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 September 2022 is attached as an Appendix to this report.

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

(a)        Portfolio - Leader

Local Government Council Size and Boundary Review – the Leader advised this was ongoing but a response from the Commission’s draft proposals was expected around 4 October 2022.

(b)        Portfolio – Housing and Community

Provision for Ukrainian refugees in the District – the Portfolio Holder reported that the Government scheme encouraged refugees to be placed in residents’ homes, initially for six months. The Council was working closely with Voluntary Action Epping Forest to identify support in the community with host families. An event was hosted at the Civic Offices in early September, to bring together Ukrainian refugees with support that was available in the District. With the war continuing and where refugees could no longer be housed in the community, the Council did have a number of families in temporary accommodation, but officers were in the process of finding permanent accommodation as they would normally do. In response to a question from Councillor R Baldwin on the increased allowance, which was welcomed, who was that money paid to, the hosts or refugees? The Portfolio Holder replied she would confirm this and write to the Councillor. Sadly, most of the homeless cases Council officers were dealing with in this situation were as a result of relationship breakdowns.

            RESOLVED:

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