Agenda and minutes
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Apologies To receive any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillors Dilys Neill and Roly Hughes.
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Substitute Members To note details of any substitution arrangements in place for the Meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Patrick Coleman substituted for Councillor Roly Hughes, and Councillor Ian Watson substituted for Councillor Dilys Neill. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members and Officers, relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest from members or officers. |
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To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2023. Additional documents: Minutes: The information on the training, under the Chair’s announcements was amended to “had attended the recent LGA two day training session for Chairs of Overview & Scrutiny with sixteen O&S Chairs from across the country – mainly from County Councils.”
‘vision information’ was addressed as an error.
RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2023.
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Chair's Announcements To receive any announcements from the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair stated that the spotlight meeting with Great Western Railway (GWR) was still going ahead despite the reversal of plans to close rail ticket offices. Members would be invited to pre-submit questions to facilitate the meeting.
The Chair also highlighted that the Budget and MTFS papers had been excluded from the printed pack, which was not acceptable.
The Committee then introduced themselves. |
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Public Questions A maximum of 15 minutes is allocated for an “open forum” of public questions at committee meetings. No person may ask more than two questions (including supplementary questions) and no more than two such questions may be asked on behalf of one organisation. The maximum length of oral questions or supplementary questions by the public will be two minutes. Questions must relate to the responsibilities of the Committee but questions in this section cannot relate to applications for determination at the meeting.
The response may take the form of:
a) A direct oral response (maximum length: 2 minutes); b) Where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or c) Where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no public questions. |
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Member Questions A maximum period of fifteen minutes is allowed for Member questions. Questions must be directed to the Chair and must relate to the remit of the committee but may not relate to applications for determination at the meeting.
Questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received, except that the Chair may group together similar questions.
The deadline for submitting questions is 5.00pm on the working day before the day of the meeting unless the Chair agrees that the question relates to an urgent matter, in which case the deadline is 9.30am on the day of the meeting.
A member may submit no more than two questions. At the meeting the member may ask a supplementary question arising directly from the original question or the reply. The maximum length of a supplementary question is one minute.
The response to a question or supplementary question may take the form of:
a) A direct oral response (maximum length: 2 minutes); b) Where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or c) Where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no member questions. |
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Community Safety Partnership Purpose To exercise the function of the Crime & Disorder Committee through review of Cotswold Community Safety Partnership strategy and delivery.
Recommendations That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee scrutinises the report and agrees any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Cabinet meeting on 2 November 2023.
Invited Councillor Lisa Spivey, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Safety. Jacqueline Wright, Community Wellbeing Manager Additional documents:
Minutes: The purpose of the item was to exercise the function of the Crime & Disorder Committee through review of Cotswold Community Safety Partnership strategy and delivery. The Chair introduced the item, and stated that, as Cotswold District Council did not have a separate Crime and Disorder Committee responsibility for receiving the annual Community Safety Partnership update falls under the Overview & Scrutiny Committee remit.
The Chair invited the Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Safety to address the Committee. The Cabinet Member thanked Officers for their work enabling the partnership. The Cabinet Member stated that the recent focus of the group was to ensure that all action points had identified owners to ensure partnership working and delivery of the actions.
Members discussed the report, including the following points;
The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Jenkinson and Seconded by Councillor Cunningham.
RESOLVED: To note the update and receive a further update in six months.
Voting record For 10, Abstentions 0, Against 0 |
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2024/25 Budget Strategy and MTFS Update Report Purpose This report sets out the Budget Strategy to support the preparation of the 2024/25 revenue and capital budgets and presents an updated Medium Term Financial Strategy forecast.
Recommendations That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee scrutinises the report and agrees any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Cabinet meeting on 2 November 2023.
Invited Councillor Joe Harris, Leader of the Council (to join remotely) David Stanley, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Safety introduced the item, alongside the Deputy Chief Executive.
The purpose of the report was to set out the Budget Strategy to support the preparation of the 2024/25 revenue and capital budgets and present an updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) forecast.
Budgetary pressures were noted, with reserves being utilised. The budget setting process was also made uncertain by the fact that the final local government settlement had yet to be received; the Local Government Association was actively lobbying for this.
The Deputy Chief Executive stated that a risk adverse approach had been taken to the budget setting, with reserves being built up wherever possible. However, due to the budget gap, it was noted that tough decisions would have to be made. The Cabinet Transformation Working Group had been looking at ways to make savings.
Members discussed the report and raised the following points;
RESOLVED: To note the report.
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Playing Pitch Strategy Purpose To consider the findings and recommendations proposed by consultants commissioned to develop a Playing Pitch Strategy for the District and to approve the Strategy.
