Agenda and minutes

Councillor H Wells-Bradshaw.

Councillor Paul Bates – Finance and Communications Portfolio Holder

Councillor Janet Clowes – Adult Care and Integration Portfolio Holder

Councillor Paul Findlow – Corporate Policy and Legal Services

Councillor Jos Saunders – Children and Families

Councillor Don Stockton – Regeneration Portfolio Holder

Jan Willis - Director of Finance and Procurement

Mark Palethorpe - Executive Director of People

Peter Bates - Chief Operating Officer

Linda Couchman - Interim Director of Adult Social Care and Health

Frank Jordan - Executive Director - Place

Jacky Forster - Director of Education and 14-19 Skills

Alex Thompson - Head of Finance & Performance

Dominic Oakeshott - Head of Professional Services

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2017.

RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2017 be confirmed as an accurate 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 the existence of a party whip.

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

To consider a report of the Director of Finance and Procurement.

The Committee considered a report on the Mid-Year Review of Performance for 2017/18.

The report outlined the budgetary pressures facing the Council and the mitigation measures used to address forecast overspends. The report also highlighted examples of good performance in Quarter 2.

Annex 1 to the report set out details of how the Council was performing in 2017/18 and was structured into three sections:

Section 1 Summary of Council Performance

Section 2 Financial Stability.

Section 3 Workforce Development

RESOLVED

(a)          That the report be received;

(b)          That the work already carried out by the Council to manage the number of cared for children in the borough be commended, and Cabinet be requested to explore additional measures to reduce the number of children in care;

(c)          That the appreciation of the committee be placed on record for the efforts of all staff within each Directorate in managing the budget in challenging times.

To Consider a report of the Director of Finance and Procurement.

The Committee a draft pre budget consultation document prepared by the Director of Finance and Procurement, which focussed on the Council’s six outcomes. The document set out in detail the proposed changes in each of these areas and identified where the Council was making changes to address the potential financial cash deficit whilst still protecting front line services where possible and meeting local needs.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be received;

(b)  That the thanks of the Committee be extended to all those involved in the production of the report.

To consider a report of the Joint Working Group.

The Committee considered a report of then Best4Business Joint Scrutiny Working Group which met on the 9 October at Winsford.  At that meeting, the Working Group had confirmed that it was content for the two Councils to proceed with implementation stage of the project to replace the Oracle HR and Finance system.  The Working Group had also recommended that it should continue to be involved at key milestones in the project.

RESOLVED – That the report be received.

(a)  To consider the committee’s work programme;

(b)  To consider adding an item to the work programme to set up a task and finish group to design a process for allocating New Homes Bonus.

The Committee reviewed its work programme.

RESOLVED –

(a)          That the work programme be noted;

(b)          That an update on the fly tipping task and finish group be submitted to the 1 February 2018 meeting and in the meantime, arrangements be put in place to set up a monitoring group to oversee the new arrangements in Crewe.

(c)          That a new item be added to work programme to advise Cabinet on arrangements for the New Home Bonus  and that this be achieved by undertaking a spotlight review as soon as possible.

To note the current forward plan, identify any new items, and to determine whether any further examination of new issues is appropriate.

RESOLVED- That the Forward Plan be received and noted.