Agenda and minutes
PDF 182 KBVenue: Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN
Contact: Helen Rankin or Lucy Collier
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
There are no apologies or substitutions. Minutes: Apologies were received from David Harmer and Bill Chapman |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING:
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were a true record of the meeting. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Minutes: There were none. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting- (Thursday 26 November 2015) 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting- (Monday 23 November 2015) 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: There were no questions or petitions. |
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
There are no responses to report. Minutes: There are no responses to report.
The recommendation regarding agency staff made at the last meeting of Council Overview Board would be presented to the December meeting of Cabinet.
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FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME AND RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER
The Committee is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: . 3. Members agreed that the Board needed to focus on those strategic matters that needed significant scrutiny. 4. The Board agreed that there should be an email update regarding the Welfare Task Group, as and when there were matters to report, rather than waiting for a formal meeting.
Denise Saliagopoulos arrived 10.10am.
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CHAIRMAN'S ORAL REPORT
The Chairman will provide the Board with an update on recent meetings he has attended and other matters affecting the Board Minutes: The Vice Chairman welcomed Steve Cosser a new Member of the Council Overview Board.
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FINANCIAL PROSPECTS FOR THE MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLAN
Purpose of the report: This report updates Members on the latest financial prospects for the period of the Medium Term Financial Plan, ahead of development of the formal budget for 2016/17 in February 2016.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses:
Kevin Kilburn, Deputy Chief Finance Officer
Service representative attending at 11am: John Stebbings, representing Orbis Ann Charlton, representing legal and Democratic Services Louise Footner, representing Communications Andy Tink, Finance representative for Policy and Performance and Chief Executive’s Office
Key points raised in the discussion:
1. The Deputy Chief Finance Officer introduced the report. He explained that the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement had been produced the day previous. The Autumn Statement looked at the Public Sector as a whole, and more specific information relating to services was expected before Christmas 2015. One Member questioned if there was any indication of Surrey County Council’s share of the £300million future infrastructure pot hole fund announced in the Autumn Statement. It was noted that it had usually been 1% for the Highways Service in previous years; however, High Speed Rail and Cross Rail were factors this year. 2. Board Members stressed the importance of scrutinising budgets and savings within the Council. One way this could be achieved would be for Members to give officers a steer on views and ideas about spending, by closely looking at first drafts of the budgets. It was noted that individual Scrutiny Boards would begin to speak with services to find out what they were currently doing to achieve savings and plan for future savings.
Denise Saliagopoulos out 10.25am.
3. It was noted that Council Tax could be raised by an additional i 2% to deal with the growing increase demand in Adult Social Care services. It was noted that the Leader of the Council had lobbied the government regarding increased demand for services, against the backdrop of reducing funding from government. An increase in Council Tax was considered by many Members to be the only feasible way to fund the increasing demand in order to keep running statutory services. 4. Clarification was sought over revenue savings still to be identified, that totalled £28.5million. Some Members agreed that funding should be shared to help deal with the continued pressure on Adult Social Care, as well as Public Health. The Board understood and stressed the continued pressure for integration between health services and social care. 5. There was a discussion regarding Surrey Roads and what has already been done to illustrate to Central Government the deterioration of Surrey roads. It was stated that Surrey had some of the highest volume of traffic on roads, however the Board were informed that Central Government base their funding on the length of roads rather than volume of traffic. The funding by road length in Surrey was higher than the national average. A Member requested a briefing paper that showed the estimation of the funding from government, against the actual funding granted.
Keith Witham left the meeting at 10.56am and returned 11.06
6. The Chairman of the Board asked specific questions to the Deputy Chief Finance Officer on behalf of the Member Cllr Bill Chapman who had sent his apologies. It was stated that Surrey County Council ... view the full minutes text for item 68/15 |
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EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
Minutes: The following items of business were considered by the Board in private, however the information below is not confidential.
Actions/Further information to be provided:
Please see recommendations below.
1) The Board requested that officers:
· Ensure Scrutiny Boards have sufficient details of current savings plans and possible additional savings when they analyse budgets within their remit · Provide a briefing note following the Local Government Settlement that shows how much funding was expected to be lost against how much was lost in reality
2) That the Board recommended to Social Care Services Scrutiny Board, that: · Consideration is given to the 2% Council Tax increase to fund Social Care, and to look at how the funding should be distributed with the Districts & Boroughs
3) That the Board recommended to Scrutiny Boards, that they:
· Investigate income generation targets and report back to the Council Overview Board. · Scrutinise the effect that any staffing reductions will have on the wider delivery of services.
4) That the Board recommend, that:
· Central Government is lobbied to enable Districts & Boroughs to raise up to an additional 2% in Council Tax for Social Care, if they wish to do so.
Keith Witham left the meeting at 12.15pm
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PART 2-IN PRIVATE The following items of business were considered by the Board. Set out below is a public summary of the decisions taken.
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PAY AND REWARD CONSULTATION
Purpose of the Report: The Scrutiny Board will be presented with the next stages of the Pay & Reward Consultation.
Minutes: Declarations of interest: Nick Harrison explained that he was a Member of the People, Performance & Development Committee, and this item would be taken to that Committee for consideration and decision at a later date. This also applied to Hazel Watson.
Witnesses: Ken Akers, Strategic HR ManagerJulie Smyth, Pay & Reward Team Manager Holly Hood, OD & Skills Consultant
Hazel Watson returned to the meeting at 12.20pm.
Part 1 summary:
Further actions/information to be provided:
An additional workshop would be scheduled for May 2016, ahead of the decision being made by People, Performance & Development Committee.
Recommendations:
At the end of the debate, the following conclusions were drawn and it was agreed that they should be shared with the Cabinet Member for Business Services and Resident Experience:
· That the transitional costs currently anticipated should be reviewed to ensure best value for money.
· The new Pay & Reward policy should ensure more flexibility and speed when reacting to market changes.
The Council Overview Board recommended to officers, that:
· A briefing note is provided on how Members will be engaged in the reward process.
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PUBLICITY FOR PART TWO ITEMS
Minutes: It was agreed that there would be no publicity for the discussions that took place in Part 2.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Board will be held at 10.00am on Thursday 28 January 2016. Minutes: 28 January 2016.
Meeting ended at 13.04pm |