·
To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision
scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)
Decision:
Outlook
Following
scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Remembrance
Parades - Neath and Port Talbot
Following scrutiny, the
recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Culture and Destination
Strategies
Following scrutiny, the recommendations
were supported to Cabinet.
Heritage
Strategy
Following
scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Quarter 1 - Revenue Budget
Monitoring
Following scrutiny, the
recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Quarter 1 - Capital Budget
Monitoring
Following scrutiny, the
recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Quarter
1 - Performance Indicators - 23/24
Following
scrutiny, the report was noted.
Compliments
and Complaints Annual Report 2022-2023
Following
scrutiny, the report was noted.
Minutes:
Outlook
Members
considered the report as circulated within the supplement pack.
The
Chief Executive confirmed that the purpose of the report is to provide a
detailed picture of the current position of the Council, in terms of funding
and the increase on demand in services of the authority.
Members
were updated with the inflation figures, which reflects how volatile the
current financial situation across the country is. Whilst current financial
planning takes into account a range of possible scenarios, the authority are
currently working with a 3.1% settlement figure. However, this is subject to
change.
The
panel outlined in the report, if agreed, will operate in addition to the other
mechanisms that take place. It will be used to assist in the shaping and
development of the authority’s policies and services moving forward.
Officers
confirmed due to the limited time at the end of the budget setting process, and
the size of the budget gap that the authority will be facing, it is likely that
proposals which will require policy change or service decisions will be brought
forward earlier. This will mean that the scrutiny committees will have sight of
proposals earlier and allow for a contribution when proposals for the ensuing
year are being shaped.
Following
scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Remembrance
Parades - Neath and Port Talbot
Members considered the report
as circulated within the agenda pack.
Members queried the breakdown
of the cost for the events. Officers confirmed the majority of the costs
related to the closure of the highway, together with some costs for first aid
provision and marshalling of the event. Moving forward, officers confirmed that
authority staff would be trained in traffic management plans this would assist
with reducing future costs of the event.
Members expressed their
concern that the funding was allocated for the events at the two towns and the
valley communities were not included within this item. Members asked for wider
consideration for future events. Officers advised that the reason for the focus
on the two towns related to the feedback that was received last year when the
parades were unable to take place. The veteran’s communities, particularly, in
these areas were distressed by being unable to march last year. Approaches have
not been made by any other part of the Borough, and the authority are not aware
of any other parade that are struggling.
The Chief Executive confirmed
that she has requested a review of events and festivals across the borough.
It was confirmed that the
costs for 2023 would be coming from general reserves.
Following scrutiny, the
recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Culture and Destination
Strategies
Members considered the report
as circulated within the agenda pack and the strategies circulated within the
supplement pack.
Members considered the
culture strategy in relation to sport and were pleased to see that that the
strategy identified commissioning a sport facilities need assessment. This
should include the tenure of sports facilities and also the sustainability of
the facilities.
Members queried how many
members of staff would be required to deliver the strategies, and if they are
dependent on grant funding. There are currently a couple of staff employed
using grant funding who will assist with the delivery of both strategies presented.
Officers are currently trying to obtain further grant funding.
Officers were keen to outline
that whilst the documents are Council led, the delivery of the strategy relies
on a partnership approach.
Members looked at the
consultation responses and asked officers to consider what could be done to
engage with the age group that did not provide a response. Officers stressed
the importance of a culture partnership, for younger people moving forward.
Members queried the value of
the consultants and if they were value for money in terms of the outcomes of
the reports. Officers commended the thorough work of the consultants in
relation to this item.
Members raised issued with
transport and the need to ensure that the strategies link in with the wider
strategies of the Council. Officers
recognised the importance of transport in the strategies and in general across
the Borough.
Following scrutiny, the
recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Heritage
Strategy
Members considered the report
as circulated within the agenda pack and the strategy circulated within the
supplement pack.
It was noted that this item
is a draft strategy for authorisation to go out to consultation.
