Report Title
Overview and Scrutiny Update
Which Committees is this report
intended for? (Please state dates)
Cabinet Date:
Overview and Scrutiny Date: 18 October 2011
Full Council Date:
Is the report Exempt?
Yes
No
Does the report concern a Key
Decision?
Yes
No
If a Key Decision is it on the Forward
Plan?
Yes
No
Why is it exempt?
Ward(s) affected
All
Responsible Cabinet Member name
Tom FitzPatrick
Contact Officer
Mary Howard
Email address
mary.howard@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Telephone number
01263 511456
Are there Non-electronic
appendices?
Yes
No
List of Background Papers, if any
File Location
909/WPData/New Committees/Overview and
Scrutiny/2011 – 2012/18 October
2011/Draft/Overview and Scrutiny Update
Implications/Risks
Have you identified and explained within the
report the implications of the options
available to Members?
(Implications should include financial, legal
and links to the Council’s existing policies
and strategies)
Have you highlighted the risks to the
Council?
Financial Implications and Risks to the
Council should have their own separate
headings. It is not acceptable to simply
state that financial implications or risks have
been alluded to in the main body of the
report.
Have you considered Sustainability issues
in relation to this report? Sustainability
should have its own separate heading. It is
not acceptable to simply state that
Sustainability has been alluded to in the
Yes
None
Yes
None
Yes
None
main body of the report
Have you considered Equality and
Diversity issues in relation to this report?
Equality and Diversity should have its own
separate heading. It is not acceptable to
simply state that Equality and Diversity has
been alluded to in the main body of the
report
Have you considered S17 Crime and
Disorder issues in relation to this report?
Crime and Disorder should have its own
separate heading. It is not acceptable to
simply state that Crime and Disorder has
been alluded to in the main body of the
report
Yes
None
Yes
None
This report has been subject to the following processes:
Consultations with:
Cabinet Member
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Local Member
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Not applicable
S151 Officer
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Not applicable
Monitoring Officer
Yes
If not please state
reason below
S17 Officer
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Democratic Services Team Leader
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Communications Manager
Yes
If not please state
reason below
Other Head(s) of Service:
Others:
Chair and Vice Chair of Overview and Scrutiny
Please confirm this report has been signed off by:
Management Team
Yes
Not apt
Relevant Strategic Director
Yes
The Chief Executive
Yes
Not apt
Not apt
Agenda Item No_____16_______
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY UPDATE
Summary:
This report updates the Committee on progress with
topics in its agreed work programme (attached at
Appendix A) and invites Members to identify any
arising items for future meetings. The Scrutiny
Committee’s working style and role is attached at
Appendix B.
Conclusions:
That progress is being made in some areas, others
need to be monitored and opportunities for scrutiny
should be discussed.
Recommendations:
That Members should consider any follow-up
actions required on these topics.
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
Mr T J FitzPatrick
All
Contact Officer, telephone number and email: Mary Howard, Democratic Services
Team Leader, Tel.01263 516047, mary.howard@north-norfolk.gov.uk
1.
Introduction
1.1
The Scrutiny Update report is a standing item on all Overview and Scrutiny
Committee agendas. The report updates Members on progress made with
topics on its agreed work programme and provides additional information
which Members may have requested at a previous meeting.
1.2
The report is prepared by the Democratic Services Team Leader whose role
includes that of Scrutiny Officer.
2.
Progress on topics since the last meeting
2.1
Public Question
At the meeting of 21 September the following question was received from a
member of the public, Mrs G Lisher:
“Can you tell me if the current funding arrangement between County
and District Council, relating to 2nd homes monies being allocated to
affordable housing and area partnerships will continue and is ringfenced, and is this redistribution of funding discretionary or mandatory?
Meaning will this funding be redirected by County into their possible
alternative projects?”
It was agreed that the Portfolio Holder – Financial Services would respond in
writing within seven days. The letter is attached at Appendix C
As a follow-up to this item the Chairman asked for information regarding the
number of second homes paying Council Tax across the District.
