Scrutiny Committee
Date:
Time:
Venue:
Address:
Thursday, 26 February 2015
18:30
Supper Room
Town Hall, Hall Plain, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2QF
AGENDA
Open to Public and Press
1
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
You have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in a matter to be discussed if
it relates to something on your Register of Interests form. You must
declare the interest and leave the room while the matter is dealt with.
You have a Personal Interest in a matter to be discussed if it affects
• your well being or financial position
• that of your family or close friends
• that of a club or society in which you have a management role
• that of another public body of which you are a member to a greater
extent than others in your ward.
You must declare a personal interest but can speak and vote on the matter.
Whenever you declare an interest you must say why the interest arises, so
that it can be included in the minutes.
2
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive any apologies for absence.
Page 1 of 20
3
3-5
MINUTES
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2015.
4
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT REPORT
6 - 10
To consider the Director of Customer Services report attached.
5
TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME UPDATE
The Transformation Programme Manager will provide an update at the meeting.
6
BUDGET MONITORING REPORT
11 - 17
Report attached.
7
SCRUTINY COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME 2014-15
To consider the attached Work Programme.
8
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
To consider any other business as may be determined by the Chairman of the
meeting as being of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration.
9
EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC
In the event of the Committee wishing to exclude the public from the
meeting, the following resolution will be moved:"That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the
public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on
the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as
defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12(A) of the said Act."
10
NOTICE OF CALL-IN - MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE OF
THE MARINA CENTRE AND PHOENIX POOL AND FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT AND SPORTS AND LEISURE FACILITIES
Details
Page 2 of 20
18 - 20
independent, not-for-profit company currently led by the BID Task Group who
have formed the interim Board. In due course a new Board will be elected from
businesses paying the levy in the BID area.
3. The BID levy and who contributes
a. The voluntary membership of the Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority included
businesses that both directly and indirectly benefitted from the tourism industry.
b. It was therefore a natural progression for the BID Task Group to confirm those
earmarked as eligible to pay, (ie businesses in the Borough who gain a direct or
indirect benefit from a strong tourism-based economy) and agreed that levy rate
should closely aligned to the GYTA voluntary subscription rates.
c. The BID levy – as stated in the Business Plan - will be applied to all eligible
businesses within the Borough although the following will be exempt from paying
the levy:i. Businesses with a rateable value (RV) of below £2,500 – following
representations from the guest accommodation sector who wanted to be
part of the BID.
ii. Businesses already in the Great Yarmouth Town Centre BID – to avoid
businesses having to pay two levies.
iii. Businesses whose primary function does not benefit from tourism. These
are defined using the VOA (Valuation Office Agency) category
descriptions and include; Advertising, Ambulance Station, Cemeteries,
Community Centres, Education, Factories, Fire Station, Health and
Medical, Office/Commercial, Schools, Storage, Workshop , Warehouse.
iv. Non-retail charities with no trading income, arm or facilities, not-for-profit
subscription and volunteer-based organisations.
4. Appeals
a. The Board of GYT&BIA has now published an appeal procedure for any business
who considers their categorization is incorrect. (Appendix 1)
5. Future Considerations
a. It is understood that the BID Board will be:i. Considering membership of a national BID organisation to benefit from
and share best practices during the delivery of BID projects and activities.
ii. Assessing the scope of the next BID and the categories to be included in
the plans for a second BID period.
iii. Assessing the minimum level of rateable value eligible to pay the levy.
Page 7 of 20
(GYBID) is now in its second five year term following successful renewal ballot in
February 2011. He advised Members that it was proposed that a third five year term
renewal would be sought next year. Mr Newman also reported that 2014 had been a
challenging year for the Town Centre and he gave details of foot fall figures for this
period. He outlined the expectations for 2015 and despite the recent relocation of the
Marks and Spencers store from the Town Centre he advised Members of the
indication from the owners of Market Gates to pursue a refurbishment of this building.
In response to a question as to whether the relocation of banks to the Town Centre
and the recent relocation of Marks and Spencers had affected footfall in the area the
Town Centre Manager confirmed that in his opinion this had affected the footfall and
had lead to a decrease although the Town Centre Partnership were constantly
monitoring this area. Mr Newman reported on a genuine interest that had been
shown in developing the current empty Co-op building. Mr Newman also confirmed
the former TSB bank building had been marketed but as yet no firm response had
been found.
