Council and Democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall, Chesterfield

Contact: Rachel Appleyard/Charlotte Kearsey  01246 345277/5326

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Members' and Officers Interests relating to items on the Agenda

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were received.

2.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Callan, Caulfield, Dyke and Perkins.

3.

Budget Outturn Report

5:05pm to 5:45pm

 

Verbal Report

Minutes:

The Director of Finance and Resources attended to update members on the General Fund Budget Outturn for 2017/18. The Director explained that the original budget had forecast a £200k deficit and the actual net surplus was £1.2million on the General Fund.

 

The Director explained that in 2017/18 there had been significant growth from the Operational Services Division, Spirepride and the Chesterfield and District Crematorium. There had been accounting, minimum revenue provision and insurance savings in addition to council services broadly delivering on budget.

 

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) had balanced budgets over the medium term and there was a surplus of £2.5million in 2017/18. The surplus had increased the reserves which were now sufficient for the short term.

 

Capital receipts had been lower than anticipated due to complications with some sites; however the sales were now progressing towards completion.

 

The Director informed the members of some ongoing risks. These risks included Business Rates appeal losses, uncertainty around government policy, cost pressures and the possibility of an economic downturn. It was explained that these risks were the reason the reserves were so important for the council.

 

Consideration was being given to how industrial units could be expanded and increased because these units are in demand in Chesterfield. 

 

Members thanked the Director of Finance and Resources for providing the update.

 

RESOLVED –

 

1. That the update be noted.

 

2. That an update on the budget monitoring position and medium term financial forecast be brought to the meeting of the Forum on 20 November, 2018.

4.

Scrutiny Annual Report pdf icon PDF 219 KB

5:45pm to 5:55pm

Minutes:

The draft Scrutiny Annual Report was considered by Members. The report would be submitted to Council for approval on 18 July, 2018.

 

RESOLVED-

 

1.   That the Scrutiny Annual Report be approved.

 

2.   That authority be delegated to the Joint Scrutiny Chairs and the Senior Democratic and Scrutiny Officer to make any late amendments.

5.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 17 KB

6:25pm to 6:30pm

Minutes:

The Forward Plan was considered.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Forward Plan be noted.

6.

Scrutiny Monitoring pdf icon PDF 87 KB

6:30pm to 6:35pm

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Monitoring Schedule was considered.

 

RESOVLED –

 

That the Scrutiny Monitoring Schedule be approved.

7.

Derbyshire Unemployed Workers Centre

5:55pm to 6:25pm

 

Verbal Update and presentation

Minutes:

Colin Hampton from Derbyshire Unemployed Workers (DUWC) Centre attended to provide members with an insight into how the DUWC operated, the funding position and what support they offer.

 

The DUWC provided services in Chesterfield town centre, Brimington, Hasland, Staveley, Alfreton, Bolsover, Clay Cross, Clowne, Creswell, Eckington, Grassmoor, Heanor, North Wingfield, Pinxton, Shirebrook and Somercotes. The members were informed that due to budget reductions from Derbyshire County Council (DCC) the DUWC would no longer be able to provide their service in as many locations.

 

The DUWC had received support from community contributions and external funding which had enabled them to almost replace the money which had been discontinued from DCC. Colin Hampton emphasised that this funding would have to be located every year so this would be a continued struggle for the DUWC.

 

Colin Hampton detailed the appeal award totals from the most common issues the DUWC dealt with. There had a total of almost £300k returned in arrears payments and a £10k increase in weekly payments to the DUWC clients. The members were informed that there were hundreds of tribunals waiting to be heard so there were many more people to be helped.

 

The DUWC also lobbied against issues which affected their clients. The most significant issue currently was the introduction of Universal Credit (UC). Clients were being interviewed about their experiences and awareness was being raised about the assistance available related to UC. Leaflets were also being distributed in Staveley, Poolsbrook and Lowgates in advance of UC being introduced in those areas. Members thanked the DUWC for their proactive work to lessen the negative impacts of UC.

 

The DUWC had also lobbied against zero hours contracts and agency workers.

 

The Chair thanked Colin Hampton for informing Members about the organisation and answering Members’ questions.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the update be noted.

8.

Scrutiny Project Group Progress Updates

- Town Centre Scrutiny Project Group – Lead Member Councillor

Howard Borrell

 

- HS2 Scrutiny Project Group – Lead Member Councillor Jenny Flood

 

6:35pm to 6:45pm

Minutes:

Town Centre Scrutiny Project Group

 

Councillor Borrell provided an update on the progress of the scrutiny project group report. A response from the Cabinet to each of the report’s recommendations was being composed. Once received the response would be circulated to all members of the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum. 

 

HS2 Scrutiny Project Group

 

Councillor Flood provided an update on the progress of the scrutiny project group. The report was underway and it was hoped that the report would be presented to the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum in September.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the updates be noted.

9.

Work Programme for the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum pdf icon PDF 80 KB

6:45pm to 6:50pm

Minutes:

The Work Programme for the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum was considered. The Chair noted that there were no changes to the Work Programme.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Work Programme be approved.

10.

Joint Overview and Scrutiny

6:50pm to 6:55pm

Minutes:

There were no updates.

11.

Overview and Scrutiny Developments

6:55pm to 7:00pm

Minutes:

The Joint Chairs would be attending a training session on chairing scrutiny and would feed back to the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and the Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee.

12.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 76 KB

7:00pm to 7:05pm

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum held on 8 May, 2018 were presented.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.