Issue - meetings

(Report Ref: SC050)

RECOMMENDATIONS:

That the Scrutiny Committee:

1.       Notes that the Performance Panel met on the 14 June  2021 in order to scrutinise the attached report, CAB3297 and its associated appendices and that the minutes of the panel’s meeting are included at appendix 5.

2.       Notes that at the meeting of the performance panel, no items of further work were requested to be undertaken by the performance panel or referred to the Scrutiny Committee.

3.       Raises with the Leader or relevant Cabinet member any issues arising from the information in this report, ref CAB3297, which is being presented to Cabinet on the 21 July 2021 and considers whether there are any items of significance to be drawn to the attention of Cabinet.

Report Reference SC050

Report Reference CAB3297

The Senior Policy and Programme Manager introduced the report and advised that the panel had met on 14 June 2021 to scrutinise the cabinet report, ref CAB3297. Mr Howson drew the committee’s attention to the record of questions, associated action points and updates.

RESOLVED:

 The scrutiny committee:

 1.    Noted that the performance panel met on 14 June 2021 to scrutinise the report, CAB3297 and its associated appendices.

 2.    Noted that at the meeting of the performance panel, no items of further work were requested to be undertaken by the performance panel or referred to the scrutiny committee.

That the progress achieved during Q4 of 2019/20 be noted and the contents of the report CAB3246 be endorsed.

Councillor Tod introduced the report which was in a new format for performance reporting and had previously been considered by the Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 2 July 2020.  He welcomed the Scrutiny Committee’s proposal to set up a separate panel to scrutinise the monitoring information in greater detail.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Horrill and Brook addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Horrill

Believed there was an ongoing issue regarding the requirement for adequate time to examine the extensive data provided.  Requested that more relevant and beneficial housing indicators be introduced.  Queried the progress on the Guildhall and transfer of ownership of the former 1871 café.  Highlighted the significant investment to date in the Station Approach site and suggested that planning permission should be realised to add value.  In general, requested that progress on various other development sites not be unduly delayed.

Councillor Brook

Made a number of general comments regarding the presentation of the performance figures and in particular, the lack of targets and meaningful comparisons, for example with other local authorities.

Cabinet Members responded to the comments and queries outlined above, including welcoming the opportunity for Scrutiny Members to undertake more detailed monitoring of the figures.  An update on the Guildhall was provided and whilst the significant investment in Station Approach was acknowledged, it was believed to be prudent to pause the project given the current economic uncertainty due to the Covid-19.

Cabinet agreed the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the report.

RESOLVED:

That the progress achieved during Q4 of 2019/20 be noted and the contents of the report be endorsed.