The Committee stood in silent tribute in memory of Councillor Julian Ware-Lane who sadly had recently passed away.

There were no apologies for absence.

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a)  Councillors Courtenay, Lamb, Moring and Salter (Cabinet Members) – Disqualifying non-pecuniary interests in all the called-in/referred items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

(b)  Councillor Buck – Agenda Item No. 8 (Draft Capital Investment Programme 2019/20 to 2023/24) Items 6.3, 8.5 (Schools) and Appendix 1 page 3 – Non-pecuniary interest: Governor at Eastwood Academy;

(c)  Councillor Buck – Agenda Item No. 9 (Draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2019/20) – Items 2.5, 5, 6 and 8.16 (Schools) - Non-pecuniary interest: Governor at Eastwood Academy and Appendix 9 – B3 – Non-pecuniary interest: Member of Belfairs Golf Club;

(d)  Councillor Jones – Agenda Item No. 8 8 (Draft Capital Investment Programme 2019/20 to 2023/24) – Non-pecuniary interest: Son works for C2C and Southend Central Station was mentioned in the debate;

(e)  Councillor Nelson – Agenda Item No. 6 (Southend 2050 - Strategic Delivery Plans) – Non-pecuniary interest: Employer is a Member of Parliament.

Written responses from the Cabinet Member for or Healthy Communities and Wellbeing and the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure to questions from Mr Webb were circulated at the meeting.

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 26th November 2018 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.

That the Minutes of the special meeting held on Tuesday, 11th December 2018 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 17^th January 2019. The relevant Minute and report has been referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 604 of Cabinet held on 17th January 2019, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all three Scrutiny Committees together with a report of the Chief Executive providing the Southend 2050 Strategic Delivery Plans (SDPs).

Resolved:

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the Strategic Delivery Plans supporting the delivery of the Southend 2050 Ambition and the Southend 2050 Five Year Road Map, be adopted.

2. That the Transforming Together work be noted and the new Council values, be endorsed.”

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Cllr Lamb

The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 17^th January 2019. The relevant Minute and report has been referred direct to the Place Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 607 of Cabinet held on 17^th January 2019, which had been referred direct to scrutiny by Cabinet, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) presenting the updated Highways and Parking Policies for approval.

Having considered the matter further, the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure confirmed that he was happy that the matter be referred back to Cabinet for reconsideration.  Any decision made by the Cabinet would be eligible for call-in.

Resolved:

That the matter be referred back to Cabinet for reconsideration.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Cllr Moring

The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 17^th January 2019. The relevant Minute and report has been referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 610 of Cabinet on 17^th January 2019, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all three Scrutiny Committees together with a report of the Strategic Director (Finance and Resources) outlining a draft programme of capital investment for the period 2019/20 to 2023/24.

Resolved:

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the current approved programme for 2019/20 to 2021/22 of £153.1m as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the Capital Investment Strategy for 2019/20 to 2023/24, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

3. That the following be approved:

(i) New schemes and additions to the Capital Investment Programme for the period 2019/20 to 2023/24 totalling £14.5m for the General Fund and £20.8m for the Housing Revenue Account (Appendix 6 to the submitted report);

(ii) Schemes subject to external funding approval for the period 2019/20 to 2020/21 totalling £3.0m (Appendix 6 to the report);

(iii) Schemes subject to viable business cases for the period 2019/20 to 2021/22 totalling £48.6m (Appendices 6 and 7 to the report).

4. That it be noted that the changes to the approved Programme will result in a proposed Capital Investment Programme of £177.0m for 2019/20 to 2023/24, as set out in Appendix 7 to the report, of which £70.7m is supported by external funding.

5. That it be noted that a final review is being undertaken on the 2018/19 projected outturn and the results will be included in the report to Cabinet on 12 February 2019.”

Note: This is an Executive Function save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 12 February 2019 is a Council Function.

Cabinet Member: Cllr Lamb

The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 17^th January 2019. The relevant Minute and report has been referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 611 of Cabinet held on 17th January 2019, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all three Scrutiny Committees, together with a report of the Corporate Management Team presenting the draft revenue budget for 2019/20.

Resolved:

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the 2019/20 draft revenue budget and any required commencement of consultation, statutory or otherwise, be endorsed.

2. That it be noted that the 2019/20 draft revenue budget has been prepared on the basis of a Council Tax increase of 4.49%, being 2.99% for general use and 1.5% for Adult Social Care.   

3. That it be noted that the 2019/20 draft revenue budget has been prepared using the provisional local government finance settlement and that the outcome from the final settlement will need to be factored into the final budget proposals for Budget Cabinet and Budget Council.

4. That the 2019/20 revenue budget, as endorsed, be referred to all three Scrutiny Committees, Business sector and Voluntary sector to inform the Budget Cabinet, which will then recommend the Budget and Council Tax to Budget Council.

5. That the Schools budget position and that the recommendations for the  Education Board on 22 January 2019, as set out in Appendices 11and 11(i) to the submitted report, be noted and referred to the People Scrutiny Committee and then to Budget Cabinet and Budget Council.

6. That the direction of travel for 2020/21 and beyond, noting the need for the organisation to move to a longer term and outcome based budgeting approach as set out in Section 15 of the report, be endorsed.”

Note: This is an Executive Function save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 12th February 2019 is a Council Function.

Cabinet Member: Cllr Lamb

The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 17^th January 2019. The relevant Minute and report has been referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 617 of Cabinet held on 17th January 2019, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all three Scrutiny Committees together with a report of the Chief Executive presenting the corporate risk register Quarter 3 update.

Resolved:

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the 2018/19 Corporate Risk Register and the Quarter 3 updates outlined in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted.”

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Cllr Lamb

The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 17^th January 2019. The relevant Minute and report has been referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 620 of Cabinet held on 17th January 2019, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all three Scrutiny Committees together with a report of the Strategic Director (Finance and Resources) presenting the Revenue and Capital budget report for the period ending 30^th November 2018.

Resolved:

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

That, in respect of the 2018/19 Revenue Budget Monitoring as set out in appendix 1 to this report:

1. That the forecast outturn for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account, as at November 2018, be noted.

2. That the planned management actions of £3,230,000 to achieve that forecast outturn, be noted.

3. That the planned budget transfers (virements) of £949,000, be approved.

4. That the transfer of £413,000 from the Children Social Care reserve to support additional secured placements, be approved.

5. That the transfer of £472,000 from the Dedicated School Grant reserve to support 2018/19 in year funding pressures, be approved.

6. That the potential transfer of £1,505,000 to the Business Transformation Reserve in respect of the forecast General Fund underspend, be noted.

7. That the potential transfer of £24,000 to the HRA Capital Investment Reserve in respect of the forecast HRA underspend, be noted.

That, in respect of the 2018/19 Capital Budget Monitoring as set out in appendix 2 of this report:

8. That the expenditure to date and the forecast outturn as at November 2018 and its financing, be noted.

9. That the requested changes to the 2018/19 capital investment programme as set out in Section 2 of Appendix 2 of the report, be approved.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Cllr Lamb

Members are reminded to bring with them the most recent MPR for period end November 2018 circulated recently.

Comments/questions should be made at the appropriate Scrutiny Committee relevant to the subject matter.

The Committee considered Minute 621 of Cabinet held on 17th January 2019, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all three Scrutiny Committees together with the Monthly Performance Report covering the period to end November 2018.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

The Committee received an oral update on the progress that had been made to date in respect of the joint in-depth study with the Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved:-

That the update be noted

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.