Meeting documents

Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee
Wednesday, 16th July, 2014 6.30 pm

Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
119 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Stafford, Councillor Holland (substitute Cllr Salter) and from Councillor Ward (substitute Cllr Kenyon).
120 Declarations of interest.
 The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillors Woodley, Gilbert, D Norman, Longley and Terry (Executive Councillors) - interest in the referred items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;
(b) Councillor Borton - agenda item relating to Welfare Changes - non-pecuniary - employed by JobCentre Plus & DWP are mentioned in report;
(c) Councillor Waterworth - agenda item relating to MPR - non-pecuniary -private landlord;
(d) Councillor Salter - agenda item relating to MPR - non-pecuniary -private landlord in Borough
(e) Councillor J Garston - agenda item relating to MPR - non-pecuniary -private landlord in Borough;
(f) Councillor Habermel - agenda item relating to MPR - non-pecuniary -private landlord in Borough;
(g) Councillor Betson - agenda items relating to - MPR; HRA - non-pecuniary - husband is private landlord; Board member South Essex Homes.
121 Questions from Members of the Public.
 There were no questions from members of the public.
122 Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday, 10th April, 2014
 Resolved:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 10th April, 2014 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.
123 Monthly Performance Report (April 2014)
Business for item 123
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.
124 In-Depth Scrutiny Report - Impact of Welfare Changes
Business for item 124
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the report and recommendations from the project, as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

2. That it be noted that approval of any recommendations with budget implications will require consideration as part of future years' budget processes prior to implementation.

3. That the draft Action Plan, as set out in appendix 2 to the submitted report, be approved."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- I D Gilbert.
125 Draft Corporate Plan & Annual Report - 2014, incorporating priorities of the Joint
Administration
Business for item 125
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the Council's draft Corporate Plan and Annual Report 2014, incorporating the priorities of the Joint Administration as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

2. That the specific commitments set out in paragraphs 2.7 (d) - (h) of the Joint Administration Agreement attached at appendix 2 to the submitted report, be endorsed. These will be progressed within timescales appropriate to the matter in question and, in particular, consultation will take place on need and viability and a report will be brought forward on community facilities in central Southend as soon as possible.

3. That previous Council decisions in relation to Shoeburyness flood defences, Delaware and Priory care homes and the library service be made the subject of detailed review with terms of reference as follows:

(a) Shoeburyness Flood Defences

To review the current preferred option for coastal protection at Shoebury Common, as well as the previous options which were considered; and identify a coastal protection scheme that will be more acceptable to local residents and still provide the necessary standard of protection, safeguard the local environment and offer value for money.

The review will be completed as soon as possible and a report will be presented to Cabinet, after pre-Cabinet scrutiny at the Place Scrutiny Committee.

(b) Delaware & Priory Care Homes

The review will consider the decision to close Priory House and options for the redevelopment of Delaware House.

The review will:

- Consider all information relating to the original decision;

- Re-examine the financial information to consider whether the financial situation has substantially changed since the original decision was made in November 2013; and

- Consider whether all financially viable options have been considered taking into account the condition of Priory and Delaware House, the financial circumstances of the Council, future projected needs of the local population, availability of any new alternatives and the outcome of the consultation.

The review will make one of the following recommendations:

- The original decision made in November 2013 is endorsed and implementation should continue;
- The original decision made in November 2013 is not endorsed and implementation should stop with immediate effect; or

- The original decision made in November 2013 is not endorsed as it stands and the following alternative course of action is proposed.....

The review will be completed as soon as possible and a report will be presented to Cabinet, after pre-Cabinet scrutiny at the People Scrutiny Committee.

(c) Library Service

Whilst accepting many of the outcomes and recommendations made in the approved Library Strategy, it is the Joint Administration's intention to undertake a light touch review to reconsider the decisions that relate to the operation and management of the Library branch network. In particular this would look at the proposed staffing structure necessary to support the library branch network and the appropriate use of and by community groups and volunteers.

The review will be completed as soon as possible and a report will be presented to the September 2014 Cabinet."

Note:- This is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley.
126 Annual Treasury Management Report - 2013-14
Business for item 126
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the Annual Treasury Management Report for 2013/14 and the outturn Prudential Indicators for the period from April 2013 to March 2014, be approved.

2. That it be noted that the financing of capital expenditure of £42.993m has been funded in accordance with the schedule set out in section 4 of the submitted report, with a reduced financing requirement of £3.127m.

