Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 6th December 2021.

The minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 6th December 2021 were approved.

No disclosures were made.

No declarations were made.

No questions were submitted.

No questions were submitted.

There are no items of this nature on the Informal Cabinet agenda for the Commission to consider.

There were no items of this nature on the Informal Cabinet agenda for the Commission to consider.

The following items have been identified for pre-decision scrutiny from the informal Cabinet agenda for 13th January 2022:

A report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services to putforwardproposalsfor the StrategicPartnerGrantSchemefundingfor 2022/23 and 2023/24.

A report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services to put forward proposals for the Strategic Partner Grant Scheme funding for 2022/23 and 2023/24.  (item 7a on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Cabinet Lead Member for Community Support and Equalities and the Neighbourhoods and Partnerships Manager assisted with the consideration of this item. The following summarises the discussion:

      i.        It was acknowledged that the information in the report was clear and comprehensive and members thanked officers for the work involved in the Strategic Partner Grants process.

    ii.        The report had recommended that a Strategic Partner Grant of £9,537 for 2022/23 provisional amount be awarded in principle to Syston Volunteer Centre, as opposed to the two-year funding recommendation for other applicants. This was due to the Council requiring further evidence to demonstrate that relevant criteria were met. Officers were confident that the Syston Volunteer Centre was able to develop their offer to residents as outlined by the Council and provide evidence of this to secure further funding in the 2023/24 period.

   iii.        The Syston Volunteer Centre was historically a transportation service for resident. The Council had encouraged the Centre to develop further services to meet requirements for the allocation of grant funding. The service had developed stronger relationships with partner organisations and a successful befriending service had been set up during the pandemic. The Centre was continuing to develop their offer to residents. 

   iv.        The financial offer to each organisation was relative to the services provided and this was reviewed annually as part of the monitoring and evaluation process before the second year funding was allocated to each organisation.

    v.        Some of the organisations discussed within the report had met criteria related to sustainability and carbon reduction. However, it was acknowledged that some organisations had adopted measures to improve sustainability and reduce carbon and had not referred to this in the application process. It was suggested that this be considered during subsequent grant awarding processes by encouraging organisations to discuss sustainability and carbon reduction in their applications.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet be informed that the Commission supports the recommendations as set out in the report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services.

Reason

The Commission, having carefully considered the report, felt the Cabinet should approve the recommendations set out.

Councillor Popley, attending virtually, confirmed that he would have voted in support of the recommendations set out in the report had he been physically present at the meeting and able to do so.

An exempt report of the Head of Leisure and Culture, circulated to members.

THIS IS AN EXEMPT REPORT AND WILL BE CONSIDERED UNDER ITEM 13.

An exempt report of the Head of Leisure and Culture was circulated to Members and was considered under item 13 on the agenda.

There were no items for pre-decision scrutiny at the last meeting of the Scrutiny Commission and therefore there is no Cabinet response.

There were no items for pre-decision scrutiny at the last meeting of the Scrutiny Commission and therefore there was no Cabinet response to note.

To consider updates on the work of scrutiny panels.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support to review the progression of scrutiny panels was submitted (item 9 on the agenda files with these minutes).

The Democratic Services Manager assisted with the consideration of this item. The following summarises the discussion:

      i.        The Waste Management Scrutiny Panel meeting scheduled for 14th December 2021 had been postponed, which meant that the panel timeline would need to be extended to May 2022.

    ii.        The Budget Scrutiny Panel report was submitted to the Scrutiny Commission, outlining a number of observations made by the panel. It was noted that future meetings of the panel would be required to recommend on financial impact, savings and income with regard to the year’s budget. Some of the topics highlighted for consideration in the next cycle of Budget Scrutiny Panel meetings were void properties, garages and the scoping of car parks and charges.

   iii.        The Chair of the Crime, Youth Crime and ASB Scrutiny Panel was due to meet with officers to discuss the scoping document for the panel. Following this discussion, the scoping document would be submitted to the Scrutiny Commission for approval.

   iv.        An email inviting expression of interest in participation in the Combatting Loneliness Scrutiny Panel had been sent to all eligible members. Work on this panel will commence following the appointment of members.

    v.        The scoping document for the Digitisation and Transformation of Services Scrutiny Panel was reviewed by the Scrutiny Commission and no issues were highlighted. The scoping document was approved and work on the panel could commence following the meeting.

   vi.        It was suggested that the Promoting Tourism in Charnwood Scrutiny Panel was deferred due to the resource implications on officers. It was suggested that the panel should commence in March/April 2022.

RESOLVED

1.    That the progress of scrutiny panels be noted.

2.    That the Waste Management Scrutiny Panel should be extended to May 2022.

3.    That the Budget Scrutiny Panel report be approved for submission to the Cabinet at its meeting on 10th February 2022.

4.    That the Digitalisation Scrutiny Panel scoping document be approved and that work on this panel commence in February 2022.

5.    That the Promoting Tourism in Charnwood Scrutiny Panel start date be deferred to March/April 2022 due to the officer resourcing implications. It was suggested that the panel should commence in March/April 2022.

Reasons

1-5. To ensure timely and effective scrutiny of the matter and subject.

Councillor Popley, attending virtually, confirmed that he would have voted in support of the recommendations set out in the report had he been physically present at the meeting and able to do so.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support enabling the Commission to review and agree the scrutiny work programme.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support to enable the Commission to review and agree the Scrutiny Work Programme. This includes reviewing the changes made by the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee and adding items to their work programme (item 10 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Democratic Services Manager assisted with the consideration of this item.

RESOLVED that the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Work Programme be noted with no changes.

Reason

To ensure that the information contained within the Work Programme is up to date.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support setting out the list of forthcoming Executive Key Decisions and the Group’s Work Programme for consideration, in order to identify items for future scrutiny.

A report of the Head of Strategic Support was considered, to enable the Commission to consider its work programme and forthcoming Key Decisions and decisions to be taken in private by the Cabinet in order to schedule items for pre-decision scrutiny (item 11 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Democratic Services Manager assisted with the consideration of this item.

The following items were identified for pre-decision scrutiny from the Key Decisions Notice;

      i.        Local Development Scheme – 7th March 2022.

    ii.        Corporate Delivery Plan 2022/23 – 4th April 2022.

   iii.        Charnwood Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order 2022 – July 2022.

RESOLVED

1.    That forthcoming Executive Key Decisions or decisions to be taken in private by the Executive, set out in Appendix 2 to the report, and scheduled scrutiny of those matters, be noted.

2.    That the Commission’s current work programme be noted.

Reasons

1.    To ensure effective and timely scrutiny, either to provide Cabinet with advice prior to it taking a decision or to ensure that the Council and external public service providers and partners were operating effectively for the benefit of the Borough.

2.    To ensure effective and timely scrutiny.

It is recommended that members of the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of this item on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest of disclosing the information.

RESOLVED that members of the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of this item on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest of disclosing the information.

At this point in the meeting the sound recording was switched off.

An exempt report of the Head of Leisure and Culture, circulated to members.

For information, further meetings of the Scrutiny Commission are scheduled as follows;

7th February 2022

7th March 2022

4th April 2022

An exempt Informal Cabinet report of the Head of Leisure and Culture was considered for pre-decision scrutiny (exempt item 7b on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Lead Member for Community Support and Equalities, the Head of Leisure and Culture and the Leisure Contract and Business Manager assisted with the consideration of this item. A summary of the Commission’s discussion on this matter is provided in the exempt minute (Scrutiny Commission Minute 87E. 2021/22).