Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on 14^th February 2024. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 14^th February 2024 were approved as a correct record. 

The Chair advised that there were no items of 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. 

No declarations were made at this point. 

Report of the Chief Officer Resources. 

The Panel received a report from the Chief Officer Resources to provide members with an update on financial performance during the first three quarters of 2023/24 (April – December 2023). 

The Cabinet report had been provided for commenting and noting, no options had been provided.

Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Finance and Resources presented the report, both he and the Chief Finance Officer then answered questions from Members of the Panel. 

The main areas discussed, and questions raised by the Panel were in relation to one-off budget items, acquisition of commercial property including the former Reebok building/Gateway Building, Penny Street site, Hillmore Way, The Mellishaw Site, Council property surveys, Waste Collection being over budget, sickness absence and pay pressures, transport costs, Building Control, building maintenance backlog Burrow Beck project, the former Skerton School site and SALC costs.

Members of the Panel asked at some point for an update regarding the acquisitions of commercial property, in particular the on-going costs to the City Council and yields of commercial property that have been purchased by the City Council. 

The Chair, on behalf of the Panel, thanked Councillor Hamilton-Cox and the Chief Finance Officer for the Quarterly report and attendance throughout the Municipal Year. 

Resolved:-

That the report be noted. 

Whilst this report is public, Appendix B is exempt, and notice is hereby given that the meeting is likely to move into private session if it is necessary to refer to the exempt appendix.

Report of the Chief Executive. 

The Panel received a report from the Chief Executive to provide an update on the authority’s progress in updating the Strategic Risk Register.

The report contained appendices detailing changes to the Council’s Strategic Risk Register since November 2023. The inclusion of links to the Council Plan Strategic Priorities within the Risk Register was welcomed.

As the report was for noting no options were provided. 

Members were informed that whilst this report was public, Appendix B was exempt, and notice is hereby given that the meeting is likely to move into private session if it is necessary to refer to the exempt appendix.

The Chief Finance Officer answered questions raised by the Panel at the meeting. 

Members then advised that they wished to consider the content within Appendix B that was recommended to be considered in the exempt part of the meeting. 

It was moved by Councillor Sue Penney, seconded by Councillor Keith Budden and unanimously resolved:-

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting to enable the Panel to consider Appendix B to the report, on the grounds that could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act. 

Members of the Panel then considered the Appendix. 

After considering the exempt Appendix the meeting continued in public. 

The Chair, on behalf of the Panel, thanked Officers for the report and detailed appendices provided for Members to consider. 

Resolved:-

That the updated Strategic Risk Register, as shown in Appendix A and B to the report, be noted.

The Chair thanked all Members of the Panel and Officers for their support over the last Municipal Year.