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 1 July 2022 is attached as an Appendix to this report.

Cabinet’s Key Decision List (KDL) of 1 July 2022 was scrutinised by the Committee and the following points were raised.

(a)        Portfolio – Leader

Local Government Council Size and Boundary Review – this was ongoing. The initial consultation had closed in July 2022. The number of councillors would most likely reduce to 54 and changes to ward boundaries would need to be made to accommodate this. The Council was waiting for a response from the Commission and would then have the opportunity to make further comments.

(b)       Portfolio – Place

Air Quality Action Plan – this would be pre-scrutinised by Stronger Place Select Committee in January, as Cabinet was due to make a decision on 13 March 2023.

(c)        Portfolio – Contracts and Commissioning

Charging for additional Waste Containers – Stronger Place Select Committee had pre-scrutinised the Litter Strategy on 5 July 2022. In light of comments made at the meeting, an amended strategy would go to the meeting on 13 September and was due to go to Cabinet in November 2022.

It was unfair on a resident if their bin was damaged by someone else, so would they still be charged? The Contracts Service Director replied that if a bin was broken through wear and tear or by a Biffa operative, it would be replaced by the Council. However, if a bin was lost or could not be repaired, the resident would be charged. All the information would be in the report.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee reviewed the Executive’s current programme of Key Decisions of 1 July 2022.