Mr Newman stated that out of four hundred and thirty one trading areas in the Town
Centre currently fifty nine were vacant. He stated that between October to January
there had been eleven new vacancies but that alternatively fourteen had become
occupied.
In response to a question Mr Newman stated that he understood that the company
interested in the Co-op building was in fact in the retail business and were looking to
occupy the whole of the building.
The Town Centre Manager also reported that the Town Centre Partnership were part
of the discussion with regard to an overarching strategy for the Town Centre.
In conclusion the Chairman thanked the Town Centre Manager for his presentation.
6
FLEXIBLE WORKING BUSINESS CASE 5
Members considered the joint report of the Director of Customer Services and the
Transformation Programme Manager on the proposals in respect of the Flexible
Workforce Programme which was a key element of the Council's ambitious
Transformation Programme. Members were advised that a number of key benefits
would be delivered including :




Significant improvements to customer experience when accessing Council
services.
Provision of a business suite to attract and support economic growth in the
borough .
Improve Member accommodation and customer meeting facilities.
Future flexibility to provide accommodation space for other organisations and
multi-agency services that support residents of the borough.
Provision of flexible working opportunities for staff.
The Director of Customer Services also reported in detail on the opportunities for
change, financial information which included expected financial running cost benefits,
non-financial benefits, investment required and options for operational buildings that
would no longer be required.
Page 4 of 20
The Cabinet Secretary advised Members that this matter had been considered and
approved by Cabinet at its meeting on the 21 January and that the matter would now
be subject to the Call-In procedure.
RESOLVED:
That the Scrutiny Committee endorse the Flexible Workforce Programme.
7
SCRUTINY COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME 2014-15 6
The Cabinet Secretary updated Members on the outstanding items to be considered
as detailed in the Scrutiny Committee's Work Programme for 2014/15.
Members were asked to include within the Work Programme an item relating to the
Tourism Bid particularly on the criteria that had been used for the process and on
details of businesses that had been selected under this initiative. Members agreed
that this matter should be considered at their next meeting in February.
The meeting ended at: 19:40
Page 5 of 20
Subject:
Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business Improvement Area.
Report to:
Scrutiny Committee: 26th February 2015
Report by:
Jane Beck, Director of Customer Services
SUBJECT MATTER/RECOMMENDATIONS
The report explains the background of the Business Improvement District and the
criteria used to select those businesses eligible for the mandatory levy
1. Introduction
a. The first Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) were established in Britain 2004;
there are now nearly 200 BIDs in Britain.
b. A Business Improvement District (BID) is an arrangement whereby businesses
get together, decide what additional improvements they want to make, how they
are going to manage and deliver those improvements and identify the cost. A
business plan is developed which is then voted on by all those who would have
to pay. The BID can last a maximum of five years and must be able to
demonstrate how it has benefited businesses who have funded it.
c. Preparation on the Great Yarmouth Tourism & Business BID began in 2011 with
a series of sector consultations to identify industry priorities.
d. Establishing a Great Yarmouth Tourism & Business BID was recognised by the
Borough Council a key corporate project (KP03).
e. Following a further consultation exercise in 2013 the key goals were identified
as:i. To increase the number of people visiting and staying in Greater
Yarmouth
ii. To improve the visitor experience and increase repeat visits.
iii. To encourage people to stay longer and visit more attractions
iv. To provide incentives and opportunities to spend more in local
businesses.
f. Thus the four key priority areas were identified as:i. Marketing , Promotion and Events
ii. Access
iii. Facilities and Maintenance
iv. Business Support
2. Management
a. The Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority was the BID proposer and following the
successful ballot became the ‘Greater Yarmouth Tourism & Business
Improvement Area’.
b. Great Yarmouth Borough Council is the Ballot Holder and appointed the Electoral
Reform Service to carry out the ballot.
c. Great Yarmouth Borough Council is also the Billing Authority.
d. The Greater Yarmouth Page
Tourism
Business Improvement Area (GYT&BIA) is an
6 of& 20
independent, not-for-profit company currently led by the BID Task Group who
have formed the interim Board. In due course a new Board will be elected from
businesses paying the levy in the BID area.
