Agenda and draft minutes

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting held on 5^th February 2025. 

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 5^th February were signed by the Chair as a correct record.

There was no Urgent Business.

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Councillors are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Councillors are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

There were no Declarations of Interest.

Report of the Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections.  

Councillor Sally Maddocks, the Cabinet for Corporate Services, has been invited to attend for this item. 

The Chair advised the Committee that Councillor Sally Maddocks, the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Corporate Services had offered her apologies for the meeting. The Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections offered to answer any questions on the report.

The Committee discussed the draft Protocol and were in agreement that the agenda item should be deferred to a future meeting to allow Councillor Maddocks to be present. 

It was further agreed to request officers to consider a 12 month plan of forthcoming projects which could be undertaken using Service Business Plans.

Resolved :-

(1)   That consideration of the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Protocol be deferred to a future meeting to allow Councillor Maddocks to be present.

(2)   That officers consider the use of Service Business Plans to produce a 12 month plan of forthcoming projects.

The List of Forthcoming Key Decisions can be viewed here

The Forthcoming Key Decisions were noted.

Report of Chief Officer – Governance. 

The Committee was provided with updates to the Work Programme.

It was reported that the Property Asset Working Group had requested officers to provide the likely market value of buildings, cost to repair buildings and the current usage of buildings in relation to the Stock Condition Survey. The Committee was requested to make this request on behalf of the Working Group. The Committee was requested to make this request on behalf of the Working Group.  There was a discussion at the meeting as to whether this issue should be considered by the Budget and Performance Panel or this Committee with the view of Members being that it should remain with this Committee as Members wished to consider the wider policy regarding asset management. 

Members were advised that at the May meeting health issues would be considered, with obesity being one issue identified for consideration. It was requested that information regarding strategies for communities in deprivation which was linked to obesity and nutrition be provided at the meeting.  It was further suggested that the relevant Cabinet Member be invited to attend the meeting.

With regard to the LGA Peer Challenge Review, it was agreed to invite the Leader of the Council and relevant Cabinet Member to the meeting. It was also suggested that, when the Review is considered, that ways to develop and improve scrutiny be discussed including looking at other councils seen as providing best practice, with possible site visits to those councils and also ways to embed scrutiny into the Council’s culture. 

Resolved :-

(1)   That the updates be noted.

(2)   That on behalf of the Property Asset Working Group, the Committee request officers to provide the likely market value of buildings, cost to repair buildings and the current usage of buildings in relation to the Stock Condition Survey to the Working Group.