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 November 2022 is attached as an Appendix to this report.

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

(a)           Portfolio – Contracts and Commissioning

Charging for additional Waste Containers

Why should other residents have to suffer if someone, who did not want to pay to replace a damaged bin lid, put their waste in neighbouring bins? The Contracts Service Director advised that, where possible, the Council would look to fit a replacement bin lid. Residents were not charged for repairs, which helped to reduce the number of waste containers replaced. The contractor had to replace bins they damaged or broke.

Was charging for replacement bins a blanket policy or were some types of bin exempt? The Contracts Service Director replied charges were not levied for replacement bins for clinical and medical waste.

(b)           Portfolio – Housing and Community

Resident Involvement Strategy

As the Stronger Communities Select Committee meeting on 17 January 2023 had been cancelled and the next meeting was due in March, it looked like this would go to the Cabinet on 13 March with little time for scrutiny? A Small replied that officers would ensure there would be sufficient time to scrutinise the strategy before the Cabinet’s decision. J Gould confirmed that as a broader consultation with resident groups would be undertaken, it would go to the Stronger Communities Select Committee meeting on 21 March and then to a later meeting of the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

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