Issue - meetings

   Recommendation:

   That the Committee review the Executive’s current programme of Key    Decisions to enable the identification of appropriate matters for the    Overview and Scrutiny work programme and the overview of specific    decisions proposed to be taken over the period of the plan.

Article 6 (Overview and Scrutiny) of the Constitution requires that the Committee review the Executive’s programme of Key Decisions (the Cabinet Forward Plan) at each meeting, to enable the identification of appropriate matters for the Overview and Scrutiny work programme and to provide an opportunity for the overview of specific decisions proposed to be taken over the period of the plan.

The Constitution (Article 14 (Decision Making)) defines a Key Decision as an executive decision which:

            (a)        involves expenditure or savings of £250,000 or above which are             currently within budget and policy;

            (b)        involves expenditure or savings of £100,000 or above which are NOT             currently within budget and policy;

            (c)        is likely to be significant in terms of its effect on communities living or             working in an area comprising two or more wards;

            (d)        raises new issues of policy;

            (e)        increases financial commitments (i.e. revenue and/or capital) in future             years over and above existing budgetary approval;

            (f)         comprises and includes the publication of draft or final schemes which             may require, either directly or in relation to objections to, the approval of a             Government Minister; or

            (g)        involves the promotion of local legislation.

Wherever possible, Portfolio Holders will attend the Committee to present forthcoming key decisions, to answer questions on the Key Decision List and to indicate where appropriate work could be carried out by Overview and Scrutiny on behalf of the Cabinet.

The Executive’s current programme of Key Decisions is attached as an Appendix to this report.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the Executive’s current Programme of Key Decisions for the Committee to consider.

Leader Portfolio

Councillor J H Whitehouse felt that the report from the Local Government Association Peer Review should be submitted to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for consideration. The Chief Executive stated that approval for the Peer Review was granted by the Cabinet last night, and that once the Review was completed then a report would be produced and published on the Council’s website; the report could be discussed in this forum if the Committee so wished.

Housing & Property Services

Councillor S Murray felt that the development potential of the Council’s Sheltered Housing Assets should also be considered by the Committee in due course. Councillor H Whitbread, Housing & Property Services Portfolio Holder, reminded the Committee that this item was concerned with how to best utilise the sheltered housing assets as part of the Council’s provision of affordable housing, and not simply developing or selling off the current assets. The proposed review would be undertaken in the new calendar year and the outcome would be reported to the Stronger Communities Select Committee.