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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Walton Suite, Guildhall, Winchester

Contact: Claire Buchanan, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Tel: 01962 848 438 Email: cbuchanan@winchester.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interests

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.

 

Minutes:

Councillors Hiscock and Tod declared non pecuniary interests in relation to report SC011, due to their role as County Councillors.

 

Councillor Griffiths declared a non pecuniary interest in respect of report SC011 due to being a temporary employee of Boomtown Festival Ltd.

 

Councillor Gottlieb declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to report SC011 in respect of St Clements Surgery. However, he stated that unless specific reference raised during the consideration of this report, he would remain in the room for discussions thereon. In addition, Councillor Gottlieb also declared a non pecuniary interest on this report, due to his wife’s involvement in the arrangement of the Winchester Heritage Open Days as referenced in the report.

2.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chairperson announced that a briefing had been arranged for Members and Deputies of the Scrutiny Committee to be hosted by the Centre for Public Scrutiny on Tuesday, 8 October 2018 at 6pm to 8pm in the Walton Suite Guildhall. The briefing would explore the work of the Scrutiny Committee and would also support development of a thematic approach moving forward. Reference was made to the previous discussions at Committee in respect of health being an area to review and the Chairperson advised that she continue to lead on this item, as previously agreed, and that NHS health review be added to the work programme for follow up subsequent to the briefing.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 150 KB

Minutes of the additional meeting held on 14 August 2019 (less exempt minute).

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

            That the minutes of the additional meeting held on 14 August 2019 (less exempt minute) be approved and adopted.

 

 

4.

To note the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2019/20 and the Forward Plan for October 2019 pdf icon PDF 278 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2019/20 and the Forward Plan for October 2019 be noted.

 

5.

Public Participation

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

Minutes:

No comments or questions were made during public participation.

 

6.

Q1 Financial and Performance Monitoring Report (SC011) pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

Councillor Thompson introduced the Report which summarised the Council’s performance and financial position during the first quarter of 2019/20 as at 30 June 2019.

 

The report gave updates against significant  projects, the Council Strategy outcomes and key performance measures. A financial summary set out the detail of the General Fund revenue and capital budgets as well as the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). It was reported that a draft of the new Council Strategy was expected to be brought to the next meeting of the Committee on 27 November 2019 for consideration as part of the wider consultation and engagement on the new priorities, prior to adoption by Council in January 2020.

 

Members raised a number of detailed questions and sought clarification in a number of areas which were responded to by the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Risk and the officers accordingly, these included:

 

·         The Guildhall – In respect of the target to achieve savings, the Leader clarified the Guildhall had been running at a loss over a number of years and that changes were currently being progressed in respect of the café arrangements. The Chief Executive stated that this opportunity was out to market via Savills for expressions of interests to be submitted for the running of the café as a standalone option. A report was expected at the future Cabinet. The Committee expressed concern regarding the current building maintenance costs for the Guildhall and queried if this should be accounted as part of the Guildhall accounts.

 

·         Partnered Home Purchase Scheme –  In response to questions regarding the extension of the scheme to ten properties from the pilot of seven properties, the Strategic Director: Services (Interim) advised that this would be incorporated within the new Council Strategy which would given early discussion by the Business and Housing Policy Committee at its meeting on 7 October 2019.

 

·         Comparison of Quarterly Reports – It was noted that due to the report being for quarter one, the quarter two report due for consideration by the Committee on 27 November 2019 would include figures for comparison purposes.

 

·         Digitalisation of Council Services – The Committee requested an update on the financial efficiency savings that would be achieved by adopting a digital approach.  An update was given on the progress of making all services available online by the end of 2019.

           

·         Concessions at Car Parks – The Committee sought clarification on the consultation process in respect of offering concessions in the Council’s car parks. In response, the Chief Executive stated that proposals to offer potentially car washing or coffee stalls were being considered but it was emphasised that the viability of this option would need to be carefully assessed and tested. 

 

·         Replacement Surgery – Councillor Cutler stated that there were no specific delays with the replacement doctor’s surgery project and that a timetable to bring this project forward would be circulated to the Committee in due course.

 

Car Parking Income – It was reported that there had been a significant increase in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Annual Report: Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman 2018/19 (SC010) pdf icon PDF 213 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In summary, matters were raised regarding the pattern and trends of complaints and how the level of compensation was calculated when a case was upheld by the Ombudsman.

 

                        RESOLVED:

 

That the Report be noted.

 

8.

EXEMPT BUSINESS

i)          To pass a resolution that the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100 (I) and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

1.         That in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

2.         That the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100I and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

 

 

Minute

Number

Item

 

Description of

Exempt Information

 

9

 

 

 

Exempt Minute of the additional meeting held on 14 August 2019

 

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Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). (Para 3 Schedule 12A refers)

 

Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings. (Para 5 Schedule 12A refers)

 

 

9.

Exempt Minute of the additional meeting of The Scrutiny Committee held on 14 August 2019 (Exempt Minute)

Minutes:

EXEMPT MINUTE

 

                        RESOLVED:

 

That the exempt minute of the additional meeting held on 14 August 2019 be approved and adopted.

 

 

 

Registering to speak at meetings of the council:

The information below relates to the majority of meetings of the council but please note that different rules do apply for registering to speak at meetings of Full Council, Licensing Sub Committees, Planning Committees, Open Forums, and the Standards Hearing and Human Resources Sub Committees and the Appointments Panel. Further information can be obtained using the contact details above.

Members of the public may speak at this meeting, provided they have registered to speak three working days in advance. Please contact Democratic Services via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details - which can also be found on the individual meeting agenda front sheets.

 

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