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Contact: Mark Nedderman Senior Scrutiny Officer
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: There were no apologies for absence |
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Minutes of Previous meeting To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2015
Minutes: Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2015
RESOLVED
That subject to the amendment of several typographical errors, the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
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Declarations of Interest To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest |
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Declaration of Party Whip To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda. Minutes: There were no whipping declarations |
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Public Speaking Time/Open Session A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.
Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.
Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered. Minutes: There were no members of the public present wishing to speak |
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2015/16 First Quarter Review of Performance To give consideration to the Cabinet report on the first quarter review of performance Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received the report setting out the Councils financial and non financial performance at the first quarter stage of 2015/16 and highlighted the latest progress towards achieving the Councils Residents First Outcomes as described in the Councils three year plan 2013 to 2016. Permanent savings of £5M in management costs had been achieved from 2013/14 to 2014/15.
Following the first quarter review the Council’s reserves strategy remained effective, with a modest overspend of £0.9m being forecast. This represents a variance of only 0.4% against the net budget of £246.6m. This is the nearest forecast position to budget ever reported for the Council at this stage in the financial year, and as in previous years work is underway to achieve a balanced position by the end of the financial year. The first quarter review showed how the Council was continuing to build on the positions achieved in the last two years, which demonstrated that the overall financial health, performance, resilience and value for money at Cheshire East Council was strong despite taking £70m out of its cost base since 2011, and freezing Council Tax for the fifth consecutive year. Annex 1 to the report set out further details of how the Council was performing in 2015-16, including a summary of performance, an update on the Council’s overall financial position and a summary of key issues relating to the Council’s workforce development plan.
The Finance and Assets Portfolio Holder introduced the report and invited questions from members of the committee.
With regard to paragraph 2.3 of the report, it was noted that the establishment of a new earmarked reserve for Children’s Innovation Hub by a transfer of £0.5m from general balances would help deal with the causes rather than the symptoms of troubled families.
The Council would need to wait for the Autumn budget statement before a decision could be made as to whether or not there would be a council tax freeze in 2016/17, as there may not be an offer of a freeze grant.
Members were pleased to have received the report so far ahead of Cabinet and it was noted that initial engagement with the Committee on the budget would commence on 5 November 2015, there would also be an all Member briefing in December 2015.
RESOLVED
1. That the report be supported 2. That the initial budget report be received on 5 November 2015 |
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Work Programme Progress Report To give consideration to the work programme Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee reviewed its work programme.
Further to the last meeting of the Committee, the Chairman suggested that after further consideration the review of indiscriminate parking around schools should be managed by this Committee. However any Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees should be invited to sit on that Group.
Katie Small informed the Committee that the item relating to digital customer services would now be considered in January 2016.
Members requested to received an update on the Local Pan in October 2015.
RESOLVED
1. That the Scrutiny Officer email all Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees requesting interest to sit on the parking around schools task and finish group. 2. That the digital customer services item be considered in January 2016. 3. That an update on the local plan be considered in October 2015. |
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To give consideration to the areas of the forward plan which fall within the remit of the Committee. Minutes: The Committee reviewed the forward plan.
RESOLVED
That the forward plan be received |