a risk assessment at the start of the financial year concerning the likelihood of projects being completed on time.
RESOLVED
That the overall position on the Capital Programme at the end of December 2006 and the proposals for improving future outcomes as set out in Paper F167 be noted.
Back to Top
The Head of Finance and the Head of Corporate Services presented a report (Paper F166) giving an update on significant issues with regard to finance, risk and performance management information. It was noted that in paragraph 4.2, the tenth bullet point should read:-
“The Council is not on target to achieve Level 2 of the equality standard for Local Government.”
It was noted that the Corporate Plan included a total of 110 Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) and key Local Performance Indicators (LPIs). Of these, 53% had exceeded their target, and 34% were below target.
The Council had received funding through a GO-East Building Capacity Bid for a series of performance management workshops. It was noted that the first workshop had taken place and had been very beneficial.
The Head of Finance highlighted the latest position on Risk Management training and awareness for Members, and the Committee indicated that a joint Overview and Scrutiny meeting, with other Members being invited, was favoured.
RESOLVED
That the key points relating to variations in the 2006/07 budget, the latest position on Risk Management and on Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) and key Local Performance Indicators (LPIs) as set out in Paper F166 be noted.
Back to Top
The Head of Corporate Services presented a report (Paper F170) setting out the 2005/06 Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) figures for English Authorities, and showing whether Babergh’s performance had improved during that period when compared to others.
It was noted that the final column of the table in paragraph 4.3 of Paper F170 should read as follows:-
Quartile Position |
2005/06
Number |
|
Top quartile |
33 |
|
Second quartile |
14 |
|
Third quartile |
10 |
|
Bottom quartile |
11 |
|
Better than average |
47 (of) 68 |
It was noted that the number of PIs in the top quartile continued to increase and the number in the bottom quartile continued to decrease.
Members expressed concern about the following BVPIs where performance appeared to be poor.
63 - Energy efficiency of local housing stock.
199a - Local street and environment cleanliness (litter) – proportion that falls below acceptable level.
166a - Score against an environmental health checklist.
218a - Percentage of abandoned vehicles investigated within 24 hours.
218b - Percentage of abandoned vehicles removed within 24 hours.
82a(ii) - Tonnage of waste arising which has been recycled.
It was agreed that further information on the above BVPIs should be provided to the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee in the first instance. In addition, it was suggested that that Committee might wish to consider issues relating to recycling, such as incineration and working conditions.
RESOLVED
That the 2005/06 National Performance Indicator Comparisons as set out in Paper F170 be noted.
Back to Top
The Head of Customer Services presented a report (Paper F171) concerning the performance of the Benefits Service during the period 1 October – 31 December 2006.
It was noted that on the six performance measures monitored by the Department of Works and Pensions on a quarterly basis, the Benefits service had been rated “excellent” four times and “good” twice.
RESOLVED
That the performance of the Benefits Service during the period 1 October 2006 to 31 December 2006 as set out in Paper F171 be noted.
Note: The Committee adjourned for refreshments between 11.20 a.m. and 11.35 a.m.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 12.55 p.m.
Chairman
|