Agenda and minutes

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of 2 September 2019.

The minutes of the meeting of 2 September 2019 were confirmed and signed subject to the following comments;

1.    In relation to minute OSC14/19 Point 52; Councillor Booth clarified that the figure of 61% of settlement status applications he stated, had been the figure reported in the media.

Members to receive an update on the previous meeting’s Action Plan.

Members were provided with an update on the status of the actions raised at previous meetings of the Panel.

1.    Councillor Booth explained that he had had further conversations with Nick Harding in relation to the planning enforcement figures reported to members. Councillor Booth raised concern that not enough enforcement action is being taken but explained that Nick Harding had assured him that the Council are taking a proactive approach in relation to planning enforcement.

Members to receive a presentation.

Members had received a copy of the presentation prior to the meeting.

Councillor Miscandlon thanked Councillor Boden and Paul Medd for their attendance at today’s meeting.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows;

1.    Councillor Yeulett requested that in future, members are provided with a copy of the presentation well in advance of the meeting to allow them time to formulate questions. Councillor Boden agreed to this.

2.    Councillor Miscandlon asked how the Council is mitigating against the forecast financial deficit for 2020/21 given that the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) shows a 0% increase in Council Tax. Councillor Boden said the issue is not what the Council do to meet the financial deficit forecast for 2020-2021 but rather what the Council do to ensure, in the immediate and longer term, a stable financial position. In relation to 2020-2021, an assumption has been made in the MTFS that there will be a 0% increase in Council Tax. He emphasised that this is not a promise but rather an assumption of a 0% increase in Council Tax, for the purpose of the MTFS.

Councillor Boden explained that the logic of reflecting a 0% increase is to show the scale of the challenge and if this cannot be met then appropriate decisions will be made. He explained that there is both a psychological and financial effect of presuming a 0% increase in Council Tax. Financially, the effects are as follows; in 2020-21 there will be a projected shortfall of £863,000, in 2021-22 there will be a projected shortfall of £1.048 million, in 2022-23 there will be a projected shortfall of £1.405 million and in 2023-24 there will be a projected shortfall of £1.665 million.

Councillor Boden took the figure of £1.665 million as an example of future potential savings. He highlighted the achievements of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) and how much money was saved as part of this process. He explained that the Council are not trying to replicate CSR which targeted ‘easy savings’ but instead are formulating a transformational change across the organisation. He informed members that information in relation to this will be available in November 2019. He explained that the project will not be named CSR2 as it will be a very different process.

Councillor Boden stated that officers continue to monitor their financial position and delivery of savings, with some being a residual effect of CSR. He highlighted that the Council are also working on the Council for the Future (CFF) project and formulating a Commercial and Investment Strategy (CIS) which both should create savings and generate income to the Council. Whilst the CFF will not produce instant savings he is hopeful that the CIS will generate instant revenue. He assured members that they will be provided with further information on these projects in the coming months.

Councillor Boden drew member’s attention to the projected savings and income for the Council as a result of; recent team restructures, reduced insurance costs as a result  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC20/19

To consider the Draft Work Programme for Overview & Scrutiny Panel 2019/20.

Members agreed the Future Work Programme subject to the following comments;

1.    Members agreed to add an agenda item to a future meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel in relation to the CIS.