Agenda and minutes

Councillor Ainsley Arnold - Housing, Planning and Regeneration Portfolio Holder

Councillor Paul Bates - Finance and Communication Portfolio Holder

Councillor Janet Clowes-Adult Social Care and Integration Portfolio Holder

Councillor Jos Saunders - Children and Families Portfolio Holder

Councillor Liz Wardlaw – Health Portfolio Holder

Kath O’Dwyer - Acting Chief Executive

Frank Jordan - Executive Director - Place

Mark Palethorpe - Acting Executive Director of People

Mark Taylor - Interim Executive Director of Corporate Services

Sara Barker - Head of Strategic HR

Dan Dickinson - Acting Director of Legal Services

Linda Couchman - Acting Strategic Director of Adult Social Care & Health

Alex Thompson - Head of Finance & Performance

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2018.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the held on 10 December 2018 be confirmed 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 interests.

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 Interim Executive Director of Corporate Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Head of Finance & Performance on the third quarter review of performance for 2018/19.

The report outlined how the Council was managing resources to provide value for money services during the 2018/19 financial year. Annex 1 to the report set out details of how the Council was performing in 2018/19.

(a)  That the report be received and noted;

(b)  That the thanks of the Committee be extended to Alex Thompson for the detailed report which was much appreciated by Members of the Committee;

(c)  That Alex Thompson, contributing officers and Portfolio holders be thanked for their attendance and contributions;

(d)  That where appropriate, information be provided in the form of charts or graphs to assist members to comprehend and assimilate the information more easily;

(e)  That Corporate Leadership Team be requested consider producing a shorter report specifically for Overview and Scrutiny in future which gives more prominence to those matters which require the Council to improve performance.

To Consider a report of the Interim Executive Director of Corporate Services. (to follow)

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Head of Finance & Performance presenting the Medium Term Financial Strategy for the Council for the years 2019/20 to 2021/22.

The report set out how the Council would approach the financial challenges over the medium term and forecast a balanced budget for 2019/20.

 The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Report (containing the Budget) for the period 2019/20 to 2021/22 was set out at Appendix C.

RESOLVED-

(a)  That the report be received and noted;

(b)  That Alex Thompson, contributing officers and portfolio holders be thanked for their attendance and contributions;

(c)  That the following comments be submitted to Cabinet:

·         The committee acknowledges the unprecedented pressures on the Council and notes the planned actions to produce a balanced budget;

·         The Committee notes the increased investment in  Corporate Services and supports this approach;

·         Cabinet considers  producing a communication stream to explain to the general public the difference between its statutory responsibilities i.e. those  for which services have to be provided by law and non statutory i.e. those services which are at the discretion of the Council; this might provide a better steer on appropriate feedback into consultation process.

·         That Cabinet be invited to focus further discussions on the popular themes highlighted by the public in the consultation i.e.:-

o   The Little bus and transport in particular resulting in isolation in rural areas;

o   Car parking charges and strategy.

(d)  That Environment and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee be invited to investigate matters raised within the report concerning climate change.

To consider an update from the Adult Social Care and Integration Portfolio Holder.

Councillor Janet Clowes Portfolio for Adult Social Care and Integration presented a report on the work of the Fly Tipping Monitoring Group, the creation of which had been endorsed by the committee in June 2018. The cross-party Fly-tipping Monitoring Group had been set up to provide oversight of progress to meet the recommendations of the Fly Tipping Monitoring Group.

Since June 2018, the Monitoring Group had met on four occasions with officer representation from ANSA  the Council and Crewe Town Council.

RESOLVED - That the report be received.

To Consider a report of the Director of Commissioning. (to follow)

The Committee considered a report of the Community Development Manager relating to the bids received in connection £2m the Council had set aside for a New Homes Bonus Community Fund as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

The New Homes Bonus Community Fund had been allocated across the Borough in proportion to the housing developments in each area that had contributed to the New Homes Bonus funding allocated to Cheshire East Council..

In total, 222 applications had been received worth £7,464,406 in total.

Each application was currently being assessed and scored by a multi-agency officer panel.

RESOLVED -  That the report be received.

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.

To review the Committee’s work programme.

The Committee reviewed its work programme.

RESOLVED –That the recommendations regarding the monitoring of outcomes relating to Anti Social behaviour emanating from the Anti Social behaviour task and finish group be noted.