To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including Whipping declarations)

None

To receive for approval the minutes of a meeting of the Corporate Resources and

Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 7 December 2016.

RESOLVED:                That the Minutes of a meeting of the Corporate Resources & Improvement Overview and Scrutiny Committee dated 7 December 2016, be approved as a true and accurate record.

The Corporate Director – Operational and Partnership Services submitted a report, that presented the items due to be considered at the Committee’s meeting to be held on 4 February 2017, and sought confirmation of the information required for the subsequent scheduled meeting to be held on 15 March 2017. Finally, the report presented a further suggested potential item for prioritisation by the Committee.

The Scrutiny Officer suggested the following which differed slightly to that which was outlined in the report:

Date of Committee                              Suggested items for consideration

8 February 2017                                  Digital Transformation Programme

8 February 2017                                  2016-17 Quarter 3 Financial    Performance

15 March 2017                                    Business Plan 2016/17

15 March 2017                                    Community Asset Transfer of Land at  Cosy Corner

The Scrutiny Officer further added that the item referred to in the report on ‘Rationalising the Council’s Estate including Depot Rationalisation’, will be presented to a future Committee the date for which had yet to be established.

Invitees:

All Members of Cabinet and Corporate Management Board

All Chairpersons of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Randal Hemingway, Head of Finance & Section 151 Officer  

The Chairperson welcomed the Invitees to the meeting, and the Chief Executive introduced the report, following which the Invitees responded to questions from Members.

The Chairperson referred to page 24 of the report, and noted that 1,819 citizens had responded to the Council’s priorities and budget reductions as part of its ‘Shaping Bridgend’s Future’ consultation. He added however, that approximately 50% of these respondents had been from those individuals that comprise the Citizen’s Panel, and he was aware that a considerable number of these were older people. He felt therefore that future consultations should target the younger element of constituents.

A Member referring to the same page of the report and the penultimate bullet point asked what the statement ‘the Council will focus diminishing resources on communities and individuals with the greatest need’ meant to members of the public situate in the County Borough.

The Chief Executive stated that the bullet points at the bottom of page 24 and overleaf, were the Council’s “Principles” in respect of its Corporate Plan. These had been identified following a series of workshops and had been developed to assist the organisation in meeting new challenges that lie ahead in the face of diminishing budgets. He added that in part this was an expression that if financial restraints become tighter in the future, then people who need specialist services over and above those that required universal provision would be prioritised.

A Member referred to page 25 of the report and a further Principle of the Council working as one (i.e. Council) and discouraging different parts of the organisation from developing multiple processes or unnecessarily different approaches. She felt members of the public did not think that the Council adopted this approach. She also felt that certain Departments whose work overlapped needed to work more cohesively.

The Chief Executive advised that there was some room for improvement in respect of clashes and duplication with regard to frontline systems that various Department’s used, and that these could be aligned better in certain areas. There was however a good example of the Authority working as one Council with its back office staff, particularly in relation to efficiencies, economy, providing value for money and working for its communities.

The Leader added that Cabinet Members portfolio’s had changed and become more cross-cutting and they were working with more than 1 Director (whose remits had  also expanded)  compared to previously, and this confirmed the more one Council approach that was being taken. He added that Customer Services also dealt with a number of different queries raised by the public rather than them having to be directed to different Directorates which again reflected a holistic approach.

A Member referred to the top bullet point on page 25 where it stated that the Council will encourage and develop capacity amongst the third sector to identify and respond to local needs. He acknowledged that whilst this had been addressed to a degree last year, it had not been addressed in the budget proposals for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 225.

Cllr H David, Leader

Cllr H Williams, Cabinet Member – Resources

Andrew Jolley, Corporate Director – Operational & Partnership Services

Randal Hemingway, Head of Finance & Section 151 Officer 

The Scrutiny Officer on behalf of the Corporate Director – Operational and Partnership Services submitted a report, in order to present the Committee with the findings of the Budget Research and Evaluation Panel (BREP) attached at Appendix A to the report. Members were also provided with the responses from all the Overview and Scrutiny Committees in relation to Cabinet’s draft budget proposals, attached at Appendix B to the report.

The Chairperson then referred to the recommendations outlined in the report, that had been submitted by BREP, following each of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees considering the individual Directorates budgets they aligned to.

Members then went through each of these recommendations together with the Invitees.

In response to a point raised by a Member in relation to a permanent switch off of street lighting in the County Borough (other than at road junctions etc,), the Leader confirmed that this would incorporate consideration of the provision of LED lighting, dimming of lighting , and a part switch in areas where this was considered appropriate. He added that this would comprise of a saving initially of £250k for 2018/19 and a further £250k in 2019/20. He assured Members that he would look into this budget cut in more detail, and ensure that a further report on the provision of street lighting is presented to the Community Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

As this concluded debate on the two main items the Chairperson thanked the Invitees for their attendance, following which they left the meeting.

Recommendations:

The Committee accepted the recommendations and comments from both the BREP and the five Scrutiny Committees and agreed to submit them to Cabinet subject to a series of amendments, as follows:-

Recommendation 12 – That this recommendation be expanded upon so as to explain that the 1% referred to equates to £869k in terms of the MTFS.

Recommendation 16 – That this recommendation be split to separate the topics of a street lighting ‘switch off’ and gully cleansing, and in terms of street lighting that the recommendation be expanded in terms of adding the words “ for the safety of the public/residents and to reduce incidents of accidents and crime and disorder.

To consider any items of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

None