Agenda and minutes
Venue: via video conference
Contact: Leslie Ashton
Media
Webcast: View the webcast
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Apologies for absence / Changes in membership Additional documents: Minutes: There were no apologies for absence. |
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Declarations of Interest Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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The minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2020 to be confirmed as a correct record. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2020 were agreed as an accurate record. |
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Public Questions No public questions have been received. Additional documents: Minutes: No public questions had been received. |
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Chairman's update Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman reported that Members of this Committee had formed the Budget Scrutiny Inquiry Group which held a series of meetings between 11 and 14 January 2021 to assess the robustness of the draft revenue budget and capital programme and questioned Cabinet Members directly on budget proposals. The report and recommendations of the group would be presented to and discussed by Cabinet at its meeting on 16 February 2021, following which the final budget would be presented to Full Council for approval on 24 February 2021.
The Chairman paid thanks to members of this Committee for their commitment and participation in the process and to Cabinet Members and Officers for attending the sessions and responding to a wide range of questions. |
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The Committee will receive an overview of staffing 9 months on from the implementation of Buckinghamshire Council.
Contributors: Katrina Wood, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources Sarah Murphy-Brookman, Corporate Director for Resources John McMillan, Service Director for HR & OD
Papers: Staffing update paper Additional documents: Minutes: Katrina Wood, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources presented an update on staffing and engagement nine months into the Council’s unitary journey and invited comments from the Committee. The Cabinet Member was supported by Sarah Murphy-Brookman, Corporate Director for Resources and John McMillan, Service Director for HR & OD.
Councillor Wood summarised the report which was appended to the agenda pack and reported that the staffing update was broadly positive against a backdrop of the covid-19 pandemic, transition to unitary and ongoing service reviews. The following key points were raised by the Committee during discussion:
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The Committee will discuss the work programme and agree the items for the next meeting.
Contributors: All Committee Members
Papers: Work Programme attached Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee noted the work programme as appended to the agenda pack. |
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Date and time of the next meeting The next meeting will take place on Thursday 25 March 2020 at 2 p.m. Additional documents: Minutes: The next meeting would take place on Thursday 25th March 2021 at 2 p.m. |
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Exclusion of the Public To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds that discussion will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.
Paragraph 3 – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority that holds that information). Additional documents: Minutes: Resolved to exclude the public from the meeting by virtue of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that discussion will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely paragraph 3 – information relating to financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). |
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Aylesbury Vale Estates / Consilio update The Committee will receive an update on the work of Aylesbury Vale Estates and Consilio.
Contributors: John Chilver, Cabinet Member for Property and Assets Ian Thompson, Corporate Director for Planning, Growth and Sustainability John Reed, Service Director for Property and Assets
Papers: Presentation slides attached
Minutes: John Chilver, Cabinet Member for Property and Assets introduced an overview of Aylesbury Vale Estates (AVE) and Consilio, two land and property Companies set up by Aylesbury Vale and South Bucks District Councils respectively which have now transferred to Buckinghamshire Council. The Cabinet Member was supported by John Reed, Service Director for Property and Assets.
The business plans for AVE and Consilio would be presented at the next meeting of this Committee on 25 March. During the presentation, Mr Reed advised the Committee of each company’s performance over the last 12 months; the challenges and risks within the respective portfolios; and the impact of the covid pandemic on performance.
Members held a detailed discussion where they questioned at length a range of issues including governance arrangements; respective investment strategies; estate valuation timescales; affordable housing opportunities; potential for Consilio to register as a provider of social housing; and other future use of land opportunities. The Committee felt that there were opportunities to explore for both companies in the coming year and looked forward to reviewing the respective business plans at its next meeting.
The Chairman thanked Councillor Chilver and Mr Reed for their presentation and attendance. |