Agenda and minutes

Any apologies for absence will be noted at this point.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Ballantyne, Cllr Hastain and Cllr Todhunter.

The Chair referenced that Katy Bourne was now scheduled to attend the Committee in January 2024.

To approve the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 4 July 2023.

To receive an update on progress against recommendations made to the Cabinet and the Council.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Committee held on 4 July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

The Chairman will announce any urgent items that due to special circumstances are to be dealt with under the agenda item below relating to late items.

The Chair explained that there would be a late item relating to the Annual Budget Scrutiny Group.

Members and officers are reminded to make any declarations of disclosable pecuniary, personal and/or prejudicial interests they may have in respect of matters on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The procedurefor submittingpublic questions in writingbyno later thannoon 2 workingdays before the meetingis availablehereorfromthe Democratic Services Officer (whose contactdetailsappear on thefrontpage of thisagenda).

There were no public questions.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee are asked to consider and agree the terms of reference for the Corporate Plan Review (TFG) and agree its membership.

The Chair invited Mr Buckley to introduce the report.

In a vote members approved the following:

1.    The Corporate Plan Review Task and Finish Group Terms of Reference.

2.    Membership of the Group as follows:

·       Councillor Sarah Quail

·       Councillor Oona Hickson

·       Councillor Joseph Brookes-Harmer

·       Councillor Brett Burkhart

Consideration of any late items as follows:

a)    Items added to the agenda papers and made available for public inspection.

b)    Items which the Chairman has agreed should be taken as matters of urgency by reason of special circumstances reported at the meeting.

Mrs Belenger was introduced to explain that this urgent item has been put forward due to the cancellation of the November meeting. As this item could not be delayed until the January meeting, since it is necessary to appoint to the group in order to comply with the budget reporting timetable.

Furthermore, it was advised that the name for this urgent item should be the "Annual Budget Scrutiny Group", as this distinguishes the group from the new Budget Review Group, recently set up by Cabinet.

The request was for three members from the committee to be nominated to attend the annual meeting. The following three members were confirmed:

·       Councillor Donna Johnson

·       Councillor Eleanora Newbery

·       Councillor Brookes-Harmer

Mrs Rudziak was introduced to discuss the Revised Work Programme.

As the November meeting had been cancelled, this provided further opportunity to review and improve the programme. It was explained that no items have been removed, however, some items have been brought forward to the current meeting and some meetings have been rearranged for January 2024.

Following on from the January meeting, members will be able to discuss any specific topics during the workshop meeting.

The Committee is asked to consider in respect of the following item(s) whether the public, including the press, should be excluded from the meeting on the grounds of exemption under Parts I to 7 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as indicated against the item and because, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption of that information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. The reports dealt with under this part of the agenda are attached for members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and senior officers only (salmon paper).

With regard to agenda item 9 the Chair proposed the Committee voted to go into Part II. This was seconded by Councillor Brett Burkhart.

RESOLVED

That in respect of item 9 the Committee agreed that the public, including the press, should be excluded from the meeting on the grounds of exemption under Parts I to 7 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as indicated against the item and because, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption of that information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The meeting then went into Part II.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee are asked to consider the attached report and appendix and make the recommendation as set out in section 3.1 of the staffing confidential report.

Please note this is circulated to members and senior officers only.

The Chair invited Mr Buckley to introduce the report.

In a vote members approved the recommendation as set in section 3.1 of the report.