Meeting documents

• (Attachment: 1)Minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2015 be approved as a correct record.

Committee Members: Councillors Dr Z. Grant-Duff (substituted by Cllr Mrs R. Turner) and D. Powell (substituted by Cllr Mrs R. Absalom).

Other Members: Councillor G. Knight.
 

None.

The Committee received a presentation from Cllr Eddy Humphreys, Executive Member for Economy & Jobs, which focused on the work being undertaken by the Council to support local business, employment and economic prosperity within the Borough.

Questions and comments related to:

• The new approach to business engagement being taken in Banstead, which if successful could be replicated in other areas of the Borough;

• How the Council could further support local employers of skilled health workers;

• The Council’s close links with Job Centre Plus and the YMCA;

• Furthering support for liaison between local businesses and the Reigate and Banstead Voluntary Service (RBVS).

The Committee suggested that the presentation be shared with all Members.

RESOLVED that that the Executive Member for Economy & Jobs be thanked for briefing the Committee and responding to questions.
 

• (Attachment: 2)Item 5 External Auditors Report (2M/bytes)

The Committee received the report of the Council’s External Auditors, KPMG, which summarised the conclusions arising from the audit of the Council’s 2014/15 Annual Financial Report. The Annual Financial Report had been previously circulated to the Members of the Committee for reference.

The Committee were pleased to note that KPMG had been extremely positive regarding the quality of the Annual Financial Report, and would be issuing an unqualified audit opinion as well as an unqualified Value For Money conclusion. The Committee congratulated the Members and Officers involved in the preparation of the Report.

Three advanced questions had been received, the responses to which had been circulated in advance and were tabled at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the report from the Council’s External Auditors, KMPG, on the Council’s 2014/15 Annual Financial Report be noted.
 

• (Attachment: 3)Item 6 Q1 Performance Report (517K/bytes)

The Committee received a report that detailed the major variances on performance in relation to the Council's Key Service Indicators, Revenue Budget monitoring and Capital Programme monitoring. The report also highlighted two new operational risks that had been identified in Quarter 2. The detailed performance information had been placed in the eMembers Room.

The Committee had questions and comments regarding:

• Building Control – the Committee noted that the Council was working with Tandridge District Council to develop a solution to ongoing difficulties with recruitment;

• Planning – it was noted that extensions had been agreed on a number of large planning applications in Quarter 1 by agreement with the applicant, as it was vital that the right decision be reached on such applications. As in the previous year, the decision making process was being reviewed to identify any consistent issue impacting on the percentage of Planning appeals allowed by Planning Inspectors (the Committee noted that previously no such issues had been identified);

• Housing and homelessness – the Committee noted that the Council was working on a range of initiatives to manage and reduce the ongoing increased levels of homelessness within the Borough. These included close working with local Registered Providers and the provision of additional temporary accommodation. It was noted that wherever possible emergency accommodation was provided inside the Borough, and that the Council inspected all accommodation before use. The Committee noted that the impact of bed and breakfast occupancy levels on the revenue budget would be an important consideration during the budget setting process for 2016/17;

• Parks & Countryside – the Committee noted that a complete review of the service had identified operational efficiencies, with no change to service levels;

• Waste & Recycling – it was noted that world prices (particularly influenced by the Chinese economy and falling price of oil) continued to impact on the prices received by the Council for paper and mixed recyclables, which were currently sold on spot price to UK based companies;

• Risk OR7 – it was noted that this related to a comprehensive review of the service, its costs, income and operational arrangements; this included benchmarking all prices and charges and had already led to the increased promotion of textiles recycling and changes to garden waste charges, both of which were generating additional income for the Council;

• Warwick Quadrant – the Committee noted that Sainsbury’s had appointed a new contractor who was due to start on site on 5 October 2015, with completion scheduled for early 2017. It was noted that the latest financial appraisals received for the hotel element of the development, which was being built on the Council’s behalf, were positive.

RESOLVED that:

(i) the performance update be noted; and

(ii) the Committee’s observations as set out above be referred to the Leader of the Council.
 

• (Attachment: 4)Item 7 Budget Panel Report (123K/bytes)

The Committee received a report setting out the proposed approach to the budget scrutiny process during 2015/16. The Committee noted that the proposed process and scope of the Panel’s work was identical to previous years, in which the Panel had been a valuable part of the budget preparation program.

The Chairman drew the attention of the Committee to paragraph 4 of the report, which stated that meetings of the Panel were open to any Councillor to attend.

RESOLVED that the:

(i) membership and timetable for the preparation for the budget for 2016/17 be agreed, as set out in the report;

and

(ii) scope of the Budget Scrutiny Review Panel work during 2015/16 be agreed, as set out in the report.
 

It was reported that there were no items arising from the Executive that might be subject to the ‘call-in’ procedure in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 15 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

None.