Issue - meetings
To receive the minutes of the Overview Board held on ...
Meeting: 21/02/2018 - Cabinet (Item 92)
92 Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 12th February 2018 
PDF 171 KB
(a) To receive and note the minutes
(b) To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes
Minutes:
The Leader welcomed the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board and invited him to present the minutes, which were included within the supplementary agenda pack dated 19th February 2018.
Councillor L. C. R. Mallett, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board explained that it was an extract from the minutes, which had been prepared following the Board’s recent meeting. The lateness of these reflected the challenges faced in the budget round this year. There were four main areas of discussion and the Board had been grateful for the attendance of Heads of Service. Councillor Mallett summarised each of the recommendations and explained the thinking behind each one.
The Portfolio Holder, Finance and Resources thanked Councillor Mallet for attending and provided the following response to each recommendation:
a) The amended table within the report for consideration at this evening’s meeting reflected the comments with the pressures shown cumulatively every year.
b) There was a difficulty in this as the Council had not had the options appraisal and therefore was unable to ring fence something which was not known at present. It was likely that this would be included in next year when the detailed information had been made available. The Executive Director, Finance and Resources advised that it was her understanding that the building would cost approximately £2m with additional costs for other associated works. It would not be appropriate to ring fence figures which were unknown at this time. Consideration would be given to this once the options appraisal had been received. The Leader further commented that the impact of the negative tariff arrangements in the future would also potentially impact on any decisions. Members discussed whether there was some way in which this could be flagged up and it was noted that there was reference to it within paragraph 3.10.2 of the report.
c) In respect of the Management Team model scenarios, it was agreed that consideration needed to be given to all models and this would be reviewed in the coming year. The Executive Director, Finance and Resources added that the Council was constantly looking at different models and would, if needed, include the review of the shared service agreement. The Leader confirmed that work was being carried out around the risk element and any that was identified would be considered through either the Finance and Budget Working Group or the Overview and Scrutiny Board. Work was also being carried out as part of the commercialisation agenda.
d) It was explained that that the Council had to make a judgement in respect of monies received and if the planning application fees were not included it was likely that the Council would be criticised by the Auditors for receiving a windfall, therefore the recommendation could not be agreed. The Executive Director, Finance and Resources confirmed that she would speak to the relevant officers to establish whether there was a more “scientific” form of modelling in respect of the larger planning applications to ensure a similar situation did ... view the full minutes text for item 92