Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 9th October 2023.

The minutes of the meeting of the Commission held 9th October 2023 were approved.

For information, disclosable pecuniary interests and registrable interests relate to entries that are included, or should be included, on a councillor’s register of interests. Non-registrable interests relate to any other matters.

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 16th November 2023.

A Cabinet report of the Director of Housing and Wellbeing to seek Cabinet approval for the updated Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan 2023-2053 and Capacity Review.

Councillor N Taylor arrived at the meeting at 6:09pm.

A Cabinet report of the Director of Housing and Wellbeing to seek Cabinet approval for the updated Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan 2023-2053 and Capacity Review, was submitted (item 7a on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Lead Member for Housing and Wellbeing (and the Deputy Leader of the Council) and the Director of Housing and Wellbeing assisted with the consideration of this item. The following summarises the discussion:

      i.        The Director of Housing and Wellbeing explained some of the information contained within the graphs included in the report.

    ii.        The HRA Business Plan and Capacity Update programme would vary in expenditure over the course of the 30 year period. This was related to the Asset Management Strategy which required updates to properties at a specific time. Updates to properties were required sooner than the report suggested due to the desire to maintain the ‘Charnwood Standard’. There was an action in the Asset Management Strategy to review the position in respect of the Charnwood Standard as it may be components were being replaced before the end of their life cycle. Decent homes guidance was being updated and that may have an impact on this approach.

   iii.        The Director of Housing and Wellbeing agreed to provide information on the intended pattern of borrowing and review processes associated with this, follow the meeting. 

Post meeting note: Whilst loans could be taken out with banks etc, the primary source of lending for Councils was the PWLB – the public loans work board. This was part of the government’s Treasury. The current debt portfolio of £79m was all with the PWLB. Interest was paid twice a year, and the loans range from £1m to £5m and the repayment duration was spread over a long period so not all loan principal was repayable in one go. The decision making on debts was part of the treasury management service which was run within the Finance department at Charnwood. The decision to borrow money was dependent on the levels of existing and forecasted reserves, together with interest rate considerations. The current rates were all fixed interest amounts, although variable rates may be possible too. PWLB issue daily updates to their interest rates. The current policy was to repay the loans when they are due – the first of these was £1m in the next financial year. Providing the council could prove it could afford the loan, there was no longer a cap on the amount of debt the HRA can borrow.

   iv.        The borrowing forecast outlined in the report was relatively up to date, although it was difficult to predict future interest rates, which would affect borrowing  capacity. It was anticipated that an annual review of the HRA Business Plan and Capacity Update would be undertaken to account for inflationary changes and because there were several current budget pressures. The existing level of borrowing of the Council was usual across many other Local Authorities.

    v.        The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

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, was submitted (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

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

A report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources to consider updates on the work of scrutiny panels.

A report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources to consider updates on the work of scrutiny panels, was submitted (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

The Director of Housing and Wellbeing, the Democratic Services Manager and the Democratic Services Officer assisted with the consideration of this item. The following summarises the discussion:

      i.        The Democratic Services Manager was due to meet with the appointed Chair of the Housing Needs Scrutiny Panel to produce a scoping document for the panel. It was anticipated that the panel would commence in February 2024.

    ii.        The Director of Housing and Wellbeing informed the Scrutiny Commission that a Garage Strategy was in development and this could be scrutinised at the appropriate time through the pre-decision scrutiny process. Following this information, the Scrutiny Commission agreed not to progress with a scrutiny panel on Council assets.

   iii.        The Director of Housing and Wellbeing suggested that a briefing note be provided for the Scrutiny Commission detailing the current work being undertaken in relation to dementia friendliness and loneliness. This was considered to be a more appropriate approach than a member development session.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Scrutiny Commission reviewed the progression of scrutiny Panels.

2.    That the Council Assets and Garages Scrutiny Panel suggestion be removed from the list of Scrutiny Panels.

3.    That a briefing paper be prepared covering the work undertaken by the Council in relation to community care, dementia friendliness and loneliness, as opposed to a member development session.

Reasons

1-3. To ensure timely and effective scrutiny of the matter/subject.

2.         To avoid duplication of work.

3.         To ensure information is provided in the most appropriate way.

A report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources enabling the Commission to review and agree the scrutiny work programme.

A report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources enabling the Commission to review and agree the scrutiny work programme, was submitted (item 10 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

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 Head of Governance and Human Resources 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 Scrutiny Commission are scheduled as follows;

11th December 2023

8th January 2024

5th February 2024

A report of the Head of Governance and Human Resources to review its own work programme, including considering the list of forthcoming Executive Key Decisions in order to schedule items for pre-decision scrutiny, was submitted (item 11 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

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

The Scrutiny Commission added the following items to their work programme;

·         Pre-decision scrutiny - Corporate Strategy 2024-2028 (January 2024)

·         Pre-decision scrutiny – Declassification of Properties Designed for Allocation to People Aged Over 45 Years (January 2024)

·         Pre-decision scrutiny – Housing Strategy (February 2024)

·         Pre-decision scrutiny – Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Reduction Strategy (March 2024)

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 the following items be added to the Scrutiny Commission’s work programme for pre-decision scrutiny:

·           Pre-decision scrutiny - Corporate Strategy 2024-2028 (January 2024)

·           Pre-decision scrutiny – Declassification of Properties Designed for Allocation to People Aged Over 45 Years (January 2024)

·           Pre-decision scrutiny – Housing Strategy (February 2024)

·           Pre-decision scrutiny – Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Reduction Strategy (March 2024)

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.