Issue - meetings
Forward Plan of Key Decisions
Meeting: 20/07/2015 - Overview and Scrutiny Board (Item 25)
25 Cabinet Work Programme 1st August to 30th November 2015 
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Minutes:
The Board considered the content of the Cabinet Leader’s Work Programme for the period 1st August 2015 to 30th November 2015. During consideration of the report a number of key issues were discussed in detail:
a) High Street Refurbishment – Phase 2 Consideration of Options
Members noted that the Licensing Committee had, in recent months, approved a new street trading policy. However, Members had received little information to indicate that the requirements of this policy had been enacted, particularly in Bromsgrove town centre. Whilst the High Street Refurbishment report would focus on a separate matter it was agreed that Officers should be asked to check how the street trading policy was being implemented on the High Street.
The Chairman commented that the subject of the High Street Refurbishment had been discussed during the Overview and Scrutiny training session in June 2015 and there had been interest in scrutinising the subject further. Some Members suggested that the item should only be considered if there was evidence to suggest that problems had arisen, whilst others commented that, as an item listed on the Council’s Corporate Risk Register, this would be an ideal subject for the Board to scrutinise. There was a short debate about the contribution the Overview and Scrutiny Board could make through pre-scrutinising this item and the suggestion was made that the Board receive a briefing paper at its next meeting for consideration and in order to feed in to the decision making process.
b) New Homes Bonus
The Board discussed the New Homes Bonus (NHB) report, scheduled for the consideration of Cabinet on 2nd September. Members noted that there had been significant public interest in the NHB, with a petition regarding the distribution of the NHB funding having been submitted to Council in 2014. Following this petition the Council had agreed that £87,000 should be made available to community bids. The deadline for these bids had passed and a summary of the applications that had been received had been loaded onto the Council’s website. The report to Cabinet would contain recommendations from the NHB Grants Panel about which applicants should be awarded funding.
As the £87,000 for the NHB had only been agreed for 2015/16 there would be a need to discuss future use of the fund as part of the budget setting process. The Overview and Scrutiny Board would have an opportunity to contribute to these discussions through budget scrutiny.
c) Modifications to the Bromsgrove District Local Plan
The Bromsgrove District Local Plan was an item that the Board agreed would be of interest to Members. Unfortunately, no date was listed for the consideration of this item by Cabinet. However, a number of briefings for all Members were due to take place in forthcoming weeks, which would provide a useful opportunity to learn about the Local Plan.
d) Fees and Charges
Members suggested that the Overview and Scrutiny Board could make a useful contribution through pre-scrutiny of the Council’s proposed fees and charges for 2016/17. However, due to ... view the full minutes text for item 25