To consider recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny committees on items not otherwise included on the Cabinet Agenda.
Minutes:
Cabinet was advised that recommendations had been received from the Overview and Scrutiny Board on items not otherwise indicated on the Cabinet agenda.
The Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, Councillor Sue Aitkenhead provided Cabinet with the background relating to the item and 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 Council’s website prior to the meeting.
In presenting the recommendation, Councillor Aitkenhead advised that the intention was to ensure that the Council had a clear understanding of the structural condition of its assets, to support the identification of future liabilities and maintenance requirements and to inform decisions relating to asset disposal.
Recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 24 August 2026
Overview and Scrutiny Board agenda item 9 – Estates Management and Asset Disposal
That Cabinet be advised that the Overview and Scrutiny Board considers that the condition of our estate needs to be known in order to ensure we have the data to inform asset disposals and maintenance needs and to plan maintenance in the most cost-effective way. This Board recommends that Cabinet support officers to find a way to complete this work as a matter of urgency.
Voting: For – 8, Against – 0, Abstain – 1
The Leader thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Board for its recommendation and advised that Cabinet would give the matter further consideration, with a formal response to be provided in due course.
Further to this recommendation the Leader and Portfolio Holders provided updates on recommendations which had previously been presented to the Cabinet, as follows: -
- The Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations, Councillor Richard Herrett, provided an update on previous recommendations relating to parking, road safety, highways and planning, with specific reference to parking issues around schools and parking pressures during the high season. In this regard, Councillor Herrett advised that he and the Leader had written to the Government to make the case for higher Penalty Charge Notice fines. He further advised that the Council had recently concluded a month-long trial and had requested that the Government either allow the Council to undertake a longer-term BCP-wide trial or address the matter nationally.
- The Leader of the Council, Councillor Millie Earl, provided an update on the recommendations relating to the Local Plan, specifically in relation to consultation and the terms of reference for the working group. Councillor Earl advised that work was already underway to consider how stakeholders, beyond statutory consultees, could best be engaged, and that Members would be written to in order to ensure they had the opportunity to provide input. With regard to the working group’s terms of reference, Councillor Earl advised that the recommendation from the Board had been adopted, enabling substitute members to attend the working group, provided that 72 hours’ notice was given to allow officers sufficient time to brief those Members. Councillor Earl further advised that the recommendation relating to risk, including the addition to the risk register of broader issues arising from devolution, local government reorganisation and any potential restructuring of governance arrangements, had also been accepted.
- The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Partnerships, Councillor Sandra Moore, advised that feedback had been provided to the Board and emphasised that the Social Value Statement related only to procurement and contract management. She further advised that ambiguity within the report had contributed to a misunderstanding of its intended purpose.
The Leader further confirmed that Portfolio Holders would attend the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board to provide a full update to the Board in person.