3. That it be noted that Capital Financing and Treasury Management were carried out in accordance with statutory requirements, good practice and in compliance with the CIPFA (The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) Prudential Code during 2013/14.

4. That the revised Treasury Management Policy Statement for 2014/15, as set out in appendix B to the submitted report, be approved.

5. That, in respect of the return on investment and borrowing, the following be noted:

(a) That the loan and investment portfolios were actively managed to minimise cost and maximise interest earned, whilst maintaining a low level of risk.

(b) That £0.47m of interest was earned during the whole of 2013/14 at an average rate of 0.60%. This is 0.25% over the benchmark of the 7 day LIBID (London Interbank Bid Rate) and 0.10% over bank base rate.

(c) That an average of £53.8m of investments were managed in-house. These earned £0.27m of interest during the year at an average rate of 0.50%. This is 0.15% over the average 7 day LIBID and in line with bank base rate.

(d) That an average of £24.5m of investments were managed by our external fund manager. These earned £0.20m of interest during the year at an average rate of 0.82%. This is 0.47% over the average 7 day LIBID and 0.32% over bank base rate.

(e) That the level of borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) (excluding debt relating to services transferred from Essex County Council on 1st April 1998) increased from £246.8m to £250.8m (Housing Revenue Account (HRA): £84.5m, General Fund (GF): £166.3m) by the end of 2013/14.

Note:- This is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley.
127 Provisional Capital Outturn 2013/14
Business for item 127
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That it be noted that the expenditure on the capital programme for 2013/14 totalled £42.993m against a budget of £46.120m, a delivery of 93.2%

2. That the relevant budget carry forwards and accelerated delivery requests totalling a net £2.746m, as set out in appendices 1 and 2 to the submitted report, be approved.

3. That the virements, re-profiles, amendments and new external funding for schemes, as set out in appendices 3, 4 and 5 to the submitted report, be noted.

4. That the relevant changes to the budget identified since the approved capital programme was set at Council on 27th February 2014, as set out in appendix 6 to the submitted report, be approved.

5. That it be noted that the above changes will result in an amended capital programme of £143.056m for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18 and later years, as set out in appendix 7 to the submitted report."

Note:- This is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley.
128 Provisional Revenue Outturn Report 2013-14
Business for item 128
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the provisional revenue outturn for the General Fund and HRA for 2013/14 be noted.

2. That the appropriation of revenue funds to and from earmarked reserves, as set out in paragraph 4.6 (General Fund) and paragraph 5.4 (HRA) of the submitted report, be approved."

Note:- This is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley.
129 Annual Report - Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA)
Business for item 129
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That it be noted that the Council has used the surveillance powers available to it under RIPA once between 1st April 2013 and the 31st March 2014, but has not used any covert human intelligence sources during this period.

2. That the amended "Policy and Procedures for undertaking Directed Covert Surveillance and the use of Covert Human Intelligence Sources" as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be endorsed.

3. That the conclusion of the Office of Surveillance Commissioners (‘the OSC') inspection that: "This inspection has been a conspicuously successful one from the Council's point of view. A thoroughly efficient and effective RIPA regime is in place and the Council is as well placed as any local authority to mount any necessary RIPA activity", be noted."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley.
130 Investigation of potential development sites on HRA Land
Business for item 130
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That further investigation and consultation on the feasibility of the identified sites, as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

2. That the use of time-limited capital funds, including Right to Buy receipts, to bring forward the initial pilot sites in Shoeburyness in the short term be approved, with the balance of the funding to be met from within the existing HRA capital resources.

3. That Officers be requested to investigate and bring forward a longer term Capital Investment Strategy for the Council which considers the different development models and delivery vehicles open to the Council including for Council-led house building.

4. That any new properties be let on Assured Shorthold Tenancies and initially be leased onwards to South Essex Homes Limited outside of the HRA at 80% of market rents to maximise rental income."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- D Norman.
131 Minutes of the Meeting of Grants Strategy Working Party held on Thursday, 19th June, 2014
Business for item 131
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

"That proposals put forward for a Community Commissioning Prospectus 2015-18, be approved."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Gilbert.
132 Minutes of the Performance Related Pay Panel 14th May 2014
Business for item 132
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

"That the minutes of the Performance Related Pay Panel held on 14th May 2014, be noted."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley.
133 Council Procedure Rule 46
Business for item 133
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

"That the submitted report be noted."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: As appropriate to the item.
134 Suggested in depth Scrutiny projects - 2014 / 15
Business for item 134
Resolved:

1. That the in-depth scrutiny project for 2014/15 be - ‘The Council's Community Leadership role in promoting safer communities'.

