SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (CORPORATE
RESOURCES)
MINUTES of a meeting held on 20th
March, 2007.
Present: Councillor H.J.W. James
(Chairman); Councillor Mrs. C.V.L. Clay (Vice-Chairman);
Councillors Ms. L. Burnett, Mrs. J.E. Charles, A.D. Dobbinson, M.R.
Harvey, N.P. Hodges, T.H. Jarvie, Mrs. A.J. Moore, Mrs. M. Kelly
Owen, C.L. Osborne, B.I. Shaw and K.R. Stockdale.
963
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE -
The were received from Miss J. Cole, F.T.
Johnson and M.R. Wilson.
964
MINUTES -
RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes of the meetings
held on 20th February and 6th March, 2007 be
approved as a correct record.
965
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -
No declarations were received.
966
IMPROVEMENT REVIEWS 2007/08 (CX) -
The Committee was apprised of proposals to
suspend Scrutiny Reviews undertaken by the Improvement and
Development Team in relation to the Forward Work Programme for
2007/08, in order to support the implementation of the Social
Services Change Plan.
Members were further advised of the
significant overspend on Social Services which had affected all
other service areas and given this, there was now urgent need to
undertake the work involved in the above Change Plan. The
Committee was also informed that the current work programme for IDT
would still involve the conclusion of reviews in relation to the
Use of Consultants and the Use of Holm View Leisure Centre,
Barry.
Notwithstanding the above proposals for which
the Scrutiny Committee was now asked to endorsed, the work
programme for 2007/08 would still entail the following areas:
·
Annual Budget process
·
Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports
·
Service Planning
·
Monthly Revenue and Capital Programme Monitoring
·
Emerging strategies from the Corporate Plan and Community
Strategy
·
Cabinet Forward Work Programme.
The advantages/ disadvantages of the proposal
were debated resulting in the Committees views being divided. The
Chairman indicated that if the proposal was supported it would
result in a significant impairment of the Scrutiny Committee’s role
to be pro-active and thus being able to influence emerging service
issues.
The Head of Performance Development indicated
that the Council’s Scrutiny Committees would still be able to
undertake reviews via the Task and Finish method and to facilitate
such, would be able to utilise officers within the relevant
Directorates to assist in this type of work.
Whilst acknowledging the points of concern
raised, some Members considered that the Social Services Change
Plan was so significant that it was the major priority for the
Council given the budgetary issues and therefore, the proposals
contained in the report should be supported.
Having regard to the above and related issues,
it was
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the proposed suspension
of Scrutiny Reviews until May 2008 be not accepted.
967
REVENUE MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL, 2006 TO
31ST JANUARY, 2007 (DFICTP) -
The projected outturn for 2006/07 Revenue
Budget as detailed in the report was for a forecasted deficit of
£4,351,000 on the General Fund and an underspend of £150,000 on the
Housing Revenue Account.
Learning and Development - there was an
anticipated saving of £120,000 on Education and School which had
previously been reported and had been used to offset the overspend
on Lifelong Learning of £120,000 as previously reported.
With regard to the Directorate of Community
Services - there was a current forecast for an underspend of
£150,000 on the Housing Revenue Account and a deficit of £4,351,000
on the General Fund and represented no change to that information
reported to the last meeting of the Committee.
In relation to the Directorate of
Environmental and Economic Regeneration - it was also indicated
that there was an anticipated deficit on Leisure Management of
£150,000 due to significant increases in utility costs; £120,000 on
parks maintenance due to the increase in prices charged by external
contractors for grass cutting and verge maintenance and £50,000 in
relation to additional cost of ground staff relating to the
Centenary Celebrations at Dyffryn Gardens and £180,000 on Building
Maintenance (Trading Unit) attributed to pricing policies.
These deficits were to be offset from underspends within the
Directorate. It was further noted that Cabinet on
7th February, 2007, agreed a virement of £128,000 from
Visible Services to Economic Development and Leisure. There
was an underspend in respect of Policy of £283,000 which was mainly
attributable to additional external interest earned.
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the position with regard
to the 2006/07 Revenue Budget be noted.
Reason for decision
So that Members were aware of the projected
revenue outturn for 2006/07.
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CAPITAL MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL, 2006 TO
31ST JANUARY, 2007 (DFICTP) -
Members were apprised of the progress on the
2006/07 Capital Programme for the above period.
It was noted that the following schemes were
anticipated not to outturn on target:
Directorate of Environmental and Economic
Regeneration
·
Barry Central Station - delays to the required sign-off procedure
with Network Rail and the inability to confirm rail possession
dates until the contract was in place;
·
Parc Bryn Y Don Changing Rooms / Cricket Pavilion - delays
encountered due to inclement weather;
·
Dyffryn House - delays due to inclement weather conditions and
external design issues.
Directorate of Learning and
Development
·
St. Nicholas Church in Wales Primary School - additional works
related to planned toilet refurbishment.
In addition, attached at Appendix 2 to the
report was non-financial information on Capital Schemes with a
budget over £100,000.
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the position with regard
to the 2006/07 Capital Programme be noted.
Reason for decision
So that Members were aware of the project
outturn for 2006/07.