To confirm the records of the meetings of the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel held on 12 April 2018 and 14 June 2018 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meetings of the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel held on 12 April 2018 and 14 June 2018, copies of which had been previously circulated, were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Act 1992 applies to them.

No declarations of interest were received.

To receive any petitions, deputations and questions received from Members of the Public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 217.

The total time allowed for this item shall be 30 minutes. Petitions, declarations and questions shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received. Questions may also be submitted at short notice by giving a written copy to the Committee Administrator 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.

The total time allowed for questions at short notice is 15 minutes of the total time for 30 minutes. Any petitions, deputations and questions that have been submitted with prior formal notice will take precedence over questions submitted at short notice. Any questions that are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting and be the subject of a report to the next meeting.

No petitions, deputations or questions from members of the public had been received.

To consider any questions with notice from Members received in accordance with the provisions of Procedure rule No. 219 and No. 219A.

No questions were received from Members.

To consider any Notices of Motion from Members submitted in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule No. 220.

No notices of motion were received from Members.

To consider any matter referred to the Panel for a decision in relation to call in of a decision in accordance with Procedure Rule 206.

No matter was referred to the Panel for a decision in relation to a call-in of a decision in accordance with Procedure Rule 206.

To receive Report No. 172/2018 from the Independent Chair of the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group.

Report No. 172/2018 was received from the Independent Chair of the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group.

Mr Chris Wade, Independent Chair of the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to provide a summary of the meetings held since the last update in June 2018 and update the Scrutiny Panel of progress made and next steps.

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        Mr Cross noted that the project should not be rushed, and the investigation into the needs of the town should be thorough.

    ii.        Mr Baines noted he had the opportunity to read through the research report that the Oakham Residents Group had produced from surveys regarding usage of Oakham town, and noted it was a superb piece of work and that the group should be commended.

   iii.        Regarding the recommendation for Mr O Bird to fill the Rutland County Council vacancy, Mrs Fox opposed the proposal as she felt that most of the work of the group had been completed and there were only three meetings left. Mr Baines and Mr Cross supported the comments from Mrs Fox.

   iv.        Mr Bird withdrew his expression of interest.

    v.        Mrs Natasha Taylor, Governance Manager, noted that the panel could vote to leave the appointment as a vacancy. Within the RCC constitution, co-opted members could not exceed the number of County Councillors on the group, and leaving the place vacant would not cause this.

RESOLVED

A motion was proposed by Mr Bird and seconded by Mr Baines to change recommendation 1 of Report No. 172/2018 to leave the Rutland County Councillor vacancy on the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group vacant.

The Panel AGREED that the post be left vacant.

The Panel NOTED revisions to membership detailed in Paragraph 3.

The Panel NOTED the progress made in the meetings held in June, July and August 2018.

The Panel ENDORSED the direction of travel of the Oakham Town Task and Finish Group.

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The Chairman notified the panel that the remaining agenda items would be taken in the following order:

      i.        Corporate Debt Policy

    ii.        Quarter 1 Financial Management Report

   iii.        Medium Term Financial Plan

   iv.        Review of Forward Plan and Annual Work Plan 2018-2019

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To receive Report No. 130/2018 from the Strategic Director for Resources.

Report No. 130/2018 was received from the Strategic Director for Resources.

Mr Della Rocca introduced the report, the purpose of which was to seek views and comments from the Panel for the revised Corporate Debt Policy detailed in Appendix A and for the adoption of the Council Tax Protocol detailed in Appendix B.

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        Mr Della Rocca noted the need for people to get in contact with the Council if they require help with paying their Council debts. 

    ii.        Mr Bird asked whether the Council was looking out to support individuals in real difficulty before resorting to recovery methods that would add costs to their debt. Mr Della Rocca confirmed that everyone was encouraged to get in contact with the Council if they needed help but also that the Council had lots of information that can and is used to help support vulnerable people. The Council was there to help, the more the Council knew, the more the Council could do.

   iii.        The Chair questioned whether guarantors should be considered as an option for debts. Mr Andrew Merry, Finance Manager, noted to look into the suggestion.

RESOLVED

That the Panel NOTED the report.

To receive Report No. 135/2018 from the Strategic Director for Resources.

(Report circulated under separate cover)

Please note this report was considered by Cabinet on Tuesday 21 August 2018.

Report No. 135/2018 was received from the Strategic Director for Resources.

Mr Gordon Brown, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to inform members of the full year forecast position at Quarter 1 for 2018/19 and to highlight issues that may impact on the Medium Term Financial Plan to enable them to maintain sound financial management of the Council’s operations.

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        There had been significant underspending within the People directorate as teams have managed to find ways of meeting all demands by using resources flexibly.  There were however overspends within Places in respect of waste management.

    ii.        Regarding the significant high cost of the disposal of paint, a number of suggestions were made as to how to cut the costs. Mr Brown noted the Council had been looking into the voluntary sector to take any paint they may wish to have. Mrs Fox suggested that a unit could be rented to store the paint for people to collect. The Chair was concerned with paint being placed within the black household rubbish bins. Mr Brown mentioned that the Council advises not to put paint in the black rubbish bins, however there is the option (if it is water based) to let it dry out, then place in the black bin.

RESOLVED

That the Panel NOTED the report.

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Mr Bird and Mr Cross left the meeting and did not return.

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To receive a presentation from the Strategic Director for Resources.

A presentation regarding the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) was received from the Strategic Director for Resources.

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        The Council had an MTFP that covered the next 5 years.

    ii.        The MTFP showed the gap between spending plans and available funding.

   iii.        The MTFP involved making lots of assumptions – the majority of which were outside the control of the Council.

   iv.        The Council’s key funding source was Council Tax. The Council received less government funding per head than other unitary councils.

    v.        Future funding was under review and the position was uncertain.

   vi.        The funding gap was estimated at between £1m – 3m but this was still uncertain.

  vii.        Mr Brown noted the Council was looking to set a balanced budget in 19/20.

Mr Brown explained that the Council was looking at all options for increasing income and reducing costs that it could consider depending on the size of the gap.

To consider the current Forward Plan and identify any relevant items for inclusion in the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Panel annual work plan, or to request further information.

Copies of the Forward Plan will be available at the meeting, and can be found on the website using the following link:

https://rutlandcounty.moderngov.co.uk/mgListPlans.aspx?RPId=133&RD=0

Mr Brown noted that Scrutiny could take a look at the Local Plan in November after it had gone for approval at Cabinet for the Regulation 19 consultation.

To receive any other items of urgent business which have been previously notified to the person presiding.

Special Scrutiny Panel

St George’s Barracks – (Date: TBD)

Normal Scrutiny Panel

Thursday 15 November 2018 at 7pm

Special Scrutiny Panel

St George’s Barracks – Thursday 11 October 2018 at 7pm

Normal Scrutiny Panel

Thursday 15 November 2018 at 7pm