3. The BID levy and who contributes
a. The voluntary membership of the Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority included
businesses that both directly and indirectly benefitted from the tourism industry.
b. It was therefore a natural progression for the BID Task Group to confirm those
earmarked as eligible to pay, (ie businesses in the Borough who gain a direct or
indirect benefit from a strong tourism-based economy) and agreed that levy rate
should closely aligned to the GYTA voluntary subscription rates.
c. The BID levy – as stated in the Business Plan - will be applied to all eligible
businesses within the Borough although the following will be exempt from paying
the levy:i. Businesses with a rateable value (RV) of below £2,500 – following
representations from the guest accommodation sector who wanted to be
part of the BID.
ii. Businesses already in the Great Yarmouth Town Centre BID – to avoid
businesses having to pay two levies.
iii. Businesses whose primary function does not benefit from tourism. These
are defined using the VOA (Valuation Office Agency) category
descriptions and include; Advertising, Ambulance Station, Cemeteries,
Community Centres, Education, Factories, Fire Station, Health and
Medical, Office/Commercial, Schools, Storage, Workshop , Warehouse.
iv. Non-retail charities with no trading income, arm or facilities, not-for-profit
subscription and volunteer-based organisations.
4. Appeals
a. The Board of GYT&BIA has now published an appeal procedure for any business
who considers their categorization is incorrect. (Appendix 1)
5. Future Considerations
a. It is understood that the BID Board will be:i. Considering membership of a national BID organisation to benefit from
and share best practices during the delivery of BID projects and activities.
ii. Assessing the scope of the next BID and the categories to be included in
the plans for a second BID period.
iii. Assessing the minimum level of rateable value eligible to pay the levy.
Page 7 of 20
Add information as is relevant to report being written, plus the following two
boxes must be completed:FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
As detailed in the Business Plan
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:
As covered in the Business Plan
EXECUTIVE BOARD OR DIRECTOR CONSULTATION:
Yes
RECOMMENDATIONS
Does this report raise any
legal, financial, sustainability,
equality, Crime and Disorder
or Human Rights issues and,
if so, have they been
considered?
Issues
Legal
Financial
Risk
Sustainability
Crime and Disorder
Human Rights
Every Child Matters
Equality
EqIA Form completed
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Y:\HMLS\MemberServices\Robin Hodds\Reports\Master Report To Committees (New) - February 2008.doc
Page 8 of 20
Appendix 1
GREATER YARMOUTH TOURISM & BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA
APPEALS
Introduction
1. The Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area is an opportunity for all
businesses in the borough to work together on an equitable basis to bring more
customers to spend more in local businesses prompted by a series of strategic projects
including marketing, events, improving facilities maintenance and access and with
targeted business support.
2. The BID project was instigated and managed by a BID Task Group who, guided by a
highly respected consultant, determined the categories used by the Valuation Office to
describe business-types in the Borough.
3. Given that the local tourism industry supports around a third of all jobs in the Borough
the Task Group determined that all but a very few businesses must benefit directly or
indirectly from a strong and dynamic tourism industry. Directly via customers spending
money in a range of businesses in the Borough or indirectly by supporting jobs of
residents who then spend in local businesses.
4. The regulations covering BIDs insists that the levy payers are drawn from Valuation
Office Agency (VOA) categories within a defined geographical area. As detailed in the
Business Plan it was agreed that the following categories would be excluded:Advertising, Ambulance Station, Cemeteries, Community Centres, Education, Factories,
Fire Station, Health and Medical, Office/Commercial, Schools, Storage, Workshop ,
Warehouse.
5. Other exemptions – as detailed in the BID Business Plan include:i. Businesses with a rateable value of below £2,500
ii. Businesses already in the Great Yarmouth Town Centre BID
iii. Non-retail charities with no trading income, arm or facilities, not-forprofit subscription and volunteer-based organisations.
6. The BID Task Group recognise that some business may question why they have been
included in the list of ‘eligible levy payers’ when apparent similar businesses have been
deemed exempt. This may be down to the descriptors used in the valuation list.
