To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 10 September 2013 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 10 September 2013 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest and of any political whip in relation to any agenda item.

There were no declarations of interest or political whip in relation to any agenda items.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

The Chairman announced that thank you letters had been sent to all Revenues and Benefits staff on behalf of the Committee as requested at the last meeting.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

No petitions were received.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.

No questions, statements or deputations were received.

To consider whether to pass a resolution under section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972 to exclude the Press and Public from the meeting in order to receive the Exempt information relating to Item 7 on the grounds that the consideration of the information is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider any decision of the Executive referred to this Committee for review in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.10 of Part D2.

The Committee will receive a call in on Central Bedfordshire Next Generation Network.  Exempt papers will appear at item 19 pages 123 to 124.

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

No items were referred to the Committee for consideration at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

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

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources provided the Committee with an update regarding the following:

·        Confirmation that the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement would be announced on Wednesday 4 December.  For this reason the Draft Budget report would be submitted to the Executive on 14 January 2014 and to Corporate Resources OSC on 28 January 2014.

·        A revised template had been designed for Town and Parishes to request their Council Tax requirement.  A working group had been set up to give feedback and a meeting to inform Town and Parish Clerks and members had been arranged for 7 November 2013.

·        The number of complaints from customers regarding the Call Centre had increased.  18 advisers had resigned their posts and the slow down of the computer system had caused significant issues for the Customer Services Team resulting in the increase in complaints.

Members of the Committee raised several issues on the update, which were addressed by the Executive Member and officers present as follows:-

·        Assurance that staff within the Call Centre had been replaced.  The Director of Improvement and Corporate Services advised that exit interviews had taken place and there were a variety of reasons for staff moving on.  A recovery plan had been put in place for the Call Centre and the details would be shared at a future meeting.  A team working on the computer slow down had isolated the causes and were working on a solution.

·        Problems relating to the citrix portal had been resolved to enable voice recognition software to be introduced at the end December/January 2014.

To consider the developing Farms Estate Strategy 2013-2023.

The Director of Improvement and Corporate Services introduced the emerging Farm Estate Strategy.  Member’s views were sought on the approach and process for developing the Strategy over a 10 year period between 2013 and 2023 and the next steps in gathering evidence set out in Chapter 4.

Members of the Committee raised several issues relating to the Strategy, which were in summary as follows:

·        Whether objective 5 to achieve a yield of 2% per annum was feasible?  The Director of Improvement and Corporate Services confirmed the figure had been given by the Council’s adviser, Bidwells.  In order to consult on the Strategy and this key issue, it was proposed to set up a Farmers’ Forum so that feedback could inform the Strategy.

·        Concern that farmers were being offered short tenures.  The Director of Improvement and Corporate Services reported that progress had been made to review tenancies and Bidwells were helping in this process.  The length of tenures being offered would be checked and reported to a future meeting.

·        The importance of stakeholders such as the National Union of Farmers and the Country Landowners Association being consulted on the proposals. 

·        Concern at the proposal to reduce the number of holdings, such as farm houses and redundant buildings.  Members were reassured that officers would look at each proposal on a case by case basis.

In addition to these concerns the Committee suggested that officers undertake a consultation when considering a change of use of a piece of land.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Executive be aware of the issues detailed in the Minutes above and that the approach and process for developing the Farm Strategy and the next steps in gathering evidence be approved.

To receive a presentation updating Members on the Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan.

To receive the Q1 capital budget monitoring report for 2013/14.

The Committee received the quarter 1 capital projected outturn position for 2013/14 for the Council.

NOTED the projected capital outturn position 2013/14.

To receive the Q1 revenue budget report 2013/14.

The Committee received the quarter 1 revenue projected outturn position for 2013/14 for the Council.

NOTED the projected revenue outturn position 2013/14.

To receive the Q1 capital budget report 2013/14 for Corporate Resources.

The Committee received the quarter 1 capital projected outturn position for 2013/14 for the Corporate Resources Directorate.

NOTED the projected capital outturn position 2013/14 for the Corporate Resources Directorate.

To receive the Q1 revenue report 2013/14 for Corporate Resources.

The Committee received the quarter 1 revenue projected outturn position for 2013/14 for the Corporate Resources Directorate.

NOTED the projected revenue outturn position 2013/14 for the Corporate Resources Directorate.

To consider the Housing Revenue Account 2013/14 report.

The Committee received the quarter 1 Housing Revenue Account projected outturn position for 2013/14.

NOTED the projected Housing Revenue Account outturn position 2013/14.

To consider the currently drafted Committee work programme for 2013/14 and the Executive Forward Plan.

The Committee considered its current work programme and the latest Executive Forward Plan and were informed that a report on Council Tax Support Strategy would be submitted to the December meeting.  The draft budget 2014/15 reports would be deferred to the January 2014 meeting.

NOTED the Corporate Resources Work Programme.