To consider recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny committees on items not otherwise included on the Cabinet Agenda.
Minutes:
Cabinet was advised that two recommendations had been received from the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on items not otherwise indicated on the Cabinet agenda, and that one recommendation had been received from the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The Chair of the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Chris Rigby presented the recommendations from the Committee as set out below, copies of which had been circulated to Members of the Cabinet and published on the Councils website prior to the meeting.
Recommendation from the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting held on 2 April 2025
Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee Agenda Item 8 – Recommendations from the Safer Accommodation Strategy Working Group.
The Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed the following recommendation to Cabinet on this item:
RESOLVED that the Environment and Place O&S Committee recommend to Cabinet
1. That as part of the Safe Accommodation Strategy development, officers consider an awareness campaign and/or guidance materials on the different types of financial support that are available to support those fleeing domestic abuse, in particular in relation to different types of housing tenure (e.g. shared tenancies, joint mortgages), in order to break down a potentially significant barrier to survivors accessing support to end their abuse.
2. That the engagement plan for the Safe Accommodation Strategy should ensure that the voices of those with lived experience are heard and reflected within the Strategy.
3. That an all councillor briefing session be added to the Safe Accommodation Strategy engagement plan, to ensure members are adequately informed about the strategy and able to contribute views, and to enable them to fulfil their role within the community by communicating the benefits of the Safe Accommodation Strategy to residents.
4. a) that the provision of safe accommodation and associated commissioning process be reviewed,
b) that scrutiny members be invited to review and input into this review, prior to the commencement of commissioning, through an additional meeting of this working group.
c) That the use of temporary accommodation be continuously reviewed and specific KPIs be established for monitoring the success of the new safe accommodation model, including occupancy rates, length of stay, outcomes for survivors (e.g., successful move-on to permanent housing), and survivor satisfaction. These KPIs should be reviewed regularly by the relevant scrutiny committee to ensure accountability and transparency.
d) That Cabinet, with the support of the council’s Corporate Management Board, be requested to take a view on forthcoming decisions that may be of significant or contentious public impact, regardless of decision-making thresholds, and an all councillor briefing be held before any such decisions are made, to enable all councillors, and particularly ward councillors, to be properly informed.
(Unanimous Decision)
Recommendation from the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting held on 8 October 2025
Environment and Place Agenda Item 6 – Plant-based and reduced meat and dairy diets: draft position statement and action plan
The Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed the following recommendations to Cabinet on this item:
1. All mentions of the word vegan replaced with Plant-Based throughout the paper.
Voting: Unanimous
2. Switching the target from 20% for plant-based concessions to 25%.
Voting: For:8, Against:0, Abstention:1
3. That Council adopt the position statements and strategy for plant based diets in BCP Council with the amendments above.
Voting: Unanimous
The Chair of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Sharon Carr-Brown presented the recommendations from the Committee as set out below, copies of which had been circulated to Members of the Cabinet and published on the Councils website prior to the meeting.
Permanent Exclusions and Suspensions (Children’s Services O&S Committee agenda item 9)
Comment to Cabinet:
The committee agreed to make Cabinet aware that the Committee appreciates the detrimental impact of school exclusions, which were highlighted in the report, and recognises the work that is underway to address this. The committee agreed that through this work the council’s primary focus is improved outcomes for the children of BCP but that this work will also likely bring budgetary savings such as:
· A reduction in exclusions and associated costs (e.g. transport, AP placements, tribunal processes)
· Improved outcomes for vulnerable pupils, reducing future demand on social care, youth justice, and post-16 support service
· A reduction in the need for unregistered and costly AP as more needs are met by schools
(Unanimous Decision)
The Deputy Leader thanked the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees for their important work and for the recommendations and notes to the Cabinet.
In accordance with the Constitution formal responses to the recommendations from the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be provided by the relevant Portfolio Holders to the Scrutiny Committee at their next available meeting.