Agenda item

Joint report of Chief Officers Finance and Governance. 

The Panel was provided with a report that contained updates for consideration.  Members were requested to:

·            note the existing Work Programme attached at Appendix A. 

·            consider at Appendix B the items that have been raised and referred to the Panel by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

Following discussions at the meeting, including with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property and the Chief Officer – Resources, the Panel agreed to hold an additional meeting on Tuesday, 3^rd February 2026, commencing at 6.00pm in Morecambe Town Hall.  The meeting arranged to hold the Budget and Policy Framework General Fund Revenue Budget – Public Consultation.  It was noted that the timetabled meetings already arranged in January and February 2026 would still be held. 

Referring to the Appendix to the report, it was agreed that the Panel requests and considers a list of all current Service Level Agreements (SLAs) including details of their aims, objectives and targets, performance reports (actual vs. target), risk level and management information to enable the Panel to scrutinise and provide assurance that the SLAs are delivering their expected outcomes.  This to enable a selection to be made for further scrutiny if required. 

With regard to the Council’s partnerships, it was requested that a list of major partnerships be provided, with strategic objectives and KPIs, latest performance data and risk level and management information to enable the Panel to scrutinise and provide assurance that the partnerships are delivering their expected outcomes.  This to enable a selection to be made for further scrutiny if required. 

The Panel then considered a referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, from its meeting on 19^th November 2025, regarding the outstanding work of the former Property Asset Working Group. Members discussed asset management and value for money.  The Panel requested to be provided with the current Asset Management Plan, sub-sets on disposals and acquisitions, an update on progress and financial outcomes and risk level and management information to enable the Panel to scrutinise and provide assurance that the Asset Management Plan is delivering its expected outcomes.  To enable a selection to be made for further scrutiny if required. 

The requests to be submitted to the Chief Executive in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. 

The Panel was also informed that, at the last meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Members of the Committee discussed a Fit for the Future update and agreed that a Workshop should be arranged as soon as possible for all Scrutiny Members and that all other Councillors be invited to attend. This has been arranged to be held on Wednesday 14th January 2026 commencing at 5.00pm, prior to the meeting of Budget and Performance Panel. This will be hybrid. 

The Panel agreed as follows. 

Resolved:

(1)          That the report be noted and the updates and additional items, set out above, be agreed and the requests be put forward to the Chief Executive in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. 

(2)        That an additional meeting of the Panel be arranged on Tuesday, 3^rd February 2026 commencing at 6.00pm in Morecambe Town Hall to hold the Budget and Policy Framework General Fund Revenue Budget – Public Consultation.