OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
Minutes of a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 February
2012 in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 9.30 am.
Members Present:
Committee:
Mr E Seward (Chairman)
Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds
Ms V R Gay
Mrs A Green
Mr P W Moore
Mr R Reynolds
Mr B Smith
Mr N Smith
Mr R Smith
Mr P Terrington
Officers in
Attendance:
The Acting Financial Services Manager (for minutes 117 - 130), the Health
Improvement Officer (for minute 131) and the Democratic Services Team
Leader.
Members in
Attendance:
Mrs H Eales, Mrs A Fitch-Tillett, Mr T Ivory, Mr K Johnson and Mr W J
Northam.
Democratic Services Officer (MMH)
123 CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
a) The Committee Room had been used for the meeting because the Council Chamber
was booked out for training. The acoustics and general accommodation in the
Committee Room were not suitable for the needs of the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee and the room must not be used for this purpose in future.
b) Mr J Perry-Warnes had undergone surgery very recently. The Leader would update
Members on his progress via the Democratic Services Team Leader.
124 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Mr J Perry-Warnes, Mr G Williams and Mr R Wright.
125 SUBSTITUTES
Ms V R Gay for Mr G Williams and Mr N Smith for Mr R Wright.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
15 February 2012
126 PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None received.
127 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2012 were signed as a correct record
after the following amendments had been agreed.
a) Minute 112, Environmental Sustainability Strategy Review, item 5, page 4, Back-up
Generator: to add “Mr R Reynolds suggested that obtaining a smaller generator,
capable of providing power for telephones, ICT and other essential items should be
considered.”
b) Minute 115, Waste Contract Update, item 2, page 9: to change the first sentence to
read “litter picking” instead of “street cleaning”. To add a second sentence “The
concerns had been particularly about the verges near Morrison’s, the football ground
and traveller site and on the Norwich Road but litter picking was essential to all areas
of the town.”
128 ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
An oral report on the Public Transport Time and Task Limited Panel was brought
forward from item 15, Overview and Scrutiny Update. This was because Ms V R Gay,
who was giving the report, needed to leave the meeting early.
The Public Transport Time and Task Limited Panel was a joint group with four Members
each from Broadland and North Norfolk District Councils. It was largely concerned with
the provision of public transport in the 2 districts and had met 4 times to date. The
membership included Councillors who regularly used public transport.
The latest meeting, on 8 February 2012, had been very useful and the Panel was
starting to coalesce. The meeting had been attended by 2 officers from Norfolk County
Council who had been able to give a comprehensive picture of provision across the
county. The County strategy appeared to be concentration on community transport. The
next step would be to question the bus operators. There had been an initial
misunderstanding that Members could not talk to the operators, but this was not so. In
response to a question from Mr P W Moore, Ms Gay said that this misunderstanding
had not prolonged the work and that the process of questioning County had been very
economical, with questions refined in advance by email.
Mr T FitzPatrick was organising a meeting of the 4 NNDC Members of the Panel to
discuss progress and the value of the work. A concern was expressed that changes of
meeting dates had prevented some Members and the officer from NNDC from attending
the Panel because of prior commitments.
129 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
The following Members declared interests in the items listed below:
Member(s)
Minute
No.
Item
Interest
Mr R C Price
130
2012/13 Base Budget and
Projections for 2013/14 to
Personal and non
prejudicial – owns a
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
15 February 2012
2015/16
Mrs A R Green
130
2012/13 Base Budget and
Projections for 2013/14 to
2015/16
second home which is
registered as a
business.
Personal and non
prejudicial – owns a
holiday letting cottage.
130 PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
The Democratic Services Team Leader updated the Committee on petitions from
members of the public. No further petitions had been received via the e-petitions facility
since the last meeting.
131 CONSIDERATION OF ANY MATTER REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE BY A
MEMBER
None.
132 RESPONSES OF THE COUNCIL OR CABINET TO THE COMMITTEE’S REPORTS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s comments on the Big Society Fund had been
forwarded to Cabinet. At the meeting of 6 February 2012 Cabinet had resolved to:
a)
consider the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recorded at its
meeting on 31 January 2012.
b)
give approval to the proposed operational framework but delegate to the
Portfolio Holder, Mr T Ivory and the Chief Executive, the task of reviewing the
detail of the comments received and recommend them to Full Council.
A group comprising the Leader, Portfolio Holder and 2 nominated Members of the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee had met for the first time on 14 February 2012, with
Graham Tuttle of the Norfolk Community Fund. Some of the comments from the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be incorporated into the resultant document.
