To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24 January 2017 and to note actions taken since that meeting.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24 January 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

None.

The Chairman announced his attendance at an event on Financial Scrutiny at the Centre for Public Scrutiny and advised the Council’s current financial scrutiny procedures were considered good practice.  The Chairman would be involved in the development of a finance training programme for all Members.

None.

None.

None.

None.

To receive a brief verbal update from the Executive Member for Corporate Resources.

Executive Member for Education and Skills advised the Committee of new developments that included:-

·         Additional funding for the adult social care budget estimated at £1.8m of earmarked reserves, subject to ratification by the Department of Health.  Members would be advised how this additional funding would be used.

·         LGSS had changed its case management system to improve tracking services.

·         All Council tax and NNDR bills had been sent to residents.

·         IT Services was migrating staff onto Office 365. 

·         Iain Berry had been appointed Assistant Director for Assets following a review of the service.

In light of the update a Member queried what impact the IT changes would have on Members’ IT equipment.  It was agreed the Chief Information Officer would update the Committee at the next meeting.

To receive a presentation on the work to be undertaken to produce a Farming Strategy and comment on the proposals.

The Director of Community Services introduced a presentation that outlined the proposals for a Farming Strategy.  The issues and options were far reaching and it would be necessary to consult across the council and service areas as well as the public and tenant farmers.

Members of the Committee supported the direction of travel recommended and proposed that a working group that consisted of Members of the Committee be established to help with the preparation of the Farming Strategy.

RECOMMENDED

1.    An Overview working group to support the formulation of the farming strategy be established.

2.    The Committee support the proposals outlined to develop a Farming Strategy.

To comment on the principles of a new Community Board model to engage with local communities in decisions effecting their area.

The Deputy Executive Member for Stronger Communities updated the Committee on proposals to introduce a new Community Board Model.  Consideration of national best practice and the forming of quadrant locality boards to coincide with Health and Planning localities were amongst some of the ideas being considered.  Current joint committees had worked well and had recently been reviewed. The improvements included:-

·         Improved terms of reference

·         Joint branding

·         Joint committees report be submitted to Corporate Resources OSC meetings.

Members supported the proposals for a new Community Board model that would give the opportunity for communities to influence decisions made by the Council. However, it appreciated the difficult task ahead and the need to manage expectations.

RECOMMENDED

The Committee supported the initiative and offered its services in the development of the Community Board Models. 

The Committee considered the current work programme and agreed to include the following items:

1.    An IT Services update to include the Windows 365 migration in June

2.    An update on a new Customer Services system and reporting date (September)

3.    Farming Strategy update tbc (June)

4.    Ivel Valley Quadrant Accommodation Plan (June)

AGREED the work programme as set out in Appendix A subject to the addition of items 1-4 highlighted above.

To consider, comment and make recommendations to the Executive on the Ivel Valley Quadrant Accommodation Plan and the preferred solutions outlined within it.

Due to the imminence of the purdah period for elections in Biggleswade and Shefford, the Ivel Valley Quadrant Accommodation Plan would be considered in June.

Noted the rescheduled date.