Agenda and minutes
Venue: via video conference
Contact: Leslie Ashton
Media
Webcast: View the webcast
No. | Item |
---|---|
Apologies for absence/changes in membership Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies had been received from Mrs Jilly Jordan. The Chairman welcomed Mr Mike Appleyard as a new member of the committee, replacing Mr Brian Roberts. |
|
Declarations of interest Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
|
The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 25th June 2020 to be confirmed as a correct record. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2020 were agreed as an accurate record. |
|
Public Questions No public questions have been received.
Additional documents: Minutes: No public questions had been received. |
|
Chairman's update For the Chairman to update the Committee on Finance and Resources scrutiny activity since the last meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman explained to the Committee that initial discussions had taken place with officers in preparation for the budget scrutiny inquiry taking place in January. A budget briefing would be arranged with members in November/December and a scoping document would be presented to this committee for agreement at its next meeting. |
|
Return of staff to the office environment and update on future ways of working PDF 1 MB The Committee will receive an update on the return of staff to the office environment and future ways of working.
Contributors: Katrina Wood, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources John Chilver, Cabinet Member for Property and Assets Ian Thompson, Corporate Director for Planning, Growth and Sustainability Sarah Murphy-Brookman, Corporate Director for Resources John Reed, Service Director for Property and Assets John McMillan, Service Director for HR & OD Tony Ellis, Service Director for ICT
Paper: Return of staff to the office environment and update on future ways of working
Additional documents: Minutes: Ms Katrina Wood, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources provided an overview of the return of staff to the office environment. Ms Wood summarised the slides appended to the agenda pack and updated the Committee of the progress made to date. Much of the work which had commenced had to be reviewed following the updated Government advice issued on 22 September that people should remain working at home, where possible. The following points were highlighted:
The following key points were raised by the Select Committee members during discussion:
Action: I Thompson
|
|
6 Month Review of Recommendations from the 2020 Budget Scrutiny Task & Finish Group PDF 687 KB The Committee will consider a 6 month review of recommendations from the 2020 Budget Scrutiny Task and Finish Group.
Contributors: Martin Tett, Leader Katrina Wood, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources Sarah Murphy-Brookman, Corporate Director for Resources Ian Thompson, Corporate Director for Planning, Growth and Sustainability Richard Ambrose, Service Director for Corporate Finance (Section 151 Officer)
Paper: 6 month review paper
Additional documents: Minutes: Mr M Tett, Leader presented the report and placed on record his thanks to the Finance and Resources Committee for their work in scrutinising the budget. The update paper appended to the agenda pack provides an update to each of the recommendations made by the 2020 Budget Scrutiny Task and Finish Group.
The following key points were raised by the Select Committee members during discussion:
· A member asked what steps the council had taken in its strategy to reduce agency staff, particularly in the planning service. Mr Tett and Ms Wood affirmed that addressing agency numbers was a priority of the Council. The Committee was advised that work had been undertaken to identify the number of agency workers and understand whether their roles were to cover established posts or whether they had been employed to focus on particular projects. It was confirmed that the council used one single supplier for agency staff and the use of agency staff was understood and controlled. Work was underway to promote the Council as an excellent place to work, this included a successful social media campaign that had helped recruit other national shortage occupations within the Council, notably children’s services and adult social care. Attempts were made to convert agency staff to permanent contracts where appropriate and the wider picture of looking at reward structures and creating an excellent culture were ongoing areas of work HR were undertaking in partnership with service areas. The planning service was currently in the first wave of service transformation and as part of the transition to a larger authority some experienced staff had been moved across teams to maximise performance. · Mr Tett advised the Committee that much of the transformation progress planned for the April to August period had been significantly affected due to the Council’s efforts being focused on its covid response. Due to the potential of a second wave, the Committee were informed that this may further affect progress with staff potentially having to move from their business as usual roles to once again support the covid response. Cabinet Members had been asked to re-visit priorities as significant resources set aside to deliver all priorities were expected to be diverted to the covid response. · A member questioned the Council’s strategy for dealing with and allocating monies received from section 106 and community infrastructure levy (CIL) developer contributions and queried the influence members had over this funding. The Committee was advised that the recently published Government consultation on planning, the Planning White Paper, proposed s106 and CIL be abolished and replaced with a levy on developments over a certain threshold. Discussions had been held with the portfolio holder about harmonising the legacy councils’ approaches with the intention of involving local members. · Key worker housing was listed as a priority in the update report and the Committee noted that a report had been proposed for autumn to assess possible business cases. The Committee was advised that a paper to develop a strategy on affordable housing was in progress, ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
|
Q1 Budget Monitoring Report PDF 637 KB The Quarter 1 Budget Monitoring Report as presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 28 July is attached for the Committee to consider.
Contributors: Martin Tett, Leader Katrina Wood, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources Richard Ambrose, Service Director for Corporate Finance (Section 151 Officer)
Paper: Q1 Budget Monitoring Report Additional documents:
Minutes: Ms K Wood, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources presented the Q1 Budget Monitoring Report which was presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 28 July. Ms Wood summarised the report which reflected the business as usual and covid pressures faced during that period.
The forecast revenue outturn was an overspend of £5.97m. Many pressures were covid related with not all costs being recovered and not all lost income being offset by Government. ‘Business as usual’ pressures were noted in adult services within learning disability budgets, childrens services within home to school transport budgets and in staffing budgets within the Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate. A quarter 2 update report would be presented to Cabinet at the end of October and the Committee was advised that figures were not expected to be significantly different with many income streams still yet to have been stood up by the end of Q2. The committee was advised that it was difficult to predict additional lost income and further Government support at the present time with covid cases on the rise again locally, and nationally. Further, it was noted that there may be slippage on capital increases due to the impact of covid.
The following key points were raised by the Select Committee members during discussion:
|
|
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. The Committee was advised that the climate change strategy was an area of work on the work programme of the Transport, Environment and Climate Change Select Committee. The scrutiny officer would circulate reports to members of this Committee for their information and if any member wished to attend to contribute to those meetings this could be explored.
The Committee requested a report on section 106 and CIL contributions to understand the level of contributions the Council had at present and the proposals and associated timelines for spending. Members were concerned that these payments were time limited and that some funds were held on behalf of town and parish councils who may not be aware of timescales for spending. This issue had also been raised at Community Board meetings.
The Committee also requested a further covid update report be provided at its next meeting so that it could assess how the situation had changed since the last update report was presented in June. |
|
Date of Next Meeting The next meeting will take place on Thursday 26th November 2020 at 2pm. Additional documents: Minutes: Thursday 26 November 2020 at 2 p.m. |