133 THE FORWARD PLAN AND MANAGEMENT OF COUNCIL BUSINESS
The Committee noted the information.
134 BUDGET MONITORING 2011/12 – PERIOD 9
The Portfolio Holder reported that the Budget was on course for a balanced position at
the end of the year. The report was discussed:
a) The Acting Financial Services Manager would check with the relevant officer to clarify
a variance regarding the North Norfolk Youth Voice. There was a potential
underspend which would be rolled forward. Concern was expressed that money had
been put in the budget but remained unspent. It was explained that this was a timing
issue and that the money would be spent for the purpose it was originally budgeted
for.
b) Leisure complexes variation: a meeting was due to take place at the Splash on 15
February 2012 to discuss maintenance and upkeep in the longer term.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
15 February 2012
BUDGET MONITORING 2011/12 – PERIOD 9
(Continued)
c) Budget Monitoring Position – Summary (Page 18, 6.1): the following corrections were
highlighted:
• The Service Variance Total was £56,197 not £55,197
• The General Fund Reserve was £82,493 not £84,493. This meant that there
was a minor overspend, not an underspend.
d) £10,000 was the de minimus for capital spend. Expenditure above that amount could
be capitalised but it also depended on the nature of the work.
RESOLVED
To note the contents of the report and the revenue account forecast for the current
financial year.
135 TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
STRATEGY 2012/13 TO 2014/15
STATEMENT
AND
INVESTMENT
The preparation of the Strategy Statement was necessary to comply with the Chartered
Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s Code of Practice for Treasury
Management in Public Services. The Code had been revised in November 2011 and this
Strategy Statement incorporated the changes which had been made. The prime
objective of the Treasury Management Strategy was to ensure the security of the
Council’s investments.
The report was discussed:
a) At the current time the Co-operative Bank plc did not meet the minimum credit criteria
of a long term rating of A- or equivalent. This was because of a number of reasons
including the size of the bank. Arlingclose was still comfortable with the bank being
used for overnight and weekend investments for a maximum sum of £500,000.
b) There was continual monitoring of all banks and investments.
RESOLVED
That the Council be asked to RESOLVE that;
(a) The Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy and
Prudential Indicators, for 2012/13 to 2014/15, are approved.
(b) The revised Treasury Management Policy Statement is approved.
136 2012/13 BASE BUDGET PROJECTIONS FOR 2013/14 TO 2015/16
The report was introduced by the Portfolio Holder. He said that officers and Cabinet
Members had worked hard on the Budget which was fair, benefitted the Council and
residents of the District and had been achieved without an increase in Council Tax. The
Budget made savings without making enforced redundancies and despite a reduction in
government grant.
The report was discussed:
a) Mr P W Moore commended the retention of the restructuring fund. Ms V R Gay
asked why it was necessary to have money in the reserves for Restructuring and
Organisational Development. The Acting Financial Services Manager explained that
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
15 February 2012
2012/13 BASE BUDGET PROJECTIONS FOR 2013/14 TO 2015/16
b)
c)
d)
e)
(Continued)
the Organisational Development reserve was set up for Pay and Grading issues. The
Restructuring reserve was to help with finance when a service was restructured.
There was a second level of management restructure still to come. This could result
in some one-off costs.
£150,000 savings had been estimated from the restructuring of the management
team. Potentially there could be a higher saving but the main priority was to get the
right structure in place for the organisation. The report made to Full Council on 14
December 2011 had given £150,000 as the minimum figure.
In response to a question from the Chairman, the Portfolio Holder said that the New
Homes Bonus was not ring-fenced but the Cabinet had decided that it should be
used for the community, in accordance with the Government’s aims. If sufficient
savings had not been made and help from the Government regarding freezing the
Council Tax had not been received Cabinet would have had to consider using the
New Homes Bonus for other purposes.
Revenue Support Grant and Business Rates: in response to a question from the
Chairman, the Acting Financial Services Manager said that the projections for 2013
onwards had been reduced based on the forecast that had been received and in the
understanding that central government might reduce the Revenue Support Grant
even further in subsequent years. A possible increase in the number of houses had
not been taken into account in the projections. There were reasons, including the
transfer of properties from Council Tax to Business rates, to be prudent.
Concern was expressed that, because North Norfolk had a significant number of
second homes and holiday homes, a switch from Council Tax to Business Rates
would impact on receipts. The Acting Financial Services Manager said that
consultations were taking place on how the new Business Rates system would work.
A scheme was being set up to provide a safety net and North Norfolk District Council
would almost certainly be in receipt of top-up.
RESOLVED
to add this topic to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.
