Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jim Marsh, Stephen Thurlbourn and Matthew Trafford.

Members are requested to indicate at this stage in the proceedings any items on the agenda in which they intend to declare an interest. Members are reminded that if the interest is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct) they must leave the room for the whole of that item. If the interest is not a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, but is such that a member of the public could reasonably regard it as being so significant that it is likely that it would prejudice their judgment of the public interest (as explained in the Code of Conduct) then they may make representations, but then must leave the meeting for the remainder of the item.

None.

To be signed as a correct record by the Chair.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the last Scrutiny Committee meeting, held on Thursday, 23 January 2020, be signed as a correct record by the Chair.

Minutes of the meeting to be held on 10 February 2020, to be noted.

The minutes of the last Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel, held on Monday, 10 February 2020, were noted.

Report of the Assistant Director for Property and Housing attached.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets (Councillor Matthew Tomlinson) and the Assistant Director of Property and Housing (Peter McHugh) presented a report on the progress of the Worden Hall project to the Committee and responded to members’ comments and queries.

A clear steer had been received through the public consultation and significant investment was anticipated for the Hall as a result.

Members were informed that an indicative timescale had been devised, with a planning application to be submitted in May 2020 and works to begin in autumn 2020. It was anticipated that works would last for 12 months.

Around 500 people had responded to the public consultation regarding the future of Worden Hall and members queried the demographic of respondents. Responses had largely been submitted online but there had been substantial attendance at open days. Councillor Tomlinson acknowledged that some users of Worden Park are not South Ribble residents, but a significant number of respondents resided in Leyland.

In response to a query around the social value of the project, limitations in measurability were recognised. In order to assess the social value of the works to the Hall, the demographic of customers and visitors would be assessed to understand the appeal and uses of the Hall.

Members expressed some concern with the possibility of overspending and sought reassurance around the measures that the Council would take to mitigate any risk of this. The timescale for delivery of the project would be carefully managed and the Council would appoint external agencies to provide professional expertise where required. Members were also assured that officers have allowed for contingencies within the project’s budget. 

It was anticipated that by the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in March 2020, the funding for the project will have been confirmed by Full Council and work on the planning application will have progressed.

The Committee welcomed the progress made and thanked the Cabinet Member and Assistant Director for their attendance.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That

1.    the Scrutiny Committee welcomes the progress made on bringing Worden Hall back into use.

2.    the Scrutiny Committee welcomes the proposals for the opening of Worden Hall in autumn 2021.

3.    the Scrutiny Committee looks forward to a further update at the next meeting.

Report of the Interim Section 151 Officer attached.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets (Councillor Matthew Tomlinson) and the Interim Section 151 Officer (Jane Blundell) presented a report that set out the Council’s proposed Revenue Budget for 2020/21 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2020/21-2023/24.

The report proposed a 1.99% increase in council tax and members were informed that this would enable the Council to reduce charges to residents around green waste collection and replacement bin charges and would provide some extra funding to projects like the Holiday Hunger Scheme.

It was also proposed that reserve accounts would remain unused for a 12-month period and reserves for City Deal and business rates would be retained.

Members acknowledged funding gaps highlighted within the report and sought clarification on the measures being taken to reduce these. Emphasis was placed on a widespread list of initiatives, such as the Leyland Music Festival, which would increase income and would help to mitigate any risk posed by funding gaps.

In response to a query about business rate risk, members were informed that any potential risks would be minimised due to reserves amounting to £2.6 million. Confirmation was also provided that the current pooling arrangements would remain in operation for 2020-21.

Members requested an update on the second phase implementation of the council’s status as a living wage employer, which would mean that the council would require partner companies and organisations to pay the living wage. This would be contained within the budget for 2021/22 and members expressed their enthusiasm for this.

Clarification was sought as to the rationale for a 1.99% increase in council tax. It was suggested that a £5 increase per band D property may be more suitable in generating additional funding, but members were advised that a 1.99% increase is the minimum government expectation and would enable more residents to save money. 

The deliverability of the Capital Strategy was questioned due to slippage experienced in previous years. Assurances were given that slippage was to be expected in any budget forecast and that the Cabinet Member and officers were confident that all aspects of the Capital Strategy could be delivered.

Members noted a significant forecasted increase in expenditure for leisure and sport within the Capital Programme. This would largely enable refurbishment of the borough’s leisure centres and comparisons were made between this forecasted cost and the cost of the previous plans for a new leisure campus in Leyland. A full audit was being undertaken regarding the previous administration’s costings for a new leisure centre and the committee requested that the findings of this be shared once complete. 

Discussions focused around the impact of Brexit on the budget and uncertainties surrounding the impact of Brexit upon businesses in South Ribble were acknowledged.

Members were informed that the Council was in receipt of grants amounting to £17,000 which had not yet been allocated but could be allocated to departments that may be affected by Brexit.

Further information on the methods of consultation on the budget were requested and it was understood that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

The Chair, Councillor David Howarth, attended a recent meeting of Lancashire County Council’s (LCC) Health Scrutiny Committee and provided members with an update.

A key item for South Ribble was the work of the ‘Our Health, Our Care’ Programme. Councillor Howarth informed members of the committee that, due to time constraints, the item had been deferred.

The ‘Our Health, Our Care’ team would be invited to LCC’s next meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee. The meeting date would be circulated once confirmed and Councillor Howarth encouraged any interested members to attend.

Councillor Chris Lomax left the meeting at 7:30pm.

Councillor Colin Sharples informed members of the committee that he and Councillor Chris Lomax had attended a two-day event hosted by the Local Government Association on ‘Effective Scrutiny’.

The event examined the roles of Scrutiny Committee members, identified questioning techniques and discussed the types of questions which may be beneficial when scrutinising.

Councillor Sharples emphasised the usefulness of the event but found that South Ribble stood out in terms of efficiency and support from officers, for which Councillor Sharples gave commendation.

It was noted that other authorities appeared to undertake more project-based work and it was agreed that the committee’s work programme should be revisited throughout the year.

Cabinet and Council Forward Plan attached.

The committee noted the Forward Plan.

Scrutiny Committee Forward Plan attached.

Members of the committee were informed that a report on housing associations within the borough would be provided to the next meeting, as previously requested.

This would be presented by the Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and City Deal, Councillor Bill Evans, and members felt that it may be beneficial for Councillor Evans to provide a wider update on the work of his portfolio whilst in attendance.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

By Virtue of Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Condition:

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-

The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

As there were no members of the public in attendance at the meeting, it was not necessary to exclude the press and public.

Appendix for Worden Hall project update attached.

The Scrutiny Committee received a copy of the plans and costings for the works at Worden Hall.

The plans and costings were based on the planned hybrid option, which would allow the Hall to operate for a mix of community and private hire use. Members noted that this was the preferred option identified by public consultation.

Members acknowledged the costings for the project and queried the possibility of rent reviews.