Agenda and draft minutes
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Contact: Democratic Services
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No. | Item |
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Apologies To receive any apologies for absence.
The quorum for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee is 3 members. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor Dilys Neill. |
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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 Dilys Neill. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2024. Additional documents: Minutes: An amendment had been made to the minutes under OS.84. The fourth bullet point was revised for accuracy. “The impact of the increased employer pension contributions resulting from the transition was discussed. In the immediate short-term, employer pension contributions will increase by £346k in a full year. The Deputy Chief Executive explained that due to how the Local Government Pension Scheme functioned, the longer-term impact on the Council would not be clear until the results of the next actuarial valuations in March 2025 and March 2028 were known. Therefore, the short-term financial impact is as set out in the Waterfall Chart contained within the report.”
Councillor Jon Wareing proposed accepting the minutes and Councillor Gary Selwyn seconded the proposal.
RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2024.
Voting record- 9 For, 1 Abstention |
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Matters Arising from Minutes of the Previous Meeting PDF 229 KB To consider actions outstanding from minutes of previous meetings Additional documents: Minutes: In relation to the previous meeting, members discussed missed bin collections which occurred on a Friday, which could not be reported until Monday if customers did not have an internet connection.
Members also highlighted that there was no date in the work plan for the Publica transition report to be considered by the Committee, the Chief Executive stated that they would provide the Committee with dates for this.
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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 explained that the Sewage Summit item was due to be scrutinised by the Committee but was now going to be presented to Full Council. Therefore it was removed from the agenda. The Chair noted the large agenda and reminded members to remain succinct when asking questions of Officers. |
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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: Councillor Angus Jenkinson stated that some reports did not consider the Climate and Ecological Emergency implications whereas others did. The Interim Executive Director stated that they would ensure this is consistent on future reports. |
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Report back on recommendations PDF 191 KB For the Committee to note the Cabinet’s response to any recommendations arising from the previous Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting. Additional documents:
Minutes: Members referred to the recommendations from the previous meeting, raising that the recommendation for resourcing ecology should be brought to the next meeting of the Publica Review Working Group. The CEO stated that they would add this to the agenda for the next meeting.
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Neighbourhood Planning Update PDF 266 KB Purpose To update Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Council’s activity supporting parish-led neighbourhood plans across the district.
Recommendations That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves to 1. Notes the update 2. Agrees any recommendations it wishes to submit to Cabinet on 5 September.
Invited Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services Joseph Walker, Community Partnership Officer Additional documents: Minutes: In introducing the item, the Chair asked members to focus on the strategic aspects of it. The Chair stated that members should also be aware that the Stow-on-the-Wold and the Swells Neighbourhood Plan should not be discussed Neighbourhood Plan should not be discussed as it was liable to a the Council was in the pre-election period ahead of the referendum on 26 September 2024.
The purpose of the item was to update Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Council’s activity supporting parish-led neighbourhood plans across the district.
The Cabinet Member provided a summary of the neighbourhood planning activity across the district since 2011 when the legislation had been introduced.
The Community Partnerships Officer explained that neighbourhood planning was liable to alter in light of the changes to the NPPF, though no explicit alterations were proposed at present.
Members discussed the report, raising the following points;
RESOLVED: To note the update
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To follow Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services introduced the item and made the following points:
The purpose of the item was to advise Cabinet of the current NPPF consultation and agree proposals for submission of a consultation response on behalf of the Council.
The Cabinet Member explained that the recommendation to Cabinet was to Delegate the submission of the Council response. This was to allow time for the Interim Forward Planning Lead to finalise a proposed response, taking on board Member input.
Members discussed the report, raising the following points;
RESOLVED: To NOTE the report.
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Building the Budget PDF 337 KB Purpose To provide members of Overview and Scrutiny committee an outline of the Council’s budget setting process, key decision points, and a brief outline of the administration’s approach to the annual budget consultation.
Recommendation That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves to: 1. Note the report on Building the Budget. 2. Consider and recommendations it wishes Cabinet to consider for the 2025/26 Budget Consultation.
Invited Councillor Mike Evemy, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance David Stanley, Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Finance and Deputy Leader introduced the report. He explained that the report outlined the cycle within the budget building process. The next report to the Committee would be considered at its meeting in November.
The purpose of the item was to provide members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee an outline of the Council’s budget setting process, key decision points, and a brief outline of the administration’s approach to the annual budget consultation.
Members discussed the report, raising the following points;
RESOLVED: To NOTE the report. |
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Financial Performance Report 2024-25 Quarter One PDF 388 KB Purpose This report sets of the initial budget monitoring position for the 2024/25 financial year.
Recommendation(s) That Overview and Scrutiny Committee: 1. Reviews and notes the financial position set out in this report. 2. Consider and recommendations it wishes Cabinet to consider for the Cabinet meeting on 5 September 2024.
Invited Councillor Mike Evemy, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance David Stanley, Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer
Additional documents: Minutes: The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report.
The purpose of the item was to set out the initial budget monitoring position for the 2024/25 financial year.
The following material variations were set out within this as follows;
Members discussed the report, raising the following points;
RESOLVED: To NOTE the update. |
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Service Performance Report 2024-25 Quarter One PDF 132 KB Purpose To provide an update on progress on the Council’s priorities and service performance
Recommendations That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves to: 1. Note overall progress on the Council priorities and service performance for 2024-25 Q1. 2. Agree any recommendations it wishes to submit to Cabinet ahead of the meeting on 5 September
Invited Councillor Joe Harris, Leader of the Council Robert Weaver, Chief Executive Alison Borrett, Senior Performance Analyst Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chief Executive Introduced the report. In doing so, they highlighted areas on and off target.
The purpose of the item was to provide an update on progress on the Council’s priorities and service performance.
Members discussed the report, raising the following points;
RESOLVED: To NOTE the report. |
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Updates from Gloucestershire County Council Scrutiny Committees Purpose To receive any verbal updates on the work of external scrutiny bodies:
Gloucestershire Economic Growth Scrutiny Committee – Cllr Angus Jenkinson Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Cllr Dilys Neill
Additional documents: Minutes: The representative from the Heath Overview and Scrutiny Committee had sent apologies and there had been no further updates. The Economic Scrutiny Committee was due to meet in September under the new name of the Economic Strategy Scrutiny Committee. |
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Work Plan and Forward Plan PDF 125 KB For the Committee to note and review its work plan and to select Cabinet decisions for pre-decision scrutiny at future committee meetings. Additional documents:
Minutes: The work plan was noted. |