Issue - meetings

The Board considered the content of the Cabinet Leader’s Work Programme for the period 1st July 2015 to 31st October 2015.  During consideration of the Work Programme a number of key points were raised:

July Cabinet meeting

The Chairman commented that a significant number of items were listed for consideration at the July meeting of Cabinet.  Unless an additional meeting of the Board took place it would be difficult for Overview and Scrutiny to make a constructive contribution to decisions made about these items through pre-scrutiny.

Modifications to the Bromsgrove District Local Plan

The date for Cabinet to consider any modifications to the Bromsgrove District Local Plan was briefly discussed.  Officers explained that this item had been postponed on a number of occasions and that no date had been finalised for the presentation of this report to Cabinet.  The plan was in the process of being considered by the Planning Inspectorate and any recommendations arising from this stage of the process would be reported to Cabinet.

New Homes Bonus

Members noted that the recommendations from the New Homes Bonus Grants Panel were scheduled for the consideration of Cabinet on 2nd September. Members were reminded that there had been public interest in the scheme which had evolved following a petition with a significant number of signatures being submitted for the Council’s consideration. It had been agreed that the New Homes Bonus Scheme would be reviewed annually from inception.

The Board discussed the appropriate group that could lead a review of the New Homes Bonus.  There were some concerns that a review would not be appropriate until a decision had been made following the first round of grants.  As this would be taking place in the autumn there would be limited time available for the Board to review the process effectively and to report any recommendations prior to the Council’s budget being finalised.  It was suggested that the New Homes Bonus Working Group would be in a better position to review the outcomes of the scheme in its first year.

RECOMMENDED to the New Homes Bonus Working Group that it review the outcomes of the New Homes Bonus Community Grants Scheme and report any recommendations about the future of the scheme to Cabinet.