Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on 10^th November, 2015 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 10^th November 2015 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

In accordance with Section 100B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman advised there was one item of Urgent Business that he had agreed to consider regarding a consultation on Lancashire County Council’s Budget Proposals as a decision was required prior to the next meeting of the Panel.

It was reported that the County Council had published its consultation on its budget proposals. It was noted that over the next five years to 2020/21 the Council needed to make savings of £262 million on top of those agreed within previous budget processes.

The City Council was invited to offer any comments on the budget proposals by 18^th January 2016 which was before the Panel’s next meeting.

It was agreed that Members should consider making individual responses and also, if they wish to do so, forward comments to Democratic Services to be put to Council Business Committee (by email) so the City Council’s response could be submitted from those comments.

Resolved :-

That Members consider making individual responses and also, if they wish to do so, forward comments to Democratic Services to be put to Council Business Committee (by email) so the City Council’s response could be submitted from those comments.

A demonstration will be provided. 

Members were given a demonstration of the City Council’s Performance Management Information System, CorVu, that was to be rolled out for use from April 2016 in line with the 2016 – 2019 Corporate Plan.

It was agreed that, subject to implementation and available data and information, the system would be available at future Panel meetings for Cabinet Members to present corporate performance management and financial information on their portfolios and that the Panel be provided with updates on the wider implementation of the system

Resolved :-

(1)  That officers be thanked for their live demonstration of the system.

(2)  That the CorVu System be available at future Panel meetings when Cabinet Members attended to present corporate performance management and financial information on their portfolios.

(3)  That the Panel be provided with updates on the wider implementation of the system.

Report of the Chief Officer (Governance). 

The Panel considered a report detailing the Corporate Plan 2015-2018 - Half Yearly Performance which set out the progress towards the delivery of the Corporate Plan 2015-2018.

It was reported that six months into the Corporate Plan a review had been undertaken of the performance and progress towards achieving the corporate priorities and outcomes within the Plan. The review had not uncovered any major areas of concern in the progress being made but the Plan would have to be adjusted to take into account the political and financial context for 2016-2018.

Members asked a number of questions relating to the narrative set out in the report and it was felt that the new Performance Management Information System would ensure Members had more comprehensive information regarding the performance of corporate priorities set out in the Corporate Plan and whether these were on-track towards being achieved.

Members queried whether there had been a comparison of the Salt Ayre PV panels output against the original estimates set out in the Business Plan. It was agreed that this information would be provided for the Panel.

Resolved :-

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That information on the Salt Ayre PV panels output and the original estimates set out in the Business Plan be provided for the Panel.

Report of the Chief Officer (Resources).

The Financial Services Manager presented a report which provided an update on the Budget and Policy Framework 2016-2020.

Members were advised that, as the Government was yet to announce the Local Government Financial Settlement, there was little to update Members on. A briefing note would be circulated to Members once the details were known.

It was reported that the City Council was expecting reductions of £1.2 million for 2016/17 and £1.4 million for 2017/18. With regard to the City Council’s balances it was noted that a full review would need to be undertaken.

The Capital Programme had been updated to take into account slippage, ICT upgrades and corporate property repairs.

The Panel was informed that Council housing rents were to be increased by 2% but the Government had issued draft legislation that, if enacted, would undermine the Council’s current rent policy. It would mean a reduction in rents rather than the proposed increase.

Members asked a number of questions on the report.

Resolved :-

That the report be noted.

Cabinet Member with responsibility for:

·                Finance. 

·                Revenues and Benefits. 

Councillor Newman-Thompson has been invited to the meeting to discuss the financial elements of his portfolio. 

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Richard Newman-Thompson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Finance and Revenues & Benefits, to the meeting.

Councillor Newman-Thompson advised that he could not update Members on the current budgetary situation as the Government had not announced the Local Government Financial Settlement as yet. This meant Cabinet had not discussed options for the budget.

Resolved :-

That Councillor Newman-Thompson be thanked for his attendance.

Report of the Chief Officer (Governance). 

Members were requested to consider the Committee’s Work Programme.

It was reported that the item on the Work Programme – Arts Commissioning Framework had been removed from the Work Programme as Cabinet had agreed in November 2015 to continue with the existing Arts Investment Framework for the future.

The Committee considered an item that had been referred from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on mileage and the number of journeys between Lancaster and Morecambe Town Hall undertaken by officers. The Panel discussed this and agreed to request a report on work that had been undertaken on business travel plans in general and not just focusing on journeys between the two Town Halls.

With regard to the APSE report and Action Plan, arising from the review of Environmental Services, Repairs and Maintenance Service, it was agreed that this should be considered at the February 2016 meeting of the Panel and be added to the Panel’s Work Programme.

The Panel went on to discuss cases that the City Council took to court. It was suggested it would be useful for the Panel to receive a briefing note on court cases, costs, success rates and the income raised from on the spot fines.

Members referred to a request for information on the City Council’s statutory and non-statutory duties and it was agreed that this would be requested to be circulated to the Panel Members.

Resolved :-

(1)  That the Arts Commissioning Framework item be removed from the Panel’s Work Programme.

(2)  That a report be requested on work that had been undertaken on business travel plans.

(3)  That the APSE report and Action Plan, arising from the review of Environmental Services, Repairs and Maintenance Service be considered at the February 2016 meeting of the Panel.

(4)  That the Panel receive a briefing note on court cases, costs, success rates and the income raised from on the spot fines.

(5)  That information on the Council’s statutory and non-statutory duties be requested to be circulated to the Panel Members.