Agenda item

Fit for the Future (report published on 3.3.26) 

Cabinet received a report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to request Cabinet consider the recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding Fit for the Future.  Councillor Gawith, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was in attendance to present the report.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s preferred option is Option 1 – to agree to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation.

Officer comments : It is suggested that the project chosen for further review by O&SC is one which is now either in the business as usual phase, with some benefits still to be realised or is approaching completion, in order that the committee can see the measurable outputs. Officers will be able to suggest a number of projects that fulfil the above criteria.

Councillor Gawith responded to a number of questions before Councillor Caroline Jackson proposed, seconded by Councillor Maddocks:-

“That the recommendations as set out in the report, be approved.”

Following the debate the Chair agreed to a request for the recommendations to be voted on individually.

Councillors then voted on recommendation (1) which was agreed unanimously.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)   That the Fit For the Future (FftF) programme continues to encourage both modernising and innovative practices and develops a framework of measurable outputs to enable successful monitoring.

Councillors then voted on recommendation (2) which was carried.

Resolved:

(3 Members (Councillors Bannon, Caroline Jackson and Maddocks ) voted in favour, 1 Member (Councillor Hamilton-Cox) voted against and 3 Members  (Councillors Hart, Riches and Tyldesley) abstained.)

(2)   That members recognise the workload and pressure that is already placed on officers so consideration be given as to how one of the current projects could be aligned to demonstrate these measurable outputs. The Committee would be happy to work with officers on a task or working group to see how this can be achieved. The Committee would be happy to select a project with the officers.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive

Reasons for making the decision:

Projects did not fit neatly into boxes as some provided efficiencies and savings and others didn’t.  It was necessary to be clear about the different objectives for different projects and Cabinet in supporting Overview & Scrutiny’s request were hopeful that a suitable project would be selected.

The Fit for the Future Programme delivers on a number of Council Ambitions, namely:

• 1.5 Reduced Waste

• 1.6 Low Carbon and Active Transport

• 2.1 Social Use of Resources

• 2.4 Investment and Regeneration

• 3.3 Access to Culture and Leisure

• 3.4 Community Engagement

• 3.5 Reduced Inequality and promote wellbeing

• 4.1 Value for Money

• 4.3 Investing in Our Skill and Facilities

• 4.5 Innovative Public Services