Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 7th March 2022.

The minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 7th March 2022 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 Cabinet agenda for the Commission to consider.

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

The following items have been identified for pre-decision scrutiny from the Cabinet agenda for 7th April 2022:

A Cabinet report of the Strategic Director: Environmental and Corporate Services to propose the Council’s Corporate Delivery Plan for 2022-23.

A Cabinet report of the Strategic Director: Environmental and Corporate Services to propose the Council’s Corporate Delivery Plan for 2022-23 (item 7a on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive and the Organisational Change Officer assisted with the consideration of this item. The following summarises the discussion:

       i.        It was highlighted that the newly established Hamilton Lea parish could be more integrated into the council’s work. Members felt that the parish could have a stronger identity within the borough.

      ii.        The Council would support the independent Inspector undertaking the Local Plan examination by enabling open sessions and providing the information and evidence required. It was acknowledged that the word ‘service’ on page 26 of the agenda could be replaced with the word ‘support’ to clarify the actions of the council.

     iii.        The Hope Bell project had commenced and was currently at the consultation and design stage. A significant amount of work remained and it was anticipated that the project would be completed within the next 13-14 months. 

    iv.        The council had introduced Place Indicators which were separate from Key Performance Indicators. The purpose of the Place Indicators was to inform the context in which the council operated in order to gain insight, and to facilitate future planning and service delivery. Key Performance Indicators remained in place.

      v.        The recommendation to give delegated authority to the Chief Executive  in consultation with the Leader to make amendments to the Corporate Delivery Plan would involve minor changes. Any significant changes would need to be agreed by the Cabinet. It was suggested that the word ‘minor’ be inserted into the recommendation in the report.

    vi.        It was unlikely that further reductions in funding or income over the lifetime of the Corporate Delivery Plan may result in objectives not being delivered and impacting on customers. This was because the council’s government funding was secure for the duration of the Corporate Delivery Plan 2022-23.

   vii.        The KIs 13-15 outlined in Appendix 2 to the report were statutory, with an annual target only.

  viii.        The Council was working closely with partner organisations to address anti-social behaviour. Overcoming issues linked to anti-social behaviour was challenging and the partnership was bound by legal frameworks.

    ix.        The council was working with the Football Foundation to deliver a football infrastructure across the borough. This would include assessing the needs and requirements in different areas to provide pitches. The facilities would not be restricted to specific demographic groups. It was agreed that more information on this could be provided to members following the meeting.

      x.        The Bedford Square Gateway Project was being delivered through a revised timetable following the expansion of the project.

    xi.        The council was working to manage air quality in the borough and would review air quality targets in line with the Environment Act 2021. 

   xii.        The targets associated with the collection of litter on large roads was within the relevant Service Delivery Plan and contract with the operator.

  xiii.        The council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 121.

A report of the Cabinet setting out its responses to recommendations of the Committee on pre-decision scrutiny items.

A report of the Cabinet was considered setting out its responses to the recommendations of the Commission on pre-decision scrutiny items (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).    

RESOLVED that the Cabinet’s responses to the Commission’s recommendations be noted.

Reason

The Commission was satisfied that it added value where appropriate and welcomed the Cabinet’s consideration of the Commission’s views and recommendations as part of its decision making process.

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).

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Commission reviewed the progression of scrutiny panels.

Reason

To ensure timely and effective scrutiny of the matter and subject.

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).

RESOLVED

1.    That the Scrutiny Commission review the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Work Programme and make any amendments the Commission feel necessary.

2.    That the Scrutiny Commission agree that the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Work Programme be updated in accordance with the decisions taken during consideration of this item and any further decisions taken during this meeting.

Reasons

1&2   To ensure timely and effective scrutiny of the matter/subject.

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

A report of the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee to provide further details to the Commission regarding the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of Key Performance Indicator KI 11 - % rent loss from void properties prior to requesting the Commission schedules the topic for further scrutiny.

A report of the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee to provide further details to the Commission regarding the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of Key Performance Indicator KI 11 - % rent loss from void properties prior to requesting the Commission schedules the topic for further scrutiny (item 11 on the agenda files with these minutes).

The Head of strategic Support assisted with the consideration of this item.

It was highlighted that there was an error in the report on page 64 of the agenda. The report stated that the Cabinet Lead Member for Housing had attended two meetings of the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee. The Cabinet Lead Member for Housing had attended three meetings of the Committee.

The Scrutiny Commission considered various options to address the concerns of the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee. It was agreed that the most appropriate action was to request a report from the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing to detail the following information;

      i.        A break down of each void property that has been void for over 28 days, and properties in sheltered accommodation, including;

·         The reason for the property remaining void

·         The location of each property (by Ward)

·         The number of bedrooms in each property (example – 3 bedroom property in Southfields ward, void due to criminal damage)

·         A tabulated bar chart indicating the length of time the property has been void

·         An indication of the total rent lost during the time that each property has been void.

    ii.        Further information on properties which are ‘hard to let’. Reasons why they are hard to let. Is there a possibility that the council could sell any properties which are too difficult to let?

   iii.        The impact of Covid-19 on the backlog of void properties.

The Commission felt that following the receipt of this information, they would be better able to decide on the most suitable action. The options for the Commission to consider would be to create a scrutiny panel to explore the issues identified by the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee, or to progress the issue to Cabinet to consider.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Head of Strategic and Private Sector Housing provide a report to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Commission outlining the information discussed during the consideration of this item.

2.    That at the next meeting, having received the information in resolution (1), the Scrutiny Commission makes a decision on how to progress the issues identified by the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee.

Reason

1.    To enable the Commission to receive additional information to assist with the decision on how to progress the issues identified by the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee.

2.    To ensure the Scrutiny Commission progress the issues identified by the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee in the most appropriate way. 

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.

For information, further meetings of the Group are scheduled as follows:

3rd May 2022

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 12 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Head of strategic Support and the Democratic Services Officer assisted with the consideration of this item.

The Commission had agreed to add an item to the work programme as follows;

·         Key Performance Indicator KI11 - % Rent Loss from Void Properties – 3rd May 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.

3.    That an item on Key Performance Indicator KI11 - % Rent Loss from Void Properties be added to the work programme for the meeting on 3rd May 2022.

Reasons

1&3 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.