The Senior Democratic Officer - Scrutiny presented the report. She advised that Members would recall that the Council had been advised that the Local Government Financial Settlement from WG would be later than expected, and therefore scrutiny of the Medium Term Financial Strategy would be considered by Scrutiny Committees after Cabinet considered the draft proposals on 19th January, instead of the December cycle of meetings, as originally planned. 

As set out in the table in paragraph 4.1 of the report, and following approval at November Council the dates for Scrutiny meetings had been moved to:   

20 Jan at 10am for the draft MTFS for Education & Family Support and Communities’ Directorate.

21st Jan at 10am for the draft MTFS for Social Services and Wellbeing and the Chief Executive’s Directorate.

The Chairperson asked for clarification that all Members could attend both Combined meetings of Scrutiny Committees in January.

The Senior Democratic Officer – Scrutiny confirmed that Members of all Scrutiny Committees would be invited to both meetings to scrutinise the MTFS and budget proposals across the portfolios allocated to each meeting.  She explained that it was a different approach this year due to the lateness of the settlement, to maximise the opportunity for scrutiny in the compressed timescale available, and to provide opportunity to comment on the overall budget.  She advised that if Members were not able to attend there was potential once the report was circulated, to email questions and ensure they were put to the invitees, so this did not preclude Members from asking questions.

In terms of the forward work programme, the Senior Democratic Officer – Scrutiny advised that Members may wish to wait until the MTFS to identify particular items that were more pressing than others that Members may wish to explore.  She reminded the Committee that at every meeting there was an opportunity to review the forward work programme.

A Member acknowledged that there would be issues that would arise as a result of the MTFS meetings, but following on from the Communities Directorate presentation he felt it would be helpful to have a further update next year as there would be more clarity once the vaccine programme was being delivered, to enable discussion to take place about taking things forward, post pandemic.

The Senior Democratic Officer – Scrutiny also reminded Members that the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny committee would receive a report on Quarter 2 Performance at its meeting on 14^th January, arising from which there could be areas of focus that Members wished to add to the Forward Work Pprogramme.

The Chairperson reminded Members that they could respond to the Bridgend Town Centre Master Plan consultation which would close on 1 March 2021.  A Member confirmed that he had completed the survey and encouraged all Members to do so.

There were no further items identified for consideration on the Forward Work Programme for the remainder of the municipal calendar of meetings using the agreed form, and this could be revisited in the next meeting.

RESOLVED:                      That the Committee note the Forward Work Programme set out in paragraphs 4.1 of the report.