Issue - meetings

Option 2: Cabinet approves the Performance and Finance Report – Quarter ended 30 September 2021 and the priority report detail as set out in appendices 1-9, together with the council’s financial position as set out at 10 and 11.

Cllr Brodie stated that he did not believe that adequate resources had been allocated to the scrutiny process within the council, and was keen to ensure that the Cabinet would more resources into it in the next budget. In response, Cllr Bacon explained that in some areas of the QPMR the measures were quite limited but that the new Corporate Plan, if approved by Full Council, would extend the measures which would provide more information for councillors and the public. It was felt that the increased number of items on the Forward Plan for decision would result in increased demand for scrutiny and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee were invited to make any suggestions as to how they felt scrutiny could be improved. Whilst agreeing that support for scrutiny was under resourced, the importance of documents being received in good time was stressed, as this would allow enough time for questions to be asked and answers provided by officers in a timely manner.

The Chairman agreed that the resourcing of scrutiny would be looked into as part of the budget process.

Clarification on some of the measures had been provided to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee in response to queries raised.

The committee considered the report which provided a summary of progress against Corporate Plan activities for the period July to September 2021.

Questions were raised regarding the capital programme for the Floating Bridge and it was confirmed that the figure included the funding from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.

Questions were raised regarding the Nicholson Road, Ryde project, as referred to in the capital programme forecast. It was advised that a written response on the latest position would be provided by the Director for Regeneration.

Discussion took place regarding the capital budget for housing and the apparent savings in disabled facilities. It was confirmed that the delivery of works funded by the disabled facilities grant had been slowed due to Covid and would roll into the next financial year.

Questions were raised regarding the roll-out of the Council’s website component of the Digital Strategy. It was confirmed that a number of capital projects connected with ICT had been paused to enable a review to be undertaken of the Council’s future ICT requirements.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report be noted.