Agenda and minutes

To note the names of apologies given and deputy members who are attending the meeting in place of appointed members.

Apologies for the meeting were noted as above.

To receive any disclosure of interests from Members and Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note:  Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests, personal and/or prejudicial interests in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Code of Conduct.      

If you require advice, please contact the appropriate Democratic Services Officer, prior to the meeting.

Councillor Lumby declared a non-pecuniary interest concerning items upon the agenda that may be related to his role as a County Councillor.

The Chairperson advised that at the last meeting in July the committee agreed to adjourn and carry over its remaining business to either a new date in August or to this meeting. It hadn’t been possible to find a suitable date in August, so the outstanding agenda items had been carried over to this meeting.

That the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on the 19^th July 2021 be approved and adopted.

To receive and note questions asked and statements made from members of the public on matters which fall within the remit of the Committee.

Members of the public and visiting councillors may speak at Scrutiny, provided they have registered to speak three working days in advance. Please contact Democratic Services by 5pm on 3^rd September 2021 via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details.

There were no comments or questions made during public participation, but members were reminded that Mr David Light, Chair of Tenants and Council Together (TACT) had spoken at the previous meeting regarding the agenda item “Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Outturn 20/21” which had been adjourned to this meeting. Mr Botham confirmed that following the previous meeting he had spoken with Mr Light concerning the points that he had raised.

(Report Ref SC048)

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that scrutiny committee comment on the proposals within the attached cabinet report, ref CAB3309 which is to be considered by cabinet at its meeting on the 21 July 2021.

Scrutiny report reference: SC048

Cabinet report reference: CAB3309

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Service Quality and the Strategic Director provided the committee with an overview of the contents of the report. In addition, Mr Botham brought members up to date with the current budget position and explained that the current forecasts were in line with the budget agreed in February 2021. Mr Botham also reported that he had informally met with most members of the committee recently to discuss this report and that the notes of that meeting would be included with these minutes.

The committee asked several questions concerning; bad debts, homelessness resourcing and cost comparisons, Bishops Waltham depot rent levels, the major investment reserve, electric vehicle charging points, the investment to the former Guildhall café and the charging of staffing costs for the Winchester Town account. The questions were responded to by officers, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Service Quality and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management. Mr Botham agreed to circulate the written response to the question regarding the former Guildhall Café to all committee members.

RESOLVED:

The committee agreed to the following:

·         that the comments of the committee be noted by cabinet

·         that information concerning officer costs attributable to the Winchester Town account be included in future outturn reports.

that the committee noted the recent hard work of the finance team

(Report Ref SC047)

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that scrutiny committee comment on the proposals within the attached cabinet report, ref CAB3308 which is to be considered by cabinet at its meeting on the 21 July 2021.

Scrutiny report reference: SC047

Cabinet report reference: CAB3308

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management and the Strategic Director provided the committee with an overview of the contents of the report. Mr Botham also confirmed that the report had been presented in detail to TACT where several questions had been raised and that he had informally met with most members of the committee recently to discuss this report and that the notes of that meeting would be included with these minutes.

The committee asked several questions concerning; tenant consultation during the pandemic, the use of digital surveys, overcoming issues of digital exclusion, void property trends, private rental property availability, welfare fund funding arrangements, bathroom and kitchen replacement policy, external envelope works budget and the Barton Farm extra care scheme. The questions were responded to by officers and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management.

RESOLVED:

The committee agreed to the following:

·         that the comments of the committee be noted by cabinet

·         that the committee request that the City Council continue to be a party to the discussions with CALA and Hampshire County Council regarding the extra care scheme within the Kings Barton development

that in the first instance officers consider how an assessment could be undertaken into the availability of private rented accommodation and its impact on residents.

(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.

(Report Reference SC051)

RECOMMENDATION:

1.       That the committee consider and make any necessary comment on the content of the report prior to its submission to full council. 

Report Reference SC051

The committee noted that the report represented a succinct summary of the main work it had carried out during the previous municipal year.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That Council note the Annual Scrutiny Report for 2020/21

(Report Reference: SCO45)

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.       That the Committee considers and makes any necessary comment on the content of the Report. 

Report ref SC023

The committee considered the annual monitoring report which set out the number of key decisions that came forward for a decision, which had not been included in the forward plan.

RESOLVED:

 That the report was noted.

RESOLVED:

The forward plan of key decisions for August 2021 was noted.

The attached table shows those items that officers know will be considered at future committee meetings. The Committee is asked to consider whether it wishes to add additional items to its work programme.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the work programme was noted

2.    That the work programme be amended to reflect the following:

·         an additional meeting scheduled for the 15^th November regarding Central Winchester Regeneration

·         the February 2022 meeting to receive budget papers

that officers report back on options for the committee to take forward the work item regarding mental health service provision in the district.

To undertake its review of the Q4 Performance Monitoring Report, the Performance Panel was required to meet in advance of being formally appointed by the Scrutiny committee meeting. Nominations from both political groups were sought and the following members were appointed, which this committee are asked to note.

Councillors; Cook, Craske, Ferguson, Horrill and Williams

RESOLVED:

The committee noted that the following would form the Performance Panel for 2021/22, Councillors; Cook, Craske, Ferguson, Horrill (Chairperson) and Williams.

Scrutiny Committee

9 Sep 2021 6.30 pm

24 Nov 2021 6.30 pm

1 Feb 2022 6.30 pm

10 Mar 2022 6.30 pm

Performance Panel

23 August 2021, 4.00pm

8 November, 2021, 4.00pm

24 February, 2022, 4.00pm

RESOLVED:

The committee noted the following dates:

Scrutiny Committee

9 Sep 2021 6.30pm

15 Nov 2021 6.30pm

24 Nov 2021 6.30pm

1 Feb 2022 6.30pm

10 Mar 2022 6.30pm

Performance Panel

23 August 2021, 4.00pm

8 November 2021, 4.00pm

24 February 2022, 4.00pm

Report Ref: SC052 and CAB3312

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Scrutiny Committee:

1.         Notes that the Performance Panel met on the 23 August 2021 in order to scrutinise the attached report, CAB3312 and its associated appendices and that the minutes of the panel’s meeting are included at appendix 6.

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 CAB3312, which is being presented to Cabinet on the 15 September 2021 and considers whether there are any items of significance to be drawn to the attention of Cabinet.

Report Reference SC052

Report Reference CAB3312

The Senior Policy and Programme Manager introduced the report and advised that the panel had met on 23 August 2021 to scrutinise the cabinet report, ref CAB3312. Mr Howson and the Chairperson of the Performance Panel drew the committee’s attention to the record of questions, associated action points and updates.

The committee asked several questions concerning; the biodiversity action plan (specifically reference to concerns over water quality and the health of, Swifts, House Martins, chalk streams and Crayfish), the prospect of achieving Carbon Literacy silver or gold level and the red status given to the local plan process. The questions were responded to by officers and the Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency.

RESOLVED:

 The scrutiny committee:

1.      Noted that the performance panel met on 23 August 2021 to scrutinise the report, CAB3312 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.

3.      Noted the concerns expressed regarding water quality and biodiversity as outlined above.

RESOLVED:

The forward plan of key decisions for October 2021 was noted.