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.

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 of 1 April 2021 is attached as an Appendix to this report.

Cabinet’s Key Decision List updated to the 1 April 2021 was scrutinised by the Committee and the following points were raised.

(a)          Finance and Economic Development Portfolio

On the Town Centre Regeneration of Loughton, Epping and Buckhurst Hill, Councillor S Murray asked would member input be sought from Loughton councillors? No officers had contacted them, yet they had some expertise and wanted to see discussion at an earlier stage in the drafting of this report. Councillor A Patel advised that the officer was still researching this project for the report draft but would liaise with ward councillors. Councillor S Murray replied that town centres did not work like that as all his ward residents used the High Road and The Broadway and he would not be satisfied if just the ward councillors were consulted. The Chairman agreed that some discussion before the report was produced and finalised would be necessary, and believed the lead officers were N Dawe, Chief Operating Officer, and J Houston, Partnerships and Economic Development Specialist. The Leader, Councillor C Whitbread, assured councillors that there would be input from District and Town councillors. The Epping scheme had been done with Essex County Council, so local input was important, and input from businesses, as they were all partially shaping the future place. The final impact of Covid on high streets was not known.

(b)          Environmental and Technical Services Portfolio

Councillor J H Whitehouse remarked that Cabinet could not make a decision on the transfer of services to Qualis before pre-scrutiny and also Epping Leisure Centre deserved scrutiny. The Chairman replied pre-scrutiny was an opportunity for members to raise any concerns. The Leader emphasised that the Key Decision List showed the decision timelines and highlighted the importance of scrutiny before a Cabinet decision. G Blakemore, Chief Executive, advised that transfers of services to Qualis had been moved from Stronger Place Select Committee to Overview and Scrutiny Committee to give members this pre-scrutiny opportunity. Councillor S Murray asked that sufficient time in a future agenda needed to be factored in. Councillor B Jennings agreed this Committee should rightfully pre-scrutinise in depth the transfer of services to Qualis. It was noted that an extra meeting of this Committee had been arranged for 8 June 2021 for members to pre-scrutinise three Qualis items.

(c)          Housing and Community Portfolio

Councillor S Murray sought assurance that all Council Policies should be pre-scrutinised by the appropriate select committee before a Cabinet decision. This should, therefore, apply to the Allocations Policy and Tenancy Policy. The Chairman agreed such policies should be pre-scrutinised. Councillor H Whitbread advised that this should be undertaken by the Stronger Communities Select Committee.

Resolved:

(1)          That the Committee reviewed the Executive’s current programme of Key Decisions of 1 April 2021 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;

(2)          That an extra meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to pre-scrutinise three Qualis items be arranged for 8 June 2021; and

(3)          That Stronger Communities Select Committee should pre-scrutinise the Allocations Policy and Tenancy Policy.