Issue - meetings

The O&S Board/ Committee is asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

The Scrutiny Specialist presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The O&S Board was asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including its membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

The Board considered a number of different topics to be addressed by the Budget working group. There were a number of topics outlined in the report which had been suggested by officers and the Board were also asked to provide their own suggestions. Suggestions included looking at the costs of agency staff and Locums, which had been an ongoing issue across the Council and was a realistic area in which savings could be made, Car Parking charges were also suggested at an area which the working group could make a contribution.

There was some discussion around creating a long list of suggestions which could then be considered further by the working group and narrowed down. It was noted that the working group had limited time available and if possible, it would be preferable to agree the overachieving themes for the working group at the meeting.

A number of Board members put themselves forward to take part in the working group and it was agreed that the lead member would be agreed by the group. It was noted that the Lead Officer for the group would be determined by who was the responsible budget holder for the topic areas selected.

RESOLVED that the topic areas selected for the working group were car parking and the residents’ card.

The O&S Board/ Committee is asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

The Overview and Scrutiny Specialist presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

The Committee discussed the report, including:

• Following some discussions it was decided that Cllrs Canavan, Moriarty and J Salmon would be the working group members, and that Cllr Canavan would be the lead member.
• The Committee discussed the Key Lines of Enquiry and the Chair provided the suggestions which had been detailed in the report.
• Areas highlighted by Committee Members during the discussion included ensuring there was adequate budget to support people within their homes.
• In response to a query, the Committee was reminded that the focus of this working group was to scrutinise and influence, where appropriate, the budget for Adult Social Care for the 2025/26 financial year only.
• The Committee was advised that demand management would be a good focus for the working group with specific strands under that umbrella targeted.  Examples of targeted areas had been discussed which included care given, waiting times and what did data tell us.
• There was some discussion about the savings proposed within the transformation programme and it was highlighted that this would be scrutinised by the Committee but not before the budget working groups would be held.
• The Corporate Director for Wellbeing advised of the possibility at the start of the working groups that the members receive a briefing regarding how the ASC budget was structured looking at what where the data has come from to shape the proposed budget.

The Overview and Scrutiny Specialist advised she would capture the discussions and add them to a key lines of enquiry form.  The limited time available for the working group was highlighted and the need to really focus and target the scrutiny to enable value to be added.

It was agreed that the Director of Adult Social Care would be the lead officer for the working groups.

RESOLVED that:

a.    The establishment of a budget working group, including the membership (Cllrs Canavan, Moriarty and J Salmon), lead member (Cllr Canavan) and lead officer (Director of Adult Social Care) for the group, as detailed at paragraphs 5 to 9 of the report.

b.    Key lines of enquiry for the working group (agreed to focus on demand management), as detailed at paragraphs 10-14 of this report.

c.    The measures of effectiveness for the working group, as set out at paragraph 15 of this report.

The O&S Board/ Committee is asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

This item was opened and closed with a view to inclusion as an agenda item at a future meeting.

The O&S Board/ Committee is asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

The Overview and Scrutiny Specialist presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

It was decided at the meeting that Cllr Sharon Carr-Brown, Cllr Peter Cooper, Cllr Brian Hitchcock and Cllr David Martin would form the working group membership with a view to taking a deeper dive into the following areas:

Care Growth Forecast and School Transport costs.

It was agreed the members of the working group would scope out the topics further and a Key Lines of enquiry document would be sent to them.

RESOLVED that the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider and confirm:

a.    The establishment of a budget working group, including the membership, lead member and lead officer for the group, as detailed at paragraphs 5 to 9 of the report.

b.    Key lines of enquiry for the working group, as detailed at paragraphs 10-14 of this report.

c.    The measures of effectiveness for the working group, as set out at paragraph 15 of this report.

The O&S Committee is asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

The Overview and Scrutiny Specialist presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was asked to confirm the establishment of a budget working group, including membership and key lines of enquiry, to undertake detailed scrutiny work to contribute to the developing 2025/26 council budget during September – November 2024.

It was decided at the meeting that Cllr Jamie Martin, Cllr Lisa Northover and Cllr Felicity Rice would form the working group membership with a view to taking a deeper dive into the following areas:

Environment and budget to transition to Net Zero and B&B accommodation costs within housing.

It was agreed the members of the working group would scope out the topics further and a Key Lines of enquiry document would be sent to them.

RESOLVED that

a.     A budget working group be established and the membership be agreed as above.

b.    That the topics for consideration by the working group be agreed as outlined above and that Key Lines of Enquiry for the working group be completed for the above topics

Voting: Unanimous