Page 9 of 20
So how can businesses appeal?
a.
The BID company does not have the authority to change descriptions on the VOA
list, but may be able to help with the process.
b.
However the BID Company will be pleased to investigate any queries about any
apparent anomalies over the inclusion of individual premises.
c.
In the first instance the BID Company will need the full address of the business
premise concerned and any details being queried in writing to the address or email
detailed below.
d.
The BID Company will check which category description is assigned to your business
premises.
e.
If you think that your property should be described as one of the categories exempt
(detailed above in paragraph 4) from the levy list then you should apply to the
Valuation Office to ask if your premises could be re-categorised. The decision to recategorise is solely the decision of the Valuation Office and not the BID Company.
f.
The Valuation Office will probably organise a visit to inspect your business premises
and will be looking for evidence of physical change or whether the property was
describe incorrectly when it was originally inspected.
g.
If the Valuation Office determines that it is appropriate to re-categorise your
business premises into a category exempt from paying the BID levy then you will no
longer be liable to pay the BID Levy.
Contact details
karen@greateryarmouthbid.co.uk
OR: GYT&BIA, c/o Maritime House, 25 Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2EN
Page 10 of 20
Great Yarmouth Borough Council Financial Monitoring Report Contents 1.
2.
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
3.
4.
Executive Summary General Fund Budget Resources, Governance and Growth Customer Services Housing and Neighbourhoods Non service specific costs Savings options Efficiency Support Grant Impact of current position on future budget projections Capital Expenditure Page 11 of 20
January 2014 Great Yarmouth Borough Council Financial Monitoring Report January 2014 1.
Executive Summary 1.1
At the end of the third quarter management was estimating an over spend of £383k against the net GF budget requirement (an increase of £419k on that reported mid year). The over spend has been offset by the receipt of £336k unbudgeted NNDR grant income and the use of reserves. In the main this overspend relates to £275k under‐achievement of the ambitious in year saving target and various cross directorate over/under spends which net off to £108k in total. The over spend includes £197k costs arising from the West Quay incident which happened in 2013/14 for which the council is seeking restitution through the courts. As the claim is unlikely to be settled in this financial year it will be funded from the insurance reserve contingent on the outcome of legal proceedings. The Probable outturn position is summarised by directorate in the table below: Resources, Governance & Growth Customer Services Housing & Neighbourhoods Non Service Specific costs Income Taken from reserves 1.2
1.3
2.
2.1
2014/15 Approved Budget £000s 3,255 2014/15 Current Budget (reprofiled) £000s 3,152 5,944 3,723 1,988 14,920 (14,054)
(866)
6,235 3,730 1,803 14,920 (14,054)
(866)
2014/15 Outturn Forecast £000s 3,168 Variance Current Budget to Forecast £000s 16 6,685 450 3,674 (56)
1,803 ‐ 15,330 410
(14,390) ‐
(940) (32)
The key risks associated with the budget were closely monitored throughout the year and in the main related to achieving an overall in year saving’s target of £824k. It is estimated that only £549k (i.e. 67%) will be realised by year end and hence the £275k shortfall would have to be made up in future years otherwise it would have an adverse impact on future years. The main elements of this shortfall relate to (a) income totalling £182k being less than anticipated from customer services’ car parking, cremations and use of the town hall (b) additional expenditure of £78k as a result of the ward budgets being reinstated (c) £15k shortfall in the vacancy management target (individual targets are analysed in section 2.5). The main variances are analysed by directorate in section 2 below. General Fund Budget Resources Governance & Growth The table below shows the current forecast out‐turn for the Resources, Governance and Growth Directorate: Page 12 of 20
Great Yarmouth Borough Council Financial Monitoring Report 2014/15 Actual YTD Property & Construction Resources Governance Growth Executive Team January 2014 2014/15 Budget YTD 2014/15 Current Budget £000s (681)
