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Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: The Council Chamber, Town Hall, Corney Place, Penrith, CA11 7QF

Contact: Democratic Services  01768 817817

Items
No. Item

OS/1/07/22

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from:

Cllr Holden; Cllr McCall deputised.

OS/2/07/22

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of the existence and nature of any private interest, both disclosable pecuniary and any other registrable interests, in any matter to be considered or being considered.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were received.

OS/3/07/22

Minutes

To sign the minutes OS/63/05/22 to OS/73/05/22 of the meeting of this Committee held on the 12th May 2022 as a correct record of those proceedings (copies previously circulated).

Minutes:

Proposed by Cllr Banks

Seconded by Cllr Burgin

 

andRESOLVED that the minutes OS/63/05/22 to OS/73/05/22 of the meeting of this Committee held on the 12th May 2022 be confirmed and approved by the Chair as a correct record of those proceedings.

OS/4/07/22

Corporate Performance Report : Q4 1 January 2022 - 31 March 2022 pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To consider the attached report DoR28/22 of the Interim Director of Resources, which:

 

1. Summarises the progress against the revised corporate performance targets for the period 1 January 2022 - 31 March 2022; and

2. Informs the Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny Committee of any areas of concern or issues requiring attention and the remedial actions taken.

 

RECOMMENDED that the progress for Quarter 4 2021/2022 be reviewed by this Committee and that recommendations be made to the Cabinet.

Minutes:

Members considered the report DoR28/22 of the Interim Director of Resources, which sought to update the Committee by summarising the progress against the revised corporate performance targets for the period 1 January 2022–31 March 2022 and informed the Committee of any areas of concern or issues requiring their attention as well as advising them of the remedial actions taken.

 

The Interim Director of Resources introduced the report and took questions from Members of the Committee.

 

The Assistant Director Development noted that owing to the Nutrient Neutrality requirements, they foresaw an increasing backlog in the number of planning applications requiring approval.

 

Questions:

 

A Member enquired whether there was a map available of the 120 electrical charging points referenced in the report at C5 and about the locations of the play areas also referenced in the report at L1. The Interim Director of Resources endeavoured to provide a written response to the Member.

 

A Member enquired what the visual assessment of the land under the biodiversity section at D1 of the report made reference to. The Interim Director of Resources advised that a written response would be provided. The Member also enquired whether the Zero Carbon strategy was on track. The Interim Director of Resources advised that the Zero Carbon strategy was on track at C3 and C5 of the report and that those projects resourced for completion in the current financial year would be completed in that period. The Member enquired further whether there was a relationship between the grants and the activities provided through the Council’s Zero Carbon Strategy and the corporate priorities contained in the report and whether this could be quantified. The Interim Director of Resources advised that a written response would be provided.

 

A Member enquired whether the Council monitored the progression of the grants awarded. The Interim Director of Resources advised that grant applications were monitored both at the application stage and afterward.

The Member enquired further about an update regarding the planning enforcement cases backlog. The Assistant Director Development endeavoured to provide a written response to the Member.

 

A Member enquired about the budgeted investments in play areas. The Interim Director of Resources endeavoured to provide a written response to the Member regarding the plans and investments. The Member further enquired about the absence of a target for the Green Home Scheme under Appendix B. The Interim Director of Resources endeavoured to provide a written response.

 

Proposed by Cllr Raine

Seconded by Cllr Banks

 

andRESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

OS/5/07/22

Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme and Cabinet Work Programme 2022 - 2023 pdf icon PDF 730 KB

To consider the attached report DoR52/22 of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which:

 

1. Sets out the current and possible future agenda items for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and in particular to set the Committee’s work programme for the municipal year 2022-2023. The report also invites suggestions for possible agenda items from all non-Executive Members; and

2. Notes the Cabinet Work programme and considers any items which might benefit from the input of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee prior to the Cabinet making a decision.

 

RECOMMENDED that:

 

1.     The Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for the municipal year 2022-2023 be noted and any revisions be agreed; and that

2.    The Cabinet Work Programme be noted, and any decisions to scrutinise items contained therein be made.

 

Minutes:

Members considered the report DoR52/22 of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which sought to update Members by setting out the current and possible future agenda items for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and in particular to set the Committee’s work programme for the municipal year 2022-2023. The report also invited suggestions for possible agenda items from all non-Executive Members; and noted the Cabinet Work programme and considered any items which might benefit from the input of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee prior to the Cabinet making a decision.

 

A Member enquired about the programme for Portfolio Holder attendance. The Chair clarified that the Democratic Services Manager had circulated the list of portfolio holder responsibilities to Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with the view to obtaining suggestions for areas Members wished to focus on and that no responses had been received. The Chair and Vice-Chair would subsequently meet with the Democratic Services Manager to formalise this programme.

 

The Interim Director of Resources highlighted the importance of identifying specific service areas the Committee would like to scrutinise and where appropriate the relevant portfolio holder could attend in conjunction with an officer. A Member enquired about an Asset of Community Value (ACV) and the Interim Director of Resources clarified that the ACV status did not impair the business operations in any way and only gave the community the right to bid in the event of the business being sold.

 

A Member enquired about the justification for the investment in a 3G pitch at Penrith Football Stadium. The Interim Director of Resources advised that the pitch was being upgraded with regards to the match-level funding as contained in the previous proposal submitted and approved at Council for the maintenance and operation of the grounds which are owned by the Council.

 

A Member enquired about the expenditure on gym equipment in the report and proposed inviting the Communities Portfolio Holder to attend the next meeting of the Committee.

 

Proposed by Cllr Raine

Seconded by Cllr Banks

 

andRESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

OS/6/07/22

Gazprom Update pdf icon PDF 278 KB

To consider the attached report DoR53/22 of the Interim Director of Resources, which provides an update to the Committee on the position regarding the Council’s contract with Gazprom, and presents the latest on the changes in ownership and control within the company.

 

RECOMMENDED that this Committee notes the report.

Minutes:

Members considered the report DoR53/22 of the Interim Director of Resources, which sought to update the committee on the position regarding the Council’s contract with Gazprom, and presents the latest on the changes in ownership and control within the company.

 

Proposed by Cllr Raine

Seconded by Cllr Wicks

 

and RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

OS/7/07/22

S106 Task and Finish Group Update pdf icon PDF 604 KB

[Please note: this report will be sent ‘to follow’]

Minutes:

Members considered report DCE38/22 of the Chair of the Section 106 (s106) Task and Finish Group, which sought to provide an update on the progress being made by the task group in reviewing the processes and resources for managing the implementation of planning obligations under s106.

 

Proposed by Cllr Wicks

Seconded by Cllr Ryland

 

andRESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommends to the Cabinet that a fixed term post is created and funded to:

 

1. complete the review of Section 106 Agreements and the work of the Task

and Finish Group; and

2. maintain the monitoring of Section 106 Agreements up to the vesting of Westmorland & Furness Council.

OS/8/07/22

Any Other Items which the Chair decides are urgent

Minutes:

There were no other urgent items of business.

OS/9/07/22

Date of Next Scheduled Meeting

The date of the next scheduled meeting of this Committee be confirmed as Thursday, 1st September 2022 at 6.45 p.m.

 

Minutes:

The date of the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was confirmed as Thursday, 1st September 2022 at 6:45PM.