Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Epsom Town Hall, https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/893823105818608396

Contact: Democratic Services, 01372 732000  Email: democraticservices@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

12.

Question Time

To take any questions from members of the Public.

Minutes:

No questions were asked or had been submitted by members of the public.

13.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in respect of any item of business to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made in relation to Items of business to be discussed at the meeting.

14.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 86 KB

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 15 June (attached) and to authorise the Chair to sign them.


Minutes:

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Audit, Crime & Disorder and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 June were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

15.

Annual Plan 2021- 2022 pdf icon PDF 241 KB

This report sets out the Annual Plan 2021- 2022 outlining the key objectives and performance indicators to support the delivery of the Council’s Four Year Plan 2020- 2024.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report setting out the Annual Plan 2021- 2022 outlining the key objectives and performance indicators to support the delivery of the Council’s Four Year Plan 2020- 2024.

The Committee received a verbal introduction from the Head of Policy, Performance & Governance.

The following matters were raised by the Committee:

a)            Appendix 1, page 20: Members suggested that the words ‘reports of’ be removed from the following sentence of column 3: ‘Reduction in reports of fly tipping’ as to not discourage any future reporting. 

b)            Appendix 1, page 22: Members suggested that some encouragement is given to residents to obtain responses to the consultation regarding transport and infrastructure.

c)            Appendix 1, page 23: Members noted the promotion of the Borough’s history and heritage, and requested that this section makes note of any non-buildings including Horton Cemetery. The officer confirmed that the Four Year Plan in appendix 1 could not be amended without Full Council agreement but would note the comments of the committee.

d)            Annual Plan Reporting: Members were generally supportive of the methodology and approach in setting the Annual Plan for 2022/23 but requested that the Officer pick up some wording regarding collecting reported data to go into the Annual Plan in Appendix 2. The Officer agreed to look into this.

e)            CO2 Omissions: A member raised a concern as to the robustness of the methodology for capturing CO2 omissions data  which is a new target and it was agreed that this could be considered when the targets were being set for 2022/23.

f)             Balanced budget: Following a question from a Member, the Officer confirmed that a balance budget is a budget which is fully-financed, with or without the use of reserves.

g)            Finance Peer Review: A member questioned whether this should be a target for 2021/22 and the Chief Finance Officer confirmed that was already being reported and monitored by the Strategy & Resources Committee .

h)            Trees: Members raised concerns regarding the number of trees proposed to be planted. The Officer explained that this number is just a starting figure, and will be built on as a priority once the Tree Planting Policy has been published.

i)             Major Planning Applications: A query was raised over the target of 60% for deciding major planning applications in time and it was agreed to leave this but review for 2022/23.

j)             Complaints data; A query was also raised on the data for complaints received and whether it should be a set target. It was confirmed this is data only as the number of complaints can vary from year to year but this could be reviewed at a later stage.

 

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously that the Committee:

(1)      Did comment  on the key objectives and performance indicators identified within the Annual Plan for 2021 – 2022

(2)      Agreed to provide feedback to the Strategy & Resources Committee

 

 

16.

Capital Budget Monitoring Quarter 1 pdf icon PDF 599 KB

This report presents the capital monitoring position at Quarter 1 for the current financial year 2021/22.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report presenting the capital monitoring position at Quarter 1 for the current financial year 2021/22.

The Committee received a verbal introduction from the Senior Accountant.

The following matters were raised by the Committee:

a)            S106 Funds: Following a question from a Member, the Officer confirmed that S106 funds could be used to make a viability contribution to Planning developments, to offer some affordable housing. It was noted that Housing officers would be able to look into the value and contributions of proposed developments, alongside the set criteria for such schemes.

b)            Ashley Centre car park: Following a question from a Member, the Officer confirmed that the recent fire which occurred at the Ashley Centre car park had no effect on the proposed expansion scheme.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved unanimously to:

(1)      Note the capital monitoring position at Quarter 1, as set out in the report;

(2)      Note the progress of capital projects as set out in appendix 1.

 

 

17.

Revenue Budget Monitoring - Quarter 1 pdf icon PDF 536 KB

This report presents the forecast revenue outturn position for the current financial year 2021/22, as at Quarter 1 (30 June).

Minutes:

The Committee received a report presenting the forecast revenue outturn position for the current financial year 2021/22, as at Quarter 1 (30 June).

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously that the Committee:

(1)      Received the revenue budget monitoring report, which sets-out a projected £2.63m budget deficit for 2021/22, along with provisional funding for the deficit;

(2)      Agreed that a report should be taken to Community & Wellbeing Committee to present mitigation options for the budget pressures within the Housing service, and a post implementation review of Defoe Court;

(3)      Agreed that a report should be taken to Community & Wellbeing Committee to present a recovery plan for the Venues;

(4)      Agreed that the updated Quarter 2 position will be reported back to Audit, Crime & Disorder and Scrutiny Committee in November.