2. To note that the following Members have been appointed to the Panel, which will manage the in depth project - Councillors Habermel (Chairman), Councillor Evans, J Garston, Stafford, Ayling, Robinson, Wexham and Waterworth.

3. To note the information attached at Appendix 3 to the Report, the summary of work of the 3 Scrutiny Committees during 2013 / 2014.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
135 Exclusion of the Public.
 Resolved:-

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the item of business set out below, on the grounds that it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Part II(Confidential)
136 Council Procedure Rule 46 - Confidential Sheet
  • (Attachment: 30)Report
Business for item 136
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

"That the submitted report be noted."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Woodley.
18.30 / 19.20

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor Habermel (Chairman), Councillor Evans (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors Ayling, Betson, Borton, Callaghan, Lamb, J Garston, Kenyon*, Moring, Nevin, Robinson, Salter*, Waterworth and Wexham

(*Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31)
In attendance:
Councillors Woodley, Gilbert, D Norman, Longley and Terry (Executive Councillors)
Councillors McMahon and Ware-Lane
J K Williams, S Holland, F Abbott, S Leftley, J Chesterton, J Ruffle and J Lansley.

Business

ItemBusiness
123The Committee considered Minute 59 of Cabinet, the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end April 2014 which had been referred to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration. The Committee additionally had before it the latest MPR to end May 2014, which had been circulated on 9th July 2014.

With regard to CP 1.1 (score against BCS crimes), the Corporate Director for Corporate Services said that officers would try and arrange for the Police to attend the next or a future meeting of the Committee.
124The Committee considered Minute 60 of the Cabinet, which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet Book 1, item 5 refers), together with a report by the Corporate Director for Corporate Services. This was the final report on the in depth scrutiny project ‘Impact of Welfare Changes'.
125The Committee considered Minute 62 of the Cabinet, which had been referred to all 3 Scrutiny Committees (Cabinet Book 1, item 7 refers), together with a report of the Chief Executive & Town Clerk presenting the Council's Corporate Plan and Annual Report for 2014.

In response to questions, the Executive Councillor for Enterprise, Tourism & Economic Development confirmed that details of costings for the review of the 3 projects, referred to in the Minute, would be made available to Members.
126The Committee considered Minute 63 of the Cabinet, which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet Book 1, item 8 refers), together with a report by the Corporate Director for Corporate Services detailing the treasury activity for the period from April 2013 to March 2014 and reviewed performance against the Prudential Indicators for 2013/14.
127The Committee considered Minute 64 of the Cabinet, which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet Book 1, item 9 refers), together with a report by the Corporate Director for Corporate Services outlining the capital programme outturn for 2013/14 and sought approval for the relevant budget carry forwards, accelerated delivery requests and in-year amendments to the current approved programme.
128The Committee considered Minute 65 of the Cabinet, which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet Book 1, item 10 refers), together with a report by the Corporate Director for Corporate Services on the provisional revenue outturn for 2013/14.
129The Committee considered Minute 66 of the Cabinet, which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet Book 1, item 11 refers), together with a report by the Corporate Director for Corporate Services on the use of the surveillance powers available to the Council under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) in respect of the period 1st April 2013 to the 31st March 2014. Members were requested to give consideration to the Council's "Policy and Procedures for undertaking Directed Covert Surveillance and the use of Covert Human Intelligence Sources".
130The Committee considered Minute 67 of the Cabinet, which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet Book 2, item 12 refers), together with a report of the Corporate Director for People presenting a feasibility report on Council-owned Housing Revenue Account (HRA) land which has the potential to meet the Council's strategic aim of developing additional affordable housing.
131The Committee considered Minute 74 of Cabinet which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet Book 2, item 19 refers) concerning the recommendation of the Grants Strategy Working Party held on 19th June, 2014 on the Community Commissioning Prospectus 2015-18.
132The Committee considered Minute 75 of Cabinet which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet item 20 refers).
133The Committee considered Minute 76 of Cabinet which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet item 21 refers) concerning actions taken under Council Procedure Rule 46.
134The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director for Corporate Services concerning the possible in depth scrutiny projects to be undertaken by the Scrutiny Committee in 2014/15. The report also attached some information about the work carried out by the Scrutiny Committees in the 2013 / 14 Municipal Year.
136The Committee considered Minute 78 of Cabinet which had been referred to Scrutiny (Cabinet item 23 refers).

 

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