Recommendations That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee scrutinises the report and agrees any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Cabinet meeting on 2 November 2023.
Invited Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture Andy Barge, Assistant Director for Communities Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture introduced the item.
The purpose of the report was for Cabinet to consider the findings and recommendations proposed by consultants commissioned to develop a Playing Pitch Strategy for the District and to approve the Strategy.
The Cabinet Member explained that the strategy focused on sports which were played on sports pitches. The strategy set out how many playing pitches existed, and what the need was, including if improvements were needed. The Strategy would form an evidence base for the local plan, and included natural grass and artificial (3G) pitches for Football, Hockey, Polo and Rugby. The Cabinet Member thanked Officers for their work on the report.
Members discussed the report, raising the following points:
RESOLVED: To recommend to Cabinet that:
1) The provision of 3G pitches is reviewed to ensure that the provision is suitable and safe, in view of safety concerns about certain materials used in 3G pitches. 2) Consideration is given to whether it would be appropriate to include the provision of bowling greens within the Playing Pitch Strategy. 3) The new pitches planned at the Steadings development are factored into the Playing Pitch Strategy, if this has not already been done. 4) Consideration is given to whether the use of Community Infrastructure Levy to fund sports facilities can be formalised in the Local Plan. 5) The Council encourages more volunteers to ... view the full minutes text for item OS.296 |
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Car Parking Strategy Purpose To outline the approach to review and update the parking strategy to ensure best use of Council assets.
Recommendations That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee scrutinises the report and agrees any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Cabinet meeting on 2 November 2023.
Invited Councillor Tony Dale, Cabinet Member for Economy and Council Transformation Susan Hughes, Business Manager for Support and Advice Additional documents:
Minutes: There was a comfort break at 7:09pm, and the meeting resumed at 7:18pm.
Cabinet Member for the Economy and Council Transformation introduced the item. The purpose of the report was to outline the approach to reviewing and updating the parking strategy to ensure best use of Council assets.
Members discussed the report, and raised the following points;
RESOLVED: To recommend to Cabinet that:
Voting record For 10, Abstentions 0, Against 0
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Public Conveniences Review Group terms of reference Purpose The Committee on 26 September 2023 agreed to establish the Public Conveniences Review Group and further agreed that the draft terms of reference be amended and approved by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Review Group and reported back to the Committee.
Recommendation To note the approved terms of reference. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Tony Slater, as the Chair of the Public Conveniences Review Group, introduced the item. Councillor Slater outlined progress that had been made on work. The Terms of reference had been agreed at the first meeting of the review group. The next steps for the group, having reviewed the toilets within the district were to proceed with a business case.
The Chair of the Committee stated that the group would need to report back in January, but seemed to be progressing well. The Chair also thanked the Review Group for their work.
Members discussed cashless payment in public toilets. The Deputy Chief Executive stated that £50,000 had been set aside for this.
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Updates from Gloucestershire County Council Scrutiny Commitees Purpose For the appointed representatives to update the Committee on the work of: · Gloucestershire Health Overview and Scrutiny (HOSC) – Cllr Dilys Neill · Gloucestershire Economic Growth Scrutiny Committee (GEGSC) – Cllr Angus Jenkinson Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Neill sent her apologies for the meeting, and therefore the Chair read out their report. The report highlighted that the focus of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee was Flu, COVID and integrated care. The main concerns were mental health and waiting times.
Councillor Jenkinson, as the representative on the Economic Growth Scrutiny Committee, had provided a written report which would be distributed with the minutes of the meeting. Cllr Jenkinson summarised the report.
The Moreton – Bourton on the Water – Cheltenham bus service was mentioned, with members asking how frequent this was. Cllr Jenkinson stated that he would distribute this information after the meeting.
RESOLVED: To note the update |
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Forward Plan and Work Plan Purpose To review the work plan and Executive Forward Plan and agree agenda items for November’s meeting
Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair stated that the next meeting of the Committee would focus on the Local Plan, including the Housing Strategy.
Recommendations from the Public Conveniences Review Group would be added to the agenda for January’s meeting.
Members referred to the Publica Review, which had been scheduled for November’s Cabinet but was not on the agenda for pre-decision scrutiny at Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Chief Executive stated that there was no constitutional requirement for pre-decision scrutiny and that an all Member’s briefing would take place, which should answer questions Members had. The Committee felt however, that there was value in Overview and Scrutiny looking at the proposal in addition to the all member briefing, and proposed that a provisional meeting was scheduled after the briefing on 15 November 2023.
The resolution was proposed by Councillor David Cunningham and seconded by Councillor Slater.
RESOLVED: To accept the work plan, as amended, including a provisional special meeting to look at the Publica Review.
Voting record For 10, Abstentions 0, Against 0
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