Issue - meetings

(a)       To receive and note the minutes

(b)       To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes

Any minutes/recommendations from the meeting held on 3^rd September will be tabled at the meeting.

The minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 18^th June 2018 were noted.

The Leader welcomed Councillor L. Mallett, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board to the meeting and invited him to present the draft minute extract which had been tabled and which contained recommendations from the Board’s meeting held on 3^rd September 2018.

Councillor Mallett thanked Cabinet for the opportunity to present the recommendations and highlighted that the first was in respect of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (Implementation of Provisions) report.  He explained that the Board had held a detailed discussion around this item and had been in agreement with the report.  However, Members had discussed and agreed that in respect of the Scheme of Delegations, and in line with the view taken by the Constitution Review Working Group, that, where appropriate these should include in consultation with the Ward Councillor.  Councillor Mallett explained that there had been some discussion around whether this was possible in light of data protection and legal restrictions and officers had agreed to look into this matter further.

The Community Safety Manager explained that she had received advice from both the Legal and Information Management Teams, who had advised that should the action taken be against an individual then that should not be shared as it may prejudice any future legal action.  It was highlighted that Members were in a similar position as officers, and that the difference needed to be established.  It was agreed that this would be further clarified prior to this item being considered at Council, but in principle the recommendation was accepted.

RESOLVED that the Council’s Scheme of Delegations be amended, as detailed within the report subject to the inclusion of “in consultation with the Ward Councillor, where appropriate”.

Councillor Mallett provided Cabinet Members with the Board’s feedback in respect of the Council Tax Support Scheme Review and it was highlighted that the Board had raised a number of questions in relation to the modelling and the organisations which would be consulted on.  It had been noted that sight of the consultation document would have been useful.  Following discussion it had been agreed that a recommendation in respect of deferral would be put forward, as from the information provided, if the report were to go to the Board on 1^st October and Cabinet on 3^rd October, the delay in getting the consultation out would only be by a week.

Councillor B. T. Cooper, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Enabling thanked Councillor Mallett and the Board for its input and agreed that modelling in respect of 80% and 85% together with a list of the organisations to be consulted would be useful.  He therefore agreed with the recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Board.  He also confirmed that this would only delay the start of the consultation by one week.

RESOLVED that consideration of the proposed Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2019/20 be deferred.