Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Committee made in accordance with Part 4B paragraph 5 of the Constitution.

Apologies had been received from Cllr Karl Love.

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2023.

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2023 be confirmed as a true record.

To invite Members to declare any interest they might have in the matters on the agenda.

No declarations were received at this stage.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that a general dispensation was applied enabling councillors to discuss matters of the budget.

Members of the public are invited to make representations to the Committee regarding its workplan. Questions may be asked without notice, but to guarantee a full reply at the meeting a question must be put (including the name and address of the questioner) in writing or by email to democratic.services@iow.gov.uk, no later than two clear working days before the start of the meeting. The deadline for written questions is Thursday, 2 November 2023.

No public questions were received.  

To receive an update on the progress against the outcomes arising from previous meetings, and to provide an update on any outstanding actions.

The chairman presented the report which provided an overview of the progress against actions and outcomes from previous meetings. It was confirmed that the formal request made by members of the committee in March 2023 to view the confidential Floating Bridge settlement had been refused.

RESOLVED:

THAT the progress report be noted.

To identify any items contained within the Council’s forward plan which would benefit from early consideration by scrutiny, either before the Cabinet makes a decision or to monitor post-implementation, and should therefore be included in the Committee’s work programme. The forward plan can be viewed online here.

To note the content of the current work programme, and to consider the inclusion of any additional items. Members of the public are invited to submit in writing to the Committee possible items for inclusion in its workplan.

Consideration was given to the committee’s work programme and the committee were invited to identify any item contained within the published forward plan that would benefit from early consideration within the committee’s own workplan or that of one of the policy and scrutiny committees.

It was agreed that the Future Governance Report (due for consideration by the Full Council in January 2024) would be added to the committee’s workplan for its meeting on 9 January 2024.

The chairman advised that it had been agreed with the chairmen of the Policy and Scrutiny Committees that the scrutinisation of flooding matters would be led by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee. It was advised that an informal briefing was being sought for December 2023, and an agenda item would be added to the committee’s workplan for its meeting on 9 January 2024, to which external partners would be invited to attend both meetings.

RESOLVED:

THAT the committee’s work programme, and the forward plan, be noted.

To review the budget assumptions that were predicted in the 2023/24 budget setting process against what they are currently.

The Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer was in attendance to present the progress against the key budget assumptions which had been predicted as part of the 2023-24 budget setting process. The committee received the forecast for the 2024-25 budget, based on the key assumptions for both costs and funding.

Questions were raised in relation to the fair funding review (and potential additional funding as part of the ‘Island Deal’), the Autumn statement, social care funding, interest rate variables, treasury management and cash flow, the use of contingency reserves, in-year financial mitigation measures, and the grant funding arrangements for refugee housing.

RESOLVED:

THAT the presentation on budget assumptions be considered and noted.

To consider the draft Cyber Strategy ahead of approval and implementation by the Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Community Protection, and ICT.

Consideration was given to the draft Cyber Strategy 2023-2030, prior to its consideration and adoption by the Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Community Protection, and ICT, on 19 December 2023. The strategy was endorsed, and it was suggested that it be reviewed by the committee again in two years.

RESOLVED:

THAT the Cyber Strategy 2023-2030 be endorsed.

To receive a verbal update on the progress with the annual report and what will be included.

The committee received a verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Community Protection, and ICT, on the progress with the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership’s annual report for 2022-23. It was confirmed that the report would be available to be presented to the committee at its meeting in February 2024.

RESOLVED:

THAT the update be noted.

To consider what has been commissioned, how it will be delivered and what outcomes are looking to be achieved.

The Director of Public Health presented an update on the recently recommissioned domestic abuse service for people using abusive behaviours, which included an overview of what was offered by the service and what outcomes it was aiming to achieve.

Questions were raised in relation to the demographic statistics for perpetrators, the correlation with drug and alcohol misuse, and the preventative activities and initiatives underway. Questions were raised in relation to the methods of evaluating the effectiveness of the programme, and how outcomes would be demonstrated. Discussion took place regarding under-reporting, and the committee sought additional information with regards to the what the police service were doing internally to train officers responding to instances of domestic abuse.

It was advised that this would be reviewed again by the committee at its meeting in March 2024, including a copy of initial needs assessment in order for the committee to assess whether the programme was meeting the needs of the population.

RESOLVED:

THAT the update be noted.

To consider the Council’s performance measures for Quarter 2 of 2023-24, prior to its consideration by the Cabinet at its meeting on 9 November 2023.

Consideration was given to the report which provided a summary of progress against Corporate Plan activities for Quarter 2 of 2023-24 and detailed any issues which required attention (and the remedial action in place to deal with these).

Comments were made regarding the Disabled Facilities Grant, and the data which indicated that the current demand was expected to exceed the current budget of £1.8million to £4million. The Director of Adult Social Care outlined the allocation of the funding and confirmed that the demand shown was reflective of multiple financial years. It was agreed that future reporting should clarify this matter.

Discussion took place regarding the data which showed an increase in the number of fly-tipping incidents and a decrease in the number of actions taken over a three-year period. It was agreed that written response would be provided. Clarity was given around the definition of fly-tipping and the increased use of the Fix My Street app (which categorised uncollected waste as fly-tipping). It was recommended that future reporting should include additional narrative and clean data.

Questions were raised regarding the rise in the proportion of young people recorded as not in employment, education, or training, and what was being done to address this. It was agreed that written response would be provided.

Questions were raised regarding the additional CCTV network coverage in place over the summer period, and whether there had been any evidence of successful outcomes from this. It was agreed that written response would be provided.

The committee sought an update on the development of the Parking Strategy and the Leader confirmed that this was scheduled to take place in 2024.

RESOLVED:

THAT the report be noted.

A question may be asked at the meeting without prior notice but in these circumstances there is no guarantee that a full reply will be given at the meeting. To guarantee a reply, a question  must be submitted in writing or by email to democratic.services@iow.gov.uk no later than 5pm on Friday 3 November 2023.

Cllr Michael Lilley submitted written questions in relation to flooding (MQ 10-23). The Leader provided a verbal response and confirmed that a full written response would be provided.

Cllr Clare Mosdell asked an oral question regarding the announcement of additional government funding for the two council-owned swimming pools and sought clarity around why community pools had not been included. The Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration, Culture and Leisure, confirmed that bids were made for all Island pools however only Medina Leisure Centre and The Heights were eligible at this time due to energy costs. Cllr Clare Mosdell asked a supplementary question regarding the energy suppliers for West Wight Sports and Community Centre.

Cllr Joe Lever asked an oral question in relation the Flood Recovery Grant. The Chief Executive provided assurance that work was ongoing to secure the funding, however the eligibility criteria had not yet been confirmed.

Cllr Clare Mosdell asked an oral question in relation to the workplan. The chairman outlined the process for work-planning and the identification of future agenda items by members of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee.

Cllr Clare Mosdell asked an oral question in relation to the recording of councillors’ oral questions in the minutes. The Monitoring Officer confirmed the position as per the council’s constitution.