To provide the Committee with an update on its approved Work Programme for 2024/25 (including progress with enquiries set out in its Work Programme); feedback to the Committee on the decisions in respect of previous recommendations from the Committee in respect of enquiries undertaken; and a list of forthcoming decisions for which notice has been given since publication of the agenda for the Committee’s last meeting.

In respect of forthcoming decisions and pursuant to the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 13, the Committee will review any such new and/or amended published forthcoming decisions relevant to its terms of reference and decide whether it wishes to enquire into any such decision before it is taken.

Matters may only be raised on those forthcoming decisions at Committee meetings where the Member has notified the Committee Services Manager in writing (or by personal email) of the question they wish to ask, no later than Midday, two working days before the day of the meeting.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Democratic Services & Elections (A.1) which provided it with an update on its approved Work Programme for 2024/25 (including progress with enquiries set out in its Work Programme); feedback to the Committee on the decisions in respect of previous recommendations from the Committee in respect of enquiries undertaken; and a list of forthcoming decisions for which notice had been given since publication of the agenda for the Committee’s last meeting. 

The report also provided Members with an opportunity for updates on the work of the Committee’s Task and Finish Groups; to consider the Committee’s approach to budget scrutiny at its January 2025 meeting; and to note that arrangements would be made with the Chairmen of both this Committee and of the Audit Committee to receive the findings in relation to the investigation into the Council’s development of Spendells House, Naze Park Road, Walton-on-the-Naze.

The Committee received an oral update on the work of the Asset Management Arrangements Task and Finish Group established by the Committee from its Chairman (Councillor M Cossens). That Group was carrying out two enquiry strands i.e. it was looking at both the Council’s physical assets and its IT assets. It had discussed the scoping of those two strands and would shortly begin delving into its detailed enquiry.

It was moved by Councillor P Honeywood, seconded by Councillor M Cossensand:-

RESOLVED that the Committee -

(a)     notes the progress with enquiries set out in its Work Programme 2024/25, plus any feedback to the Committee on the decisions in respect of previous recommendations and the list of forthcoming decisions;

(b)     notes the oral update on the work of the Asset Management Arrangements Task and Finish Groups established by the Committee as given by its Chairman (Councillor M Cossens);

(c)     agrees that its approach to budget scrutiny to be undertaken at its meetings on Monday, 6 January (informal) and Monday, 13 January 2025 in respect of the draft General Fund and draft Housing Revenue Account budgets for 2025/26 and beyond will be as follows:-

(1)     at its informal meeting on 6 January, the Committee will receive a presentation from the Director (Finance and IT) on the latest budget position and will then look to decide which Portfolio Holders will be required to appear before the Committee on 13 January;

(2)     on 13 January, the Committee will consider the highlights and general overview of the budget but will particularly focus on how costs are built from the ground upwards with an eye to the implications of LGR;

(3)     that the meetings on 6 January and 13 January will both commence at 7.00 p.m.; and

(4)     that the members of the Cabinet be requested to hold the evening of Monday 13 January 2025 in their diaries in case they are required to appear before the Committee.

(d)     notes that arrangements will be made with the Chairmen of this Committee and of the Audit Committee to receive the findings in relation to the investigation into the Council’s development of Spendells House, Naze Park Road, Walton-on-the-Naze.