£000s (749)
£000s (1,036)
1,282 536 727 753 2,617 1,357 599 856 514 2,577 1,747 749 1,084 608 3,152 2014/15 Outturn Forecast Variance Current Budget to Forecast £000s £000s (1,013) 23 1,739 721 1,033 688 3,168 (8) (28) (51) 80 16 Property & Construction (£23k net overspend) ‐ £98k additional costs (relating to recently negotiated additional service and repair charges (£22k at Bretts and Courts; Winter Gardens’ legal and hire costs of £12k; consultancy costs of £37k; Easter and Xmas Fayre costs £9k; various minor overspends totalling £18k) offsett by £75k increase in income following rent reviews (reduced void periods and the leasing of new properties in Beacon Park rather than being disposed of). Resources (8K net underspend) – £7k additional staffing costs were offset by reduced training costs of £15k. Governance (28k underspend) ‐ largely as a result of savings through vacant posts. Growth (£51k net underspend) – £85k savings from staff vacancies; £4k reduction in rates for some non chargeable suites at the Catalyst Centre and receipt of £10k unbudgeted grant income are offset by £44k costs attributed to the Coastal Communities’ projects being completed in 2014/15 and £4k loss of rental income due to void properties. Executive Team (£80k overspend) – £70k additional specialist staffing costs to cover absenteeism and specialist work on bespoke projects and £10k professional fees (PWC). 2.2
Customer Services The table below shows the current forecast outturn for the Customer Services Directorate: Customer Services Tourism & Marketing 2014/15 Actual YTD 2014/15 Budget YTD 2014/15 Current Budget £000s (805)
776 £000s (849)
644 £000s (121)
783 Page 13 of 20
Variance Current Budget to Forecast £000s £000s (50) 71 895 112 2014/15 Outturn Forecast Great Yarmouth Borough Council Financial Monitoring Report January 2014 Environmental 5,654 5,701 5,475 5,784 309 Planning (31) (4) 98 56 (42) 5,594 5,492 6,235 6,685 450 Customer Services (£71k overspend)‐ £137k additional costs following the fire above cremator 1 (£52k for repairs, £25k for environmental burden sharing licenses due to the cremators being not abated and with loss income being estimated at £60k). Reimbursement is being sought from the original contractor who has gone into liquidation and hence the council is unlikely to recover its costs. Benefits/Support Services £38k over spend ( £20K costs for photocopier rental and usage and £18K Spent on compulsory software for benefits). These additional costs are offset by £104k savings (£17K net establishment saving in Customer Services, £34K net saving in Benefits due to staff vacancies, extended leave and restructuring and unbudgeted income of £53k at the Marina Centre Car parks). Environmental services (£309k overspend) ‐ £197k relates to cost of West Quay incident in 2013/14 but has been funded from the insurance reserve held centrally in the Non Service Specific cost centre (section 2.4) pending the outcome of legal proceedings. £175K loss of income form the NEWS contract offset by £28K savings as a result of staffing vacancies and £35k net savings from various over/under spends across the directorate. Tourism & Marketing (£112k overspend) adverse variance is caused by salary and overtime overspend of £13k and a net reduction in income due to a lower than expected number of functions taking place. Planning Services (42k underspend) – £47k saving from staffing vacancies offset by loss of income £13k (£20k increased income from new sources offset by £33k income from fees being lower than anticipated) and £8k net saving from over/under budgets. 2.3
Housing & Neighbourhoods The table below shows the current forecast outturn for the Housing & Neighbourhoods Directorate: 2014/15 2014/15 2014/15 2014/15 Variance Current Outturn Current Budget Actual Budget Forecast Budget YTD YTD to Forecast £000s £000s £000s £000s £000s Neighbourhoods & 1,925 2032 2,322 2,291 (31) Communities Housing Services 1041 1070 1,249 1,231 (18) Housing Health & 126 120 159 152 (7) Wellbeing 3,092 3,22 3,730 3,674 (56) Page 14 of 20
Great Yarmouth Borough Council Financial Monitoring Report January 2014 Neighbourhoods & Communities (£31k underspend) – £29k lower than anticipated management fee for Marina/Phoenix plus £2k net saving from various minor under/over spend across budget heads. Housing Services (£18k underspend) – resulting from vacancy management on the whole and various other over/underspends which netted each other off were as a result of managing the ratio of B&B to leased properties. Wellbeing (7k) underspend ‐ £12k salary saving through vacancy management were offset by an unbudgeted contribution to IHAT of £5k. 2.4