The following response was received from the Revenue Services Manager. It
included the second homes table which was updated each year for the CTB1
Government Return and showed the Second Homes at both 10% and the
50% discounts.
The 4 Oct 2010 total was 4763 (3677 + 1086) compared to 5 Oct 2009 which
was 4675 (3566 +1109).
Reduced council
tax discount
granted
Total number of second homes that received a reduced or 50% council tax
discount as at 4 October 2010 (Class A & B)
No council tax
discount (0%)
1% - 9%
10% exactly
3677 (2010) 3566 (2009)
11% - 19%
20% -29%
30% - 39%
40% -49%
50%
2.2
1086 (2010) 1109 (2009)
Planning Performance Update
An update on Planning Performance will come to the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee on 16 November 2011. This was one of the topics identified at the
Scrutiny Training Day (see item 3)
2.3
Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People
A presentation by the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People will be made to the
Committee on 18 October 2011.
2.4
Annual Equality Report
The Annual Equality Report will come to the Committee later this year. It will
include information about Domestic Violence as suggested by a Member at
the September meeting.
2.5
Ombudsman Complaints
At the September meeting a question was asked, in the context of the report
on Compliments, Complaints and Suggestions, about complaints to the
Ombudsman. The P A to the Chief Executive advises that complaints to the
Ombudsman are minimal. They are kept on record in the Chief Executive’s
office and are available for Members’ inspection.
3.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Training Day 16 September 2011
The Overview and Scrutiny Training Day took place on 16 September 2011. It
was attended by Members and non-Members of the Committee. Notes from
the event were distributed last month but further copies can be obtained from
mary.howard@north-norfolk.gov.uk
During the training Members identified the need for a report, as soon as
possible, on crime and disorder. They also requested an update on Planning
Performance (see item 2.2). The following topics were listed as meriting
further exploration:
•
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•
•
•
•
•
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•
•
•
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•
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•
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•
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Provisions for healthcare/rehabilitation/convalescence
Social Housing
Empty Houses
Corporate Planning Process
Crime and Disorder – Anti-Social Behaviour throughout the District
Council budget
Waste collection
Parking charges
Tourism – promoting parts of the District other than Cromer and
Sheringham
Public conveniences
Local transport
Localism Bill
Making the best of new planning arrangements
Performance of planning application process
Public awareness of scrutiny
Investment in jobs
Town centre regeneration
Process for Member training
Progress of Corporate and Forward plans.
Parking charges
Public conveniences
In choosing the topics Members recognised that Overview and Scrutiny could
look for connections between different topics and different services. Some
items on the list would come under the heading of overview and other under
scrutiny. Some were external matters, others internal. It was important to get
the balance right. Members asked for regular sessions where they could get
together to focus on choosing topics for the Work Programme. They also
suggested some amendments to the criteria and these will be implemented in
time for the November meeting.
4.
Special Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, 4 October
2011
A special meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was held on 4
October 2011 to discuss the Corporate Plan. The Committee made a number
of observations and suggestions which have been drawn up into a list and
forwarded to Cabinet. The points from Overview and Scrutiny and Cabinet’s
response to them will be presented to all Members at Full Council on 19
October 2011.
The Committee also made the following recommendation to Full Council:
“That the decision to approve the Corporate Plan is deferred to allow
consultation with parish and town councils and other key partners on
the key priorities and actions”
In connection with the Corporate Plan the following topics were identified for
future meetings:
5.
•
Presentation on Economic Development Strategy (TBA)
•
Financial Plan 2011/12 – 2014/15 (November 2011)
•
Annual Plan (Corporate Plan) (January 2012)
•
Housing Strategy (January 2012)
•
Shoreline Management Plan (TBA)
•
Localism Consultation (TBA)
Revised Date
At the last meeting Members agreed that the date of the February 2012
Overview and Scrutiny Committee should be changed from 22nd to 15th. This
is because Full Council was moved back to 22 February to accommodate the
Council Tax setting.