Present:
| Vice Chairman: |
Councillor Mrs S Orchard |
| Councillors: |
Mrs J Derbyshire
H Sawrey-Cookson
C Harrison
S Simpson |
| Standing Deputy(ies): |
A Connell
Ms D Stobbart
M Eyles |
| Lead Officer in Attendance: |
Ruth Atkinson (Director of Policy & Performance) |
| Democratic Services Officer: |
Jo Brabbins |
Scb/30/9/11 Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J M Holliday, N Hughes, R Howse and J Thompson.
Scb/31/9/11 Minutes
Minutes Scb/16/7/11 to Scb/29/7/11 of the meeting of this Committee held on 14 July 2011 were approved as a correct record of those proceedings.
Scb/32/9/11 Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest made at this point in the meeting.
Scb/33/9/11 Reports from Panel Meetings and Scrutiny Co-ordinated Work Plan
The Board considered the current version of the Scrutiny Co-ordinated Work Plan and received updates on the progress of the reviews that had been decided for the year:
Local Economy Review - had commenced with its first meeting of the review group earlier in the evening.
Housing DPD Review - Councillor Sawrey-Cookson reported that this review group awaited the production of documents before it would be able to commence. This was not likely to happen before December 2011. He advised Members that he would be holding a Housing Question Time at the Housing Panel meeting on 13 October, to be held in The Methodist Hall, Wordsworth Street.
Old London Road Depot Review - Councillor Mrs Orchard advised Members that this review awaited the completed contamination report for the site together with other information in relation to the award of the refuse collection contract in order to be in a position to commence.
Environmental Health Review - This review would be reported fully later in the meeting.
Penrith Car Parking Working Group - The Board was advised that this working group would not be meeting again following the meeting of the Co-ordinating Board representative, Councillor Howse, with the Portfolio Holder, Councillor Tonkin.
Budget Scrutiny - Councillors K Beaty, D Huxley, G Bowen, S Orchard, J Thompson and I Torkington had been selected to undertake the scrutiny of the budget process this year. They would attend the relevant Portfolio Holder budget meeting then report back. The process would be completed by the end of January 2012.
Scb/34/9/11 Forward Plan - Key Decisions
The Board considered the newly published Forward Plan for the period October 2011 to January 2012. The Cumbria Housing Strategy, a new addition to the Forward Plan, would be considered by the Housing Panel in October.
Councillor Mrs J Derbyshire declared a personal interest in relation to her employment in connection with Housing matters.
RESOLVED that the Forward Plan be noted.
Scb/35/9/11 Treasury Management Transactions Report: 1 April 2011 to 31 July 2011
The Board considered report F73/11 of the Director of Finance setting out the Council's agreed Policy Statement for Treasury Management which governs the way the Council's cash balances are managed.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
Scb/36/9/11 Budget Monitoring 2011-2012: 1 April 2011 to 30 June 2011
The Board considered report PP38/11 of the Director of Finance providing the quarterly budget monitoring report. The reporting method had been amended slightly so that the revenue and capital budget status would be included within a single report with individual appendices, rather than in two separate reports.
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
Scb/37/9/11 Environmental Health Budgets Review - Final Report
The Board considered report PP51/11 of the Chairman of the Environmental Health Review Group, Councillor S Simpson, setting out the proceedings and conclusions of the review into Environmental Health budgets. The group had been concerned by the apparent significant difference between the costs of delivering the Council's Environmental Health service compared with South Lakeland and with other similar authorities. Upon examination, it appeared that the larger expenses were as a result of identified 'unique' items included within the overall Environmental Health budget, such as the costs associated with Appleby Fair.
RESOLVED that:
- The report, including recommendation, be considered and approved,
- The report be submitted to the Executive for consideration and implementation, and
- The Executive be recommended to consider the report including the recommendation: That the topic be reviewed in 12 months from the submission of the review group report.
Scb/38/9/11 Community Development Information
The Board considered report PP56/11 of the Director of Policy and Performance which set out the Council's current and future approach to Community Development. The report would be considered by the full Council at its meeting on 29 September 2011.
RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.
Scb/39/9/11 Refresh of Corporate Plan
The Board considered report PP33/11 of the Director of Policy and Performance updating the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Board on the how the refresh of the Corporate Plan was progressing. Members received a copy of the revised 'summary' format for the Corporate Plan which was hoped to be more accessible for the public.
RESOLVED that it be noted that the refresh of the Corporate Plan was being carried out over the summer of 2011 and a number of additional activities were requested to be included in the Plan. In addition, the length of the Corporate Plan had been extended from 2014 to 2015.
Scb/40/9/11 Kirkby Stephen TIC Reference Group
RESOLVED that Council be recommended to appoint Councillor D Stobbart as the Council's representative on the Kirkby Stephen TIC Reference Group.
Scb/41/9/11 Date of next Meeting
The next scheduled meeting of the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Board will be: 24 November 2011.
The meeting closed at 7.49pm.