A payment of £150,000 had been received from central government because the
Council Tax had not been increased. This was for one year only and would have
implications on the 2013/14 budget if the Council Tax was to remain frozen.
g) A perceived inconsistency with Small Business Rate Relief needed further
investigation. The subject of Business Rates and Small Business Rate Relief would
be put on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme,
h) The funding for community transport such as NWACTA was in the Big Society Fund
and was secure for the coming year.
i) Mr P W Moore asked about the impact on income that might result from the abolition
of free car parks, especially in North Walsham. The people who normally used free
car parks tended to be those who worked in the town. If they bought season tickets
they could opt to park in more convenient town centre car parks, leaving less room
for shoppers. The Portfolio Holder replied that it was hoped that people would use
the Vicarage Road Car Park which tended to be under-used. He pointed out that
NNDC had to maintain free car parks although they didn’t bring in any income. The
scheme would be reconsidered at the end of the year if it proved to be unsuccessful.
The impact of increased season ticket holders on car park income was largely
unknown at present although some financial modelling had been carried out.
j) Mr P Terrington asked that, as he had to report back to his parishes, he might be
informed of the outcome of consultations on parking charge orders.
f)
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
15 February 2012
2012/13 BASE BUDGET PROJECTIONS FOR 2013/14 TO 2015/16
(Continued)
RESOLVED
to include this topic, including the outcome of consultations, for a regular update on
the Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme.
Members considered the recommendations and voted on them individually.
a) It was RESOLVED with 3 Members voting against
To recommend to Full Council that the 2012/13 revenue account budget as
outlined at Appendix F and that the surplus of £87,975 be allocated to the
Restructuring Proposals reserve;
b) It was RESOLVED with 2 abstentions
To recommend to Full Council that the demand on the Collection Find will be
subject to any amendments as a result of final precepts;
(i)
£5,789,172 for District purposes;
(ii)
£1,561,174 (subject to confirmation of one final precept) for
Parish/Town precepts;
c) It was RESOLVED with 2 Members voting against
To recommend to Full Council the movement on the reserves as detailed at
Appendix I;
d) It was RESOLVED
To recommend to Full Council the updated Capital Programme and it’s
financing for 2011/12 to 2014/15 as detailed at Appendix J and as contained
within the report along with the authority to negotiate for the purchase of a
new waste vehicle;
e) It was RESOLVED
To recommend to Full Council the new capital bids as detailed at Appendix K.
f) It was RESOLVED
To note the current projections for 2013/14 to 2015/16.
137 HEALTH STRATEGY PROGRESS REPORT
a) Under new legislation the Council had a large responsibility for Health and Wellbeing.
Significant work had been done with commissioning groups, 4 community gyms
(including one in the Broadland district) had been set up and the Warm Homes
Healthy People Fund had been launched. All targets were on course and some had
already been exceeded.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
15 February 2012
HEALTH STRATEGY PROGRESS REPORT
(Continued)
b) A presentation had been made by the Health Trainer team at the Overview and
Scrutiny meeting on 25 January 2012. Health Trainers were able to refer people to
NNDC schemes via the North Norfolk Activity Referral Scheme which would be
launched at the end of February/beginning of March. To prevent inequity for some
patients it was necessary to persuade all GPs to participate in the scheme
c) The Warm Homes Healthy People Fund was funded by central government. Despite
a tight timescale NNDC officers had made a successful bid and had received
approximately £320,000 to implement the agreed projects by April 2012. NNDC
officers were now managing 2 projects across Norfolk – distribution of 7000 winter
warmer packs to vulnerable people and installation of low level insulation. Members
were shown the contents of a winter warmer pack which included thermal blanket,
hat, gloves, hot water bottle, room thermometer and chair-bound exercise DVD. The
packs had been distributed to colleagues in agencies which had contact with
vulnerable people, to ensure that they were only given to those in real need. NNDC,
via Age UK, could provide extra insulation. 25 heaters would soon arrive. These
could be distributed when necessary. There was also a bank of emergency heating
oil. Work was being done with a credit union to negotiate a scheme for cheaper
purchase of heating oil. Mr R C Price suggested that the credit union should make a
presentation to Full Council. Members supported this idea and suggested it should
be passed on to the Chair of the Council.
d) In response to a Member’s question regarding the criteria for deciding if someone
was vulnerable, the Health Improvement Officer said that generally it was people who
were old, ill or disabled. The reason the packs were being distributed by other
agencies was to ensure that they were given to the right people. Every agency had
been asked how many packs they needed. Some packs had been kept back for
people who, because of pride or other reasons, might “slip the net”. There were only
1000 packs in total, but the need was greater. If funding was still available further
applications would be made to ensure that the scheme could continue. There was
also an arrangement with other district councils to take up any under-use. Road
shows were taking place to promote use of the scheme and to encourage parish
councils to take ownership of some of the projects.
e) A concern was raised that some older people had to choose between buying food or
paying fuel bills and that there was lack of referral to the Meals-on-Wheels scheme.