Following
scrutiny, the recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Quarter 1 - Revenue Budget
Monitoring
Members considered the report
as circulated within the agenda pack and the strategies circulated within the
supplement pack.
On page 266, a projected
overspend of £2.867million is indicated. It was confirmed, this is the
projected overspend after £3.5m has been drawn down from general reserves which
was agreed by Cabinet/council when budget was originally set.
The effect of proposed pay
award NJC green book staff is still not agreed, therefore the figures presented
are a positional point in time. The overspend may be subject to change. The
report assumes that members are agreeable to using the pay contingency that was
set aside to fund the additional cost of the pay award.
Any cost savings and income
generation measures, that fall within existing measures and policies will be
considered during the year to try and reduce the overspend.
With regards to home to
school transport and the in-year overspend, it was confirmed that this is a
result of new routes, routes which existed previously however had to be
retendered therefore resulted in an additional cost. To try and mitigate future
costs, officers intended to engage with external officers to try and drive down
future costs, without affecting the entitlement of home to school transport.
Members queried what work was
being done with regards to the accommodation strategy. Officers confirmed that
the work is being undertaken. The buildings that are able to be repurposed are
subject to current discussion in relation to capital investment to determine
what is required for them to be utilised. In the meantime additional buildings
are being considered and what they can be used for in order to reduce the
Council’s carbon footprint and ongoing operating costs. This will take time, to
ensure that the Council is able to continue to provide an efficient service and
retain staff that are working within the Council.
Members highlighted the
underspend on the council tax reduction scheme and queried what was being done
to promote this, given the ongoing cost of living crisis. Further has then been
any impact from the expansion of the Welfare Rights Service. Officers were
unable to comment if the increase had had any tangible effect on take up of
council tax support. It was noted that the number of people claiming council
tax support had reduced since 2020.
The Chief Executive outlined
some points with regards to work that has been undertaken in response to
Welfare Rights support. This includes the roll out of the free school meals. In
addition, some of the shared prosperity fund money has been used on the low
income family tracker, which targets and assists people who may not be accessing
their full benefit entitlement. Officers advised that a list of support available
would be circulate to members via email following the meeting.
Following scrutiny, the
recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Quarter 1 - Capital Budget
Monitoring
Members queried if the cost of
living crisis is affecting capital budgets and if suitable contingencies have
been accounted for within the budgets. It was noted that the cost of inflation is
having an effect on the amount of things that can be delivered within existing
budgets. The increased cost of borrowing is having an effect on capital financing
costs.
Following scrutiny, the
recommendations were supported to Cabinet.
Quarter
1 - Performance Indicators - 23/24
Officers
outlined the new format that the information as being presented in. Training on
performance scrutiny is scheduled for October 2023.
Members
raised the indicator in relation to customer services and the length of time to
answer the calls. Members queried, with reference to the review of customer services,
if there was another indicator that would better reflect the performance of
customer services. Officers confirmed that a Customer Services manager has been
appointed and they been scoping the review of customer services. The performance
indicator will be a feature of the review itself and it is hoped that an
indicator can be identified which is better reflective of the quality of service
delivered. Officers confirmed that elected members will be involved as part of
the review.
Members
raised the number of staff that are exiting the authority which is instigated
by the employee. Officers confirmed that included in those figures are
experienced members of staff. Data reflects that the number of people recruiting
to the organisation has increased year on year and generally the number of
starters is outstripping the number of leavers. However, it is recognised in
part of the Council, recruitment remains difficult.
Following
scrutiny, the report was noted.
Compliments
and Complaints Annual Report 2022-2023
Whilst
members recognised that the feedback from the public was of paramount
importance, members queried if the authority notes when individual members
compliment services. Officers confirmed that when compliments from members are
received they are included as part of the reports.
Members
queried if there was a breakdown in complaints to differentiate between
complaints about the service and complaints about staff. Officers confirmed this
information was outlined within the Complaints Annual Report.
Following
scrutiny, the report was noted.