Agenda item

(Leader) To review the Cabinet’s Key Objectives and Forward Plan (Key Decision List) for the year.

In the absence of the Leader, the Deputy Leader, Councillor Stavrou introduced the Cabinet’s Forward Plan and Key Objectives for the coming year.

She noted that the Cabinet too an interest in the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and appreciated the important role scrutiny played in providing checks and balances to the Executive. Last year the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed that the Leader would attend to provide details of the Cabinet’s work programme and Key Objectives for 2014/15 to advise the Committee of their future work and identify mutual areas of interest where the O&S Committee could assist the Cabinet in undertaking bespoke pieces of review.

It was noted that attached to the agenda was the Cabinet’s Key Objectives for 2014/15. They are presented under a number of broad themes and these constitute the priorities of the Cabinet over the next municipal year. Progress against last year’s key objectives was reported elsewhere in the agenda. it was noted that a number of items are an extension of last year’s programme. Also attached is the Cabinet’s work programme listing all the Key Decisions that they would be making over the next four months in order to deliver their Key Objectives.

She noted that the local plan was probably the most significant document that the Council would produce for many years. It would determine the future character of our District and help us deliver benefits to our residents in terms of homes and employment. All key decisions in relation to the Local Plan will be taken by the Cabinet, but they wish to be as consultative in their approach as possible. She noted that the Scrutiny Panel on Planning was responsible for scrutinising the Local Plan and this was an area where she hoped the Cabinet and Scrutiny could work together.

Councillor Stavrou highlighted that the Council was keen to embark on a Council House-building Programme and the Housing Portfolio Holder had established a Cabinet Committee to advise him. With tenders being received for the first phase this was an exciting initiative for the Council.

The Council had also embarked on the development of a new Leisure and Cultural Strategy, which would not only clarify the role that the Council would play in future provision, but also determine the best way to procure the new Leisure Management Contract. A draft report would be going to this Committee in September and she would welcome the Committee’s input into its conclusions.

The performance of the KPI’s was now being considered by the individual Scrutiny Panels and she would welcome any feedback about how this worked in practice.

Finally she noted that that the Cabinet would like the assistance of Overview and Scrutiny. The Council operated a Grant Aid Scheme to support the valuable work of the voluntary sector. To date they had managed to protect the level of funding; however as financial pressure built, it was important that the most was gained from the council’s resources. Councillor Kane the new Leisure and Communities Portfolio Holder would like scrutiny to undertake a review of the Grant Aid policies and procedures and asked that Overview and Scrutiny undertake this work on the Cabinet’s behalf, by possibly establishing a Task and Finish Panel.

She would be happy to answer any questions from the Committee.

Councillor Watts commented that the table for Key objectives for 2014/15 shown on page 23 of the agenda had a column entitled “Targets/How Measured”. A lot of these were not targets or were measurable, but were deliverables. Such as the ‘Community Engagements’ section which indicated that the programme of community focussed consultation would be delivered by 31 March 2015. But this was not a target. It should focus on what outcomes we were trying to achieve and what outcomes we could measure. This also applied to the Local Plan section and the outcome of local plans. Successful outcomes would be something not challenged by the inspector.

The Director of Neighbourhoods noted his concerns that he would like to make the targets smarter; we could ask management board to look at this. The Chief Executive was happy to do this and work with any suggestions for improvements, although we did need to know we were successful in delivering our objectives.

Councillor Murray thanked Councillor Stavrou for her presentation and was happy to endorse the way the Council House-building programme was to be progressed. Also if a review of Community Grant Aid was to be had I would endorse a one off Task and Finish Panel to do this. He was also glad to see the item on the refurbishment of the ‘Charlie Moules Footbridge’ in the Roding Valley Recreational Area, as this was important to local residents.

Councillor Murray noted that listed under ‘Community Engagement’ was the stated aim of safeguarding frontline services. What was under threat? Safeguarding front line services should be a given.

Also one of the objectives was to have the lowest Council Tax in Essex; I’m sure we were all in favour of this but, I’m not sure you can agree to just having the lowest Council Tax, especially if this threatens our front line services. Can you comment on this and also on your stated aims of providing a more commercial approach service delivery?

Councillor Stavrou replied that the front line services were important to us and so we kept it in the forefront of our policies, which is why we keep mentioning it.  A low Council Tax was not a bad aspiration; there was nothing wrong with wanting this. We need targets to aim for. As for a more commercial approach to service delivery I’ll ask an officer to comment.

The Chief Executive, Glen Chipp, noted that they were safeguarding the front line services and reorganising officers. By doing this they had saved about £1million last year and had saved the front line services. As for a commercial approach, a lot of councils were in the same position. Central Government grants will continue to reduced and so we would need to find alternatives for this by other means and to look at generating revenue streams from our services.

Councillor Waller noted that the ‘Charlie Moules Footbridge’ fell within the remit of Country Care. Complications held up repairs for over a year. Loughton Town Council had been involved in this and has also held up repairs.  Councillor Breare-Hall will be bringing a report on this to Cabinet in October.

Councillor Angold-Stephens commented that it was a bland statement to have the lowest Council Tax in Essex and was fairly meaningless. It was better to say the lowest Council Tax in Essex while maintaining a high level of services, or were we just after low Council Taxes. Councillor Philip said this is a measure of what we should achieve; it was an admirable aim, to do as much as we can with what we have.

Councillor Chambers welcomed the Cabinet’s Forward Plan and in particular the suggestion that we look at Grant Aid procedures.

Councillor Wixley asked where we were on the league table for Council Tax in Essex. Councillor Stavrou said we were the second lowest.

Councillor Surtees noted that the issue of low Council Tax was important as it affected all residents. It was important that we have an understanding that it affects everybody. We should recognise that in parts of our district we have significant areas of poverty. I would like to see a low Council Tax, but high enough to look after our residents.

Councillor Sartin proposed that a Task and Finish Panel be set up to look at Grant Aid policies and procedures. This was agreed by the Committee. A PICK form was to be submitted.

RESOLVED:

That at their next meeting a Task and Finish Panel be set up to review the Council’s Grant Aid policies and procedures.