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 forward plan 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 of 4 January 2022 is attached as an Appendix to this report.

Cabinet’s Key Decision List (KDL) updated to 4 January 2022 was scrutinised by the Committee and the following points were raised.

(a)          Environmental and Technical Services

Transfer of Services to Qualis – Councillor S Murray queried these items but Councillor C Whitbread and A Small (Strategic Director and 151 Officer) confirmed they would be going to a scrutiny committee before going to Cabinet for a decision.

(b)       Housing Services

Improving Payment Options for Leaseholders – Councillor D Wixley queried which scrutiny committee this item would go to. Councillor H Whitbread and D Fenton confirmed that this item would be scrutinised by Stronger Place Select Committee, as it was do with the physical side of housing.

Councillor S Murray commended J Gould (Community and Wellbeing Project Director) for the handling of the consultations on the four Housing policies / strategies in a model way, which had provided members with a real opportunity to influence their outcomes.

(c)       Community and Regulatory Services

It was noted that the review of the Market Policy would be coming to this Committee for scrutiny on 31 March 2022.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee reviewed the Executive’s current programme of Key Decision of 4 January 2022.