Agenda item

Report of Chief Officer (Governance).

The Democratic Support Officer updated members on the Panel’s work programme. Members were asked to consider whether they would like to include any further items in the work programme.

Members agreed that the following items that were not considered in the 2013/14 municipal year remain on the panel’s work programme for 2014/15:

·         Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Commissioning

·         Building Control Trading Account

·         Compliments and Complaints Half Yearly Report

Previously members had requested that Councillor Sands (Cabinet member for arts and culture) and Councillor Barry (Cabinet member for voluntary sector) be invited to attend a future meeting of the panel to discuss partnerships within their respective portfolios. The panel agreed that this request be included in the 2014/15 work programme.

It was reported that, in the previous municipal year, monthly pre-scrutiny meetings had been held between the chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the chairman of Budget and Performance Panel and the pre-scrutiny champion. Members agreed that this arrangement had benefited the scrutiny process and that Democratic Services should be requested to continue these arrangements in 2014/15. 

It was agreed that the annual stakeholders meeting be included in the work programme as set out in the report, and that the Leader of the Council be invited to present the city council’s budget proposals to the Panel. It was also agreed that a representative of Lancashire County Council be invited to present the county council’s budget proposals, and that a representative from the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, and the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner be invited to present their budget proposals to the meeting. 

The Panel were advised that the annual stakeholders meeting would be held on 27^th January 2015 in Morecambe Town Hall.

The panel agreed that the timetable for consideration of Financial Monitoring and Corporate Performance Monitoring be noted.

Following a request by a member, the Panel agreed that a report regarding the council’s new procurement strategy be requested prior to the strategy being considered by Cabinet, and that the Chief Executive be requested to arrange for the appropriate officer to attend to answer questions from members.

Resolved:

(1)        That the report be noted and that the work programme be updated accordingly. 

(2)        That relevant Cabinet members be invited to attend future meetings when their portfolio is being discussed.

(3)        That with regard to the Forthcoming Key Decision List, members put forward any financial or performance related items for pre-decision scrutiny, by the pre-decision scrutiny champion, with monthly meetings being arranged between the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Chairman of Budget and Performance Panel, and the pre-decision scrutiny champion.

(4)        That the Panel continue to monitor Service Level Agreements with voluntary, community and faith sector partners, and arts/leisure partners, with regular monitoring reports provided once the new commissioning arrangements have been agreed.

(5)        That the Leader of the Council be invited to present the Council’s budget proposals to the Panel’s annual stakeholders meeting scheduled for 27^th January 2015, and that the invitation to present budget proposals also be extended to Lancashire County Council, the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority and the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner.

(6)        That the Panel continue to consider budget variances which have been identified when considering the annual outturn reports, and that if there are significant variances in the current year relevant officers be requested to attend meetings to present additional information as requested. 

(7)        That the timetable for consideration of financial monitoring reports be noted.

(8)        That the timetable for consideration of corporate performance monitoring reports be noted. 

(9)        That the Leader of the Council be invited to attend meetings of the Panel to answer questions regarding performance monitoring reports, and that the leader be invited, along with the relevant portfolio holder, to answer questions when the Panel considers budgetary reports. 

(10)      That a report regarding the council’s new Procurement Strategy be requested prior to the strategy being considered by Cabinet, and that the Chief Executive be requested to arrange for the appropriate officer to attend.