The report provides 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 respects 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. 

This report will also enable the Committee to approve its proposed Work Programme for 2025/26 for submission to Full Council.

The Committee had been furnished with a report that provided them 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 respects 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 of the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy & Support) had enabled the Committee to approve its proposed Work Programme for 2025/26 for submission to Full Council and also the opportunity to comment on the contents of the Annual Report for 2024/25.

The Democratic Services Manager reminded Members that the Constitution had provided for the two overview and scrutiny committees to submit a work programme to full Council for approval.  Rule 7 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules had set out the position as follows:

“Each Overview and Scrutiny Committee will submit a work programme for the year ahead and a review of the previous year’s activities to the full Council for approval.  In addition, it will be responsible for co-ordinating and prioritising its work programme on an ongoing basis.

In preparing, co-ordinating and prioritising its programme, each Overview and Scrutiny Committee will take into account:-

• The General Role and Principles of undertaking its functions, as set out in Part 2 Article 6;
• The planned work on the preparation of elements of the Budget and Policy Framework, as set out in the Council’s Business Plan;
• The need for statutory timetables to be met;
• The wishes of all members of the Committee;
• Requests from the Cabinet to carry out reviews; and
• Requests from Group Leaders in accordance with Rule 8.”

The Committee noted that in considering the Work Programme of enquiries, the Committee must have had regard to the Corporate Plan 2024-28 and the themes of that Corporate Plan were:

• Pride in our area and services to residents
• Raising aspirations and creating opportunities
• Championing our local environment
• Working with partners to improve quality of life
• Promoting our heritage offer, attracting visitors and encouraging them to stay longer
• Financial Sustainability and openness

As part of the preparation of the 2025/26 Work Programme, a consultation had been conducted to invite Councillors, partner agencies and members of the public to suggest topics for the Scrutiny Committees’ consideration. Following this exercise, two submissions had been received from attendees at a Full Council meeting, both requesting an inquiry into the progress and implementation of the Waste Contract. Those matters had been considered by Officers in preparing the draft Work Programme for 2025/26.

The Committee had held an informal meeting on 22 July 2025 and had considered the items contained within the draft copy of Appendix B.

Members were informed that the Democratic Services Team had also circulated an early draft of the Scrutiny Annual Report for the year 2024/25, which had been submitted as a “to follow” document (as Appendix E). The Democratic Services Manager requested members of the Committee to read through that document and to submit any comments that they might have via email to the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy & Support) (Keith Simmons), the Democratic Services Officer (Katie Koppenaal) and the Chairman of the Committee.

The Members of the Committee discussed the following items, that were set out in Appendix B to the A.1 report in the agenda, for inclusion in the Work Programme 2025/26:

·        Asset Management Arrangements O&S Task and Finish Group

·        Pre-budget scrutiny

·        Housing Strategy Development and Infrastructure and Temporary Accommodation Task and Finish Group

·        Council Enforcement Arrangements Task and Finish Group

·        Waste and street cleaning contract progress/implementation

It was moved by Councillor Bensilum, seconded by Councillor Harris and RESOLVED unanimously that:

(a)   the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme for 2025/26 be submitted to Full Council for approval, subject to the inclusion of the Financial Outturn Report 2024/25, the Capital and Treasury Strategy 2026/27, the opportunity to explore joint working with Colchester and Braintree scrutiny committees/panels and the Carnarvon Terrace development;

(b)   the contents of the report on progress with enquiries set out in its 2024/25 Work Programme, feedback to the Committee on the decisions in respect of previous recommendations and the list of forthcoming decisions be noted.

It was further RESOLVED, also having been moved and seconded by Councillors Bensilum and Harris, that the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy & Support) be authorised, following consultation with the Committee’s Chairman, to:

(c)   finalise the review of the year 2025/26 Overview and Scrutiny Report to be submitted to Full Council.

(d)   appoint individual Councillors to Task and Finish Groups referenced in the Work Programme for 2025/26 as, ultimately, approved by Council and then to make appropriate arrangements to call meetings of those Task and Finish Groups.