Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor M Hunter.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2020, and note the appended responses from officers to questions and comments raised at the last meeting.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4 June 2020, 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.

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.

Members of the public wishing to make a statement should provide notice in writing at least three clear working days before the meeting takes place.

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

To consider a report on the work that the council has undertaken in response to the Covid-19 public health emergency, and the work being carried out to support the recovery from the pandemic.

Included alongside the reports for this item is the guidance published by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 24 August, 2020 on ‘Local government income compensation scheme for lost sales, fees and charges’.

The committee considered an update on the work the council undertook in response to the Covid-19 public health emergency, and the work that was carried out to support the recovery from the pandemic.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         the current, up-to-date rates of Covid-19 infection in Cheshire East;

·         the council’s supply and distribution of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE);

·         what progress had been made by the council to get young people into paid internship schemes;

·         whether Covid-19 had negatively impacted on the performance of early years settings, or increased the risk of closure to some settings;

·         when the £1bn catch-up fund from central government would be received and when it would be administered by the council;

·         whether lockdown and school closures had led to a financial saving on transport services, and would this be enough to help to offset some of the council’s wider financial challenges;

·         how the groups referred to in paragraph 6.1 of the report would be set up;

·         whether the current projected £28 million shortfall included collection fund losses; and

·         concern regarding the unknown long-term financial implications of Covid-19.

The committee thanked officers for enabling essential services to remain ongoing throughout lockdown, and gave thanks to all staff for working so flexibly to ensure residents and services were supported.

RESOLVED –

That the update be received and noted.

To consider a review of the Capital, Investment and Treasury Management Strategies for the 2019/20 financial year.

Consideration was given to an update on the council’s Capital, Investment and Treasury Management Strategies for the 2019/20 financial year.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         the impacts of Covid-19 to the council’s General Reserves; and

·         whether there had been any impacts on the winter service investment going forward.

RESOLVED –

That the update be received and noted.

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

The committee reviewed the council’s Forward Plan of key decisions.

RESOLVED –

1          That the Forward Plan be noted.

2          That the ‘Case Management Procurement’ item be added to the committee’s work programme at an appropriate date that allows for it to be scrutinised before the decision is taken by Cabinet.

To review the committee’s work programme.

Consideration was given the committee’s work programme.

RESOLVED –

That the Scrutiny Officer liaise with officers about when the following items could be added to the committee’s work programme;

·         an update from the (Best4Business) Joint Scrutiny Working Group;

·         an update on the proposed committee system structure and any financial implications associated with it; and

·         the ‘Case Management Procurement’ item on the Forward Plan.