The Health Improvement Officer would raise this issue with the GP Consortium.
f) Members requested that information about the Warm Homes Healthy People Fund
should be published in the Members’ Bulletin. The next Healthy Strategy report
should also include an update.
g) Rural Isolation Project: this project aimed to reduce the impact of rural isolation on
people’s physical, mental, social and economic health. The Rural Community Council
was keen to do some joint work on this.
h) North Norfolk Work Out Project: the project had been very successful. Funding ran
out at the end of June but, because of its success, the project had been identified as
one for which additional funding could be applied. Eventually it was envisaged that a
community group be set up to take on the project.
Community Hospitals: NNDC had fought hard to keep community hospitals and it
was now paying dividends. In response to a question from Mr P Terrington the Health
Improvement Officer said that Wells Cottage Hospital had not taken part in the Warm
Homes Healthy People project although packs had been distributed via Heritage
House.
i) There were no beds at Cromer Hospital and this influenced the procedures and
services which could be provided. However the GPs would have more influence on
service provision than they had in the past.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
15 February 2012
HEALTH STRATEGY PROGRESS REPORT
(Continued)
j)
A suggestion was made that the Health Trainers should take part when the Olympic
Torch passed through North Norfolk. There would be 2 Health Trainers based in
each of the towns involved.
k) Concern was expressed that a disabled group had been prevented from using
facilities at Fakenham although the rationale was not known.
l) The Leader informed the Committee that a Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board was
being set up for Norfolk. The role of Health and Wellbeing Boards was to provide
leadership across health, social care and public health. They would take on a
convening role in health improvement, tackling the causes of ill-health, improving
health and social care services, and promoting integration of health and social care.
Health and Wellbeing Boards would be formal sub-committees of upper tier councils
and would be statutorily operational from April 2013. They were expected to work in
‘shadow’ form from April 2012. It was important that each district should have its own
representative. The Leader would be nominated to the Shadow Board at Full Council
on 22 February 2012. The Chairman commended this and reminded Members that
the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, at the meeting of 18 October 2011, had made
a recommendation to support the Chief Executive in getting effective district
representation on the Health and Wellbeing Board.
m) The Portfolio Holder summed up by saying that the Health Improvement Officer was
demonstrating now how councils would work in the future with multi-agency cooperation and sourcing money from elsewhere.
RESOLVED
that the next Health Strategy report should include an update on the Warm Homes Healthy
People scheme and that information about the scheme should be published in the Members’
Bulletin.
138 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY UPDATE
a) The minutes from the meeting of 25 January 2012 had been sent to Walcott Parish
Council. The item on Flooding at Walcott had been attended by representatives from
the Environment Agency, the local community and County Councillor Paul Morse.
Following the meeting they had been able to get together and explore how to gain a
better understanding of the system and to get more people on the flood alert scheme.
This had fulfilled one of the prime aims of Scrutiny – to make a difference.
b) Planning Enforcement: Members had asked for a report to be brought to the March
meeting. However the Head of Planning and Building Control had advised, after
discussion with the Chair of the Development Committee, that it would be better to
report to the meeting on 23 May 2012. This was because a number of initiatives had
just been introduced and it was too early to evaluate their effectiveness. Members
agreed to receive the report in May.
c) In the course of the meeting 2 further topics had been identified for inclusion on the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.
• The impact of second homes switching from Council Tax to Business Rates.
• Progress on car park charges and income, including outcome of consultations.
Members had also asked that the next Health Strategy Update report should include
an update on the outcomes of the Warm Homes Healthy People scheme.
d) Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds attended a seminar at Westminster on 14 February 2012.
The event was organised by the Centre for Public Scrutiny and included the
opportunity to see a Parliamentary Select Committee at work and to understand the
role of forensic questioning in effective scrutiny. Mrs Claussen-Reynolds would bring
a report to the March meeting.
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
15 February 2012
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY UPDATE
(Continued)
e) Coastal issues: the Vice Chair would liaise with the Portfolio Holder about the
possibility of having an item on Coastal Issues on the work programme later in the
year, possibly in May. It was understood that the Coastal Management Board would
meet soon.
The meeting concluded at 12.15 pm
_________________________
Chairman
Overview and Scrutiny Committee
15 February 2012