Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Q Abel (substituted for by Councillor I Macfarlane), M Hunter (substituted for by Councillor H Faddes), A Moran (substituted for by Councillor D Edwardes) and J Saunders (substituted for by Councillor M Sewart).

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2021.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 January 2021, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of a party whip.

There were no members of the public present who wished to speak.

To receive an update on the work of the ASDV Shareholder Committee.

The committee considered a report outlining the work undertaken by the ASDV Shareholder Committee to provide oversight of the ASDVs and scrutinise their business performance.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         what the council has done to enhance the leadership capacity amongst its ASDVs;

·         what the potential financial implications would be if the number of leadership positions within ASDVs was increased;

·         concern about press reports of other local authorities increasing the cost of funerals above rates of inflation, and

·         how this council’s rates and charges for funerals compared to other local authorities both regionally and nationally.

RESOLVED –

1          That the committee notes the processes in place to provide oversight of the ASDVs under the remit of the ASDV Shareholder Committee, and that observations and recommendations have been made to the Deputy Leader by the ASDV Shareholder Committee.

2          That the Deputy Leader be advised that the committee would recommend that, in light of recent events such as Covid-19, the council does not increase the prices of funerals in the borough for a period of six months, to allow enough time for the appropriate incoming service committee to undertake a more detailed review of market analyses before determining any price changes.

3          That the Scrutiny Officer provides the Deputy Leader with a summary of its comments, concerns and feedback on this report, in addition to its substantive recommendation.

To consider the council’s Forward Plan of key decisions.

Consideration was given to the council’s Forward Plan of key decisions.

RESOLVED –

That the Forward Plan be noted.

To review the committee work programme.

The committee considered its work programme and the items of business scheduled for its final meeting on 8 April 2021. The Chairman advised that, in addition to the items on the work programme, two further items of business had been added to the agenda on 8 April 2021.

RESOLVED –

That the work programme, and revised agenda for the committee’s next meeting on 8 April 2021, be agreed.

The reports relating to the remaining items on the agenda have been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

RESOLVED –

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item pursuant to Section 100(a)4 of the Local Government Act 1972, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To consider the report.

The committee deferred this matter to be considered at its next meeting on 8 April 2021.