Agenda item

Recommendation:

That the Committee review the Executive’s current programme of Key Decisions to enable the identification of appropriate matters for the overview and scrutiny work programme and the overview of specific decisions proposed to be taken over the period of the plan.

(Democratic & Electoral Services Manager) Article 6 (Overview and Scrutiny) of the Constitution requires that the Committee review the Executive’s programme of Key Decisions (the Cabinet Forward Plan) at each meeting, to enable the identification of appropriate matters for the overview and scrutiny work programme and to provide an opportunity for the overview of specific decisions proposed to be taken over the period of the plan.

The Constitution (Article 14 (Decision Making)) defines a Key Decision as an executive decision which:

(a)         involves expenditure or savings of £250,000 or above which are currently within budget and policy;

(b)         involves expenditure or savings of £100,000 or above which are NOT currently within budget and policy;

(c)         is likely to be significant in terms of its effect on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more wards;

(d)         raises new issues of policy;

(e)         increases financial commitments (i.e. revenue and/or capital) in future years over and above existing budgetary approval;

(f)          comprises and includes the publication of draft or final schemes which may require, either directly or in relation to objections to, the approval of a Government Minister; or

(g)         involves the promotion of local legislation.

Wherever possible, Portfolio Holders will attend the Committee to present forthcoming key decisions, to answer questions on the forward plan and to indicate where appropriate work could be carried out by overview and scrutiny on behalf of the Cabinet.

The Executive’s current programme of Key Decisions is attached as an Appendix to this report.

The Committee considered the Executive’s current programme of Key Decisions.

Leader of the Council

Cllr J H Whitehouse enquired about the proposed informal workshop to discuss the Epping development sites? The Leader of Council, Cllr C Whitbread, stated that the sites had been transferred to Qualis for development and Members would be informed of details regarding the proposed workshop shortly.

Cllr D Wixley enquired about the status of the Pyrles Lane site in Loughton and whether it had already been sold? The Chief Executive, G Blakemore, confirmed that the site had not been sold and it was on a list of potential sites for Qualis to consider.

Cllr S Murray was concerned about the public accountability of Qualis. When the Company was originally set up, Councillors were informed that there would be quarterly public meetings of the Qualis Board, but Qualis had been in existence for six months now and no public Board meetings had been held. The Councillor wanted an assurance that this would happen and to be informed of the date of the next Board meeting for Qualis.

Cllr C Whitbread assured the Committee that there was no secrecy with the activities of Qualis. The Interim Board was coming to the end of its life and would be replaced before the end of the year by a permanent Board of Directors. There would be quarterly financial monitoring reports for Qualis submitted to the Cabinet, and the next report was expected at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for September. Cllr S Murray commented that he understood the quarterly meetings of the Qualis Board would be held in public, as it would be discussing issues which would have been discussed at public committee meetings in the past.

Cllr S Heap expressed further concerns regarding the decision-making process involved with Qualis, as currently there were a small number of Councillors from one political group making the decisions, and the Councillor felt that the process needed to be more open. Cllr C Whitbread replied that the interim Board of Directors for Qualis did have representation from the second largest political group, and there would be regular reports from Qualis to the Council as well. However, Qualis had to have the ability to react quickly to progress projects and give it a commercial edge.

Cllr S Heap agreed that Qualis needed to react in a quick and decisive manner, but it also needed an alternative point of view. Cllr C Whitbread reassured the Committee that this facility had been incorporated in the governance arrangements for Qualis. G Blakemore acknowledged the concerns expressed about the lack of visibility for the Qualis Board meetings, and stated that the new meeting schedule for the Qualis Board was currently being devised and would be published to give transparency; the next Board meeting was scheduled for 23 July 2020.

Environment & Technical Services

Cllr J H Whitehouse enquired about the proposed contract variation with Places Leisure, in particular what service would be provided in the future and whether the proposals would be examined by a Scrutiny Committee? The Portfolio Holder for Environmental & Technical Services, Cllr N Avey, responded that there were still some details to be worked through, but the issue would be considered by the Council’s Scrutiny function if it was appropriate.

Cllr S Murray observed that it was not the decision of the Cabinet Member to decide if it was appropriate for an issue to be examined by a Scrutiny Committee, and the Chairman, Cllr M Sartin, agreed that any Scrutiny Committee could request that an item be considered at one of their meetings.

Housing & Community

In respect of the Policy for Flexible Service Charges, Cllr J H Whitehouse commented that, as a general principle, all new policies enacted by the Council should be considered by a Scrutiny Committee first, to enable Councillors to put their point of view across. The Portfolio Holder for Housing & Community, Cllr H Whitbread, stated that the policy was part of a wider review of the Council’s service charges – which was ongoing – and it would be considered by the Select Committee.

Cllr J H Whitehouse also expressed surprise that the review of Sheltered Housing Assets was considered by the Stronger Place Select Committee, not the Stronger Communities Select Committee. Cllr H Whitbread stated that the review was considered to be in relation to place-making and hence it was reviewed by that Select Committee.

Cllr S Murray enquired if the Committee could discuss issues on the published agenda for the Cabinet meeting the following week. Cllr M Sartin agreed that the Committee’s role was to hold the Cabinet to account and requested Cllr S Murray to raise his issue.

Cllr S Murray welcomed the report on the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but was extremely surprised to see a proposal for the replacement of the Leisure Centre at Loughton. Cllr C Whitbread assured the Committee that the Council did not intend to replace the Leisure Centre in Loughton and that it was probably a misprint. The Council’s Chief Operating Officer, N Dawe, added that that reference should have been edited out of the report before it was published and reiterated that there was no intention to replace the Leisure Centre.

            Resolved:

            (1)        That the Executive’s current Programme of Key Decisions be noted.