Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor A Yates.

To be apprised of any changes to the membership of the Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, the Committee noted the termination of Councillor D Whittington and the appointment of Councillor J Howard for this meeting only, thereby giving effect to the wishes of the Political Groups.

Note, no other business is permitted unless, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified at the meeting, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items of business.

If a Member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal and Democratic Services Manager in advance of the meeting.   (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet).

There were no declarations of interest.

As this is the first meeting of the Committee, there are no minutes to receive.

As this was the first meeting of the Committee, there were no minutes to receive.

To consider the draft Terms of Reference of the Committee, as follows:

Functions

(i)          To oversee development or annual refresh of the Council Plan for the forthcoming year/s and make recommendations to Cabinet & Council.

(ii)         To monitor performance towards achievement of the Council Plan and make recommendations to Cabinet & Council, when required

(iii)       To approve the Annual Council Plan report, which provides details of actions undertaken from the previous year, prior to publication.

(iv)       To review the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and make recommendations to Cabinet & Council, when required.

(v)         To monitor the GRA (General Revenue Account) and HRA (Housing Revenue Account) and the capital programme and make recommendations to Cabinet & Council, when required.

(vi)       To monitor the Treasury Management Performance & Prudential Indicators.

(vii)      To consider annual budget setting matters, i.e. Council Tax, GRA (General Revenue Account) and HRA (Housing Revenue Account) requirements and the Capital Programme and make recommendations to Cabinet & Council.

(Note:        

1.   In accordance with Constitution 7: Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, recommendations from this Committee, will be considered by Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet, prior to the full Council meeting.

2.   Delegations are in place to allow Service Heads to vire across budget heads where each individual virement does not exceed £10,000 and the Cabinet can approve virement in the revenue and capital budgets of up to £50,000, where the new activity accords with the Council’s Policies and Objectives.)

RESOLVED:   That Council approves the following Terms of Reference of the Committee:

Functions

 (i)   To oversee development or annual refresh of the Council Plan for the forthcoming year/s and make recommendations to Cabinet & Council.

(ii)   To monitor performance towards achievement of the Council Plan and make recommendations to Cabinet & Council, when required

(iii)    To approve the Annual Council Plan report, which provides details of actions undertaken from the previous year, prior to publication.

(iv)  To review the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and make recommendations to Cabinet & Council, when required.

(v)    To monitor the GRA (General Revenue Account) and HRA (Housing Revenue Account) and the capital programme and make recommendations to Cabinet & Council, when required.

(vi)  To monitor the Treasury Management Performance & Prudential Indicators.

(vii)  To consider annual budget setting matters, i.e. Council Tax, GRA (General Revenue Account) and HRA (Housing Revenue Account) requirements and the Capital Programme and make recommendations to Cabinet & Council.

(Note:        

1.     In accordance with Constitution 7: Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, recommendations from this Committee, will be considered by Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet, prior to the full Council meeting.

2.     Delegations are in place to allow Service Heads to vire across budget heads where each individual virement does not exceed £10,000 and the Cabinet can approve virement in the revenue and capital budgets of up to £50,000, where the new activity accords with the Council’s Policies and Objectives.)

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources. 

The Committee considered the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, as contained on pages 3 to 10 of the Book of Reports, which sought agreement of the approach and timetable to developing a new Council Plan for 2023 onwards.

The Committee was advised that the timetable may need to be amended, since the notification from the MP that she would be resigning from office to take up another position, which would lead to a Parliamentary By-election.  The date of the By-election had not been announced, however the purdah period in the run up to the By-election, could impact on the timetable proposed.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the principles for development of the Council Plan set out in section 5.2 of the report, be approved.

B.     That the proposed development timetable set out in section 6.1 of the report be approved, subject to the implications of the purdah period referred to above.

C.     That the working period for the Plan be agreed as five years and that outcomes and priorities be monitored by this committee as outlined at section 7.1 of the report.

To note the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services submitted to Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September and Cabinet on 13 September 2022 and consider the future work of the Committee in respect of budget matters.  A copy of the minutes are attached for information.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services, as contained on pages 11 to 30 of the Book of Reports, previously submitted to Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September and Cabinet on 13 September 2022, which set out the future work of the Committee in respect of budget matters.  A copy of the minutes were attached to the report for information.

The Committee was advised that the report was a starting point for discussions around the current financial position and future debates in respect of income generation and savings.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

·       Recruitment issues – nationally and locally

·       The budget gap and how to address eg. A review of services, new business, shared services

·       Budget assumptions – Inflation, Insurance, Pay Award

·       Income generation and savings plan

The Committee was advised that officers would prepare some ideas for income generation and savings for consideration by Members at a future meeting.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.

To consider and note the Committee Work Programme 2022-2023.

Consideration was given to the Committee's 2022/23 Work Programme as set out on page 31 of the Book of Reports.

RESOLVED:   That the Committee Work Programme 2022/23 be agreed, subject to the potential changes to the Council Plan timetable, referred to in Minute 7 above.