Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Room 15, Priory House, Monks Walk, Shefford

Contact: Paula Everitt  0300 300 4196

Items
No. Item

102.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 68 KB

 

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28 January 2014 and to note actions taken since that meeting.

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28 January 2014 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

103.

Members' Interests

 

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

Minutes:

 

None.

 

104.

Chairman's Announcements and Communications

 

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

Minutes:

 

None

 

105.

Petitions

 

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.

Minutes:

 

None

 

106.

Questions, Statements or Deputations

 

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.

Minutes:

 

None

 

107.

Call-In

 

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

Minutes:

 

None.

 

108.

Requested Items

 

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.

Minutes:

 

None.

 

109.

Executive Member Update

 

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

 

Minutes:

 

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

·         The impact of the Welfare Reforms on the Revenues and Benefits Team had caused a drop in performance levels.  However, performance in February and March had improved..

·         That collections rates for Council Tax and Business Rates were slightly down on previous years.

·         That the Contact Centre had improved its performance following the implementation of new procedures

 

In light of the update, Members commented as follows:-

·         Members of the Committee wishes to extend their thanks and congratulations to the Revenues and Benefits Team and the Contact Centre for all their hard work to improved performance.

·         Whether their had been a demand for the Welfare Reform hardship fund.  No figures were available at the meeting, however, the Chief Finance Officer confirmed there had been less of a demand than expected

·         A Member requested details on the figures showing the shift from calls to the Council to web and email responses.

·         Members wished to thank the Communications Team for the Council Tax video which had received good feedback from residents to Members of the Committee.

 

110.

Exclusion of public and press

 

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 for Item 11 and if necessary for Appendix B of Item 12 on the grounds that the consideration of the item is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Minutes:

 

The Committee considered whether to pass a resolution under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1971 to exclude the public and press from the meeting for Item 11 on the grounds that consideration of the item was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information relating to any consultation or negotiation, or contemplated consultation or negotiation, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the Council or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under the Council.

 

RESOLVED that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of item 11 and item 12 under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds outlined above.

 

111.

Provision of Recruitment Services for Temporary Agency Staff

 

To receive a presentation on the proposals for the provision of Recruitment Services for Temporary Agency Staff.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

In accordance with the need to consider this item in private the Committee received a presentation and discussed in detail the issues and risks in relation to the Children’s Services Directorate arising from some of the proposals.

 

RECOMMENDED to the Executive that the following views of the Corporate Resources OSC be taken into account prior to the approval of proposals:-

1.    That the Committee fully supports the implementation and initial daily monitoring of the proposed contract

2.    That the Committee felt the Council needed to more proactively recruit permanent workers

3.    That the Committee supports the implementation of an Academy for permanent workers

 

RECOMMENDED that an update be provided to Members of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee following the first three months operation of the contract.

112.

Procurement of Specialist Professional Services pdf icon PDF 40 KB

 

To consider the proposals to implement a contract for the supply of specialist professional services which is available through the North East Procurement Organisation framework.  Appendix B of this report is an exempt item under category number 3 “information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)”.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

In accordance with the need to consider this item in private the Committee received a report on the proposal to implement a contract for the supply of specialist professional services available through the North East Procurement Organisation framework.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Corporate Resources OSC fully support the proposed contract for the supply of specialist professional services as outlined in the Executive report.

 

(Meeting adjourned at 1130 and reconvened at 1145)

 

113.

Draft Asset Plan pdf icon PDF 53 KB

 

To consider the proposals outlined in the Corporate Asset Management Strategy & Plan (CAMSAP) that sets out the Council’s strategic objectives for the management of its property and land assets for the period 2014-2018.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources introduced an updated version of the Corporate Asset Management Strategy and Plan (CAMSAP).  The Deputy Leader was confident that this revised plan and strategy would ensure the Council would deliver its objectives.  The Chief Assets Officer described the new elements incorporated in the Asset Plan that included:

·         Regional asset plans

·         Stakeholder engagement

·         Rural farms and land asset plans

·         Proposed joint working with the Regeneration Service and Landlord Services.

 

In light of the presentation, Members raised the following issues:-

·         Officers provide a clearer performance cascade.  The Chief Assets Officer would provide Members with a working example to better explain the cascade.

·          A time frame be included in the action plan.

·         Members of Sustainable Communities and Social Care Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committees be invited to attend a future meeting of the Committee to consider the Draft Asset Strategy and Plan.

·         An invitation be sent to all non-executive Members to attend a briefing, delivered by the Chief Assets Officer, on the Draft Asset Plan.

 

RECOMMENDED

1.    That the Committee fully support the Corporate Asset Management Strategy and Plan proposals.

 

114.

Customer Service Strategy

 

To receive a presentation on the proposals for the Customer Services Strategy.

Minutes:

 

The Director of Improvement and Corporate Services delivered a presentation outlining the approach that had been taken to develop the Customer Services Strategy.  Five work streams had been developed to deliver the Strategy and detailed work to inform the Strategy was still underway.

 

Members welcomed the revised Customer Services Strategy and were encouraged by the approach.

 

NOTED the presentation.

 

115.

Fees and Charges Policy pdf icon PDF 65 KB

 

To consider a proposed updated Fees and Charges Policy along with a proposal for a full review of the Policy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources introduced a report that outlined revisions to the Fees and Charges Policy.  The Policy had last been updated in 2010/11 by a working group of Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members.  It was proposed that a similar approach be adopted now so that new charges could be implemented from January 2015.

 

RECOMMENDED an invitation be sent to all non-executive Members to join a Task Force to review the Fees and Charges Policy so a new charging policy could be implemented from January 2015.

 

116.

Q3 Budget Monitoring pdf icon PDF 258 KB

 

To receive a presentation setting out the quarter 3 budget monitoring information for:-

·         The Council including the Housing Revenue Account

·         Corporate Resources Directorate

 

Papers relating to this item were circulated to Members in the Executive agenda for 18 March 2014 (Items 19 and 20 refer).  The report is available to view and print at the following website:-

http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/modgov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=577&MId=4399&Ver=4

Minutes:

 

The Chief Finance Officer provided a presentation that highlighted the key points in relation to the financial results for Q3 2013/14 for the Council.  The Chief Finance Officer highlighted the forecast outturn of £0.4m overspend in addition to the main pressures, which were in Children’s Services. The Chief Finance Officer also confirmed that 2014/15 budget had addressed the financial pressure in Children’s Services.  An underspend of £0.6m in Public Health was forecast, which would contribute to relevant Council overheads. Treasury Management and the Housing Revenue Account continued to perform well.

 

The Corporate Resources Directorate forecast outturn at Q3 was £212k underspend.

 

NOTED the presentation

 

117.

Work Programme 2013 - 2014 & Executive Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 52 KB

 

The report provides Members with details of the currently drafted Committee work programme and the latest Executive Forward Plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Committee considered its current Work Programme and the latest Executive Forward Plan.  Members agreed to remove the Discretionary Housing Payment and Welfare Reform items, which would be added to the Social Care Health and Housing OSC work programme.  Items relating to a review of the Fees and Charges Policy and the Corporate Asset Management Strategy and Plan would also be considered as outlined above.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Corporate Resources OSC work programme be amended as outlined above.