2.5
Non Service Specific Expenditure The table below shows the current forecast outturn for non service specific expenditure: 2014/15 2014/15 2014/15 2014/15 Variance Actual Budget Current Outturn Current YTD YTD Budget Forecast Budget to Forecast £000s £000s £000s £000s £000s Efficiency Support ‐ ‐ 1,249 884 ‐365 Grant Uncommitted Pension costs 1,100 456 912 1,100 ‐ 340 340 340 340 ‐ Parish Precepts including Council Tax Support Grant Net interest cost 488 318 586 617 31 Vacancy Management ‐
(113)
(226)
‐ 226 Contingency ‐ ‐ 97 17 (80) Capital Charges ‐ ‐ (13) (13) ‐ Provision for ‐ ‐ 1,167 1,167 ‐ repayment of debt Recharges to HRA (1,380)
(1,380) ‐ Earmarked Reserves (680)
(12)
(928)
(928) ‐ Transfers 1,248 988 1,1803 1,803 ‐ The savings on vacancy management are included within the individual directorates. There are no plans at present to allocate the contingency budget. Savings options Underlying the current budget is the need to deliver £4.7m of savings by 2018/19 as outlined in the Medium Term Financial Strategy. The savings’ targets are monitored individually to enable managers to take corrective action to ensure that Council remains on target to deliver its budget year on year over its financial planning timeframe. The 2014/15 targets together with a brief commentary on the (Red, Green & Amber) status of each target is outlined in the table below (£000s). Page 15 of 20
Great Yarmouth Borough Council Financial Monitoring Report Description Car parking income Cemeteries & Crematorium Share of surplus for GYBS Ltd Net income from alternative use of Town Hall Increased summons costs for Revenues Vacancy Management Deletion of Ward budgets Shared surplus from Legal services overall Budget Saving (124)
January 2014 Forecast Status
saving (108) Amber
Explanation
Car Park usage and season ticket purchases reduced during Winter but still increased income on previous year. Forecast income has been reduced but is still significantly up on previous year. GYBS on target to achieve budget. (152)
(107)
Red
(100)
(100)
Amber
(46)
75
(61)
(61)
Green
The number of functions has been reduced resulting in a net reduction to the income forecast. Income on target. (226)
(211)
Amber
Savings from vacant posts on target.
(78)
‐
Red
Council has reinstated Ward Budgets.
(37)
(37)
Amber
NPLaw board meeting postponed. (824)
(549)
Red
67% of target met with £275k shortfall rolled over to next year. 2.6
3.
4.
Efficiency Support Grant (ESG) At the end of 2013/14, the Council earmarked £631k of the 2013/14 ESG for projects which had commenced in 2013/14, but for which expenditure was likely to be incurred in 2014/15. The Department for Communities and Local Government approved £1,864k further ESG for 2014/15. The total ESG available therefore is £2,495k. Impact of current position on future budget projections The probable out‐turn position was considered by senior management as part of the budget setting process for 2016 onwards in the report Revenue Budget and Council tax setting 2016 submitted to council and approved February 2014. General Fund Capital Programme Directorate
Original
Approved
Budget 2014-15
Revised Budget
2014-15
Actual
Expenditure to
31st Dec 2014
£’000
£’000
£’000
Page 16 of 20
Great Yarmouth Borough Council Financial Monitoring Report Housing &
Neighbourhoods
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
January 2014 4,117
4,825
1,569
565
635
277
Resources,
Governance & Growth
23,815
26,478
5.542
Total
28,497
31,938
7,388
Customer Services
4.1
As at the beginning of January, £7.4m had been spent against the third quarter budget of £23,95m (three quarters of total budget). The difference between the Original Approved Budget and the Revised Budget is due to budgets rolled over from 2013‐14 for projects which were not complete by the year‐end. The total Housing & Neighbourhoods budget includes large budgets for the Empty Homes (£1.58m) & Marina Centre refurbishment projects (£1.47m), both of which are well underway and although expenditure is proportionately low for the year to date, more is committed for the final quarter of the year. This budget also includes the Homes 4 Health & King Street Housing projects, both of which have incurred no expenditure to date as plans are still being formulated to commit the budgets. The Customer Services expenditure against the proportioned budget looks relatively low for the year to date. This has arisen from a variety of reasons. Progress on Improvement works at the Crematorium (£100,000) has slowed due to ongoing problems with the original contractor’s administration. Resurfacing works to Esplanade and Tar Works Road have been scheduled to be completed by the year end. The Budget for Resources, Governance and Growth is predominantly made up of the Beacon Park budget (£23.3m). Work continues to gather pace here with £5.192m expenditure being incurred to the end of December. The units at 5‐9 Blackfriars Court & 1‐4 Wellington Park were completed by the end of September, with a further two industrial units due to be handed over during January. Work is progressing well on the office unit at Wellington Park and further units at Blackfriars Court. Tenders have been invited for a further two industrial units, although significant expenditure prior to April on these units is unlikely. Significant carry forward of budgets to 2015‐16 relating to Beacon Park have been identified. Page 17 of 20
SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
WORK PROGRAMME 2014/15
SUBJECT
ISSUES TO BE
ADDRESSED
Tourism Review –

Entrances to Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth Market Gates
Travel Information
Improvements

Lack of toilets at the bus station

Signposting

Cleaning of pavements

Pigeon droppings

Shop doorways

Adshel Shelter
DATE OF SCRUTINY
COMMITTEE
RESPONSIBLE
OFFICERS/MEMBERS
Sub-Committee set up to
report direct to Scrutiny
Committee
Director of Customer Services
J Wiggins (Norfolk County Council)
Owners of Market Gates
Network Rail
First Bus
Town Centre Partnership
Review and maintaining of Council’s
budget book.
Quarterly
Head of Resources, Governance
and Growth
Review of Key Performance To review and scrutinise existing services
Indicators
or functions of the Council.
Quarterly
Chief Executive Officer
Budget Monitoring
Leader
Town Centre Partnership
Accounts & Report
To review the activities of the Town
Centre Partnership.
Annual
Town Centre Manager
Public Information Pillars
Review of operation of the PIPs.
(As agreed by Council on 23 July 2013.)
TBA
Group Manager (Tourism)
Director of Customer Services
Page 18 of 20
-1-
SUBJECT
ISSUES TO BE
ADDRESSED
DATE OF SCRUTINY
COMMITTEE
Review of the working of GYB To review the services provided following
Services.
the approval of the new contract last
year.
Review of Allocations Scheme
Car Parking
Following the review of the Allocations
Scheme in April 2014, Committee agreed
to review its operation in six months time



Charging regime
Additional pay and display car
parks
Operation of car parking services
services
TBA
RESPONSIBLE
OFFICERS/MEMBERS
J
Jane Beck (Director of Customer Services)
Graham Jermyn (GYB Services)
Cabinet Member (Environment) – Cllr Pratt
23 October 2014
Group Manager (Housing Services)
Service Manager (Strategic Housing and
Housing Options)
25 September 2014
Director of Customer Services
Cabinet Member (Tourism and Business
Services)
23 October 2014
Joe Mackintosh
CEO Seachange Arts
Seachange Arts
Review of activities and
provided by Seachange Arts
Committee System
Review of introduction of a Committee
System to include: What would it look like
 Costs
 What are the benefits
 What are the negatives
 Effect on the democratic process
20 November 2014
Group Manager (Governance)
Cabinet Secretary
Great Yarmouth Market Place
Review of the operation of both the Six
and Two Day Market
TBA
Director of Resources, Governance and
Growth
Market Manager
Cabinet Member (Tourism and Business
Services)
Page 19 of 20
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SUBJECT
ISSUES TO BE
ADDRESSED
DATE OF SCRUTINY
COMMITTEE
RESPONSIBLE
OFFICERS/MEMBERS
Events at Town Hall
Review of number of events (including
weddings, meetings, functions) used at
Town Hall
20 November 2014
Director of Customer Services
Group Manager (Tourism and
Communications)
Transformation Programme
Review and update on the Council’s
Transformation Programme
23 October 2014
(then on ¼ basis)
Chief Executive Officer
W:\Central services\Member Services\MemberServices\Robin Hodds\Misc\SCRUTINY COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME 2014-15.doc
Page 20 of 20
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