To enable the Cabinet to consider the recommendations made to it by the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of the update on Corporate Projects.

RESOLVED that the recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee be noted and that the response of the Leader of the Council thereto be endorsed.

Cabinet was informed that, at the meeting of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 9 July 2025, the Leader of the Council had submitted to that Committee a detailed list of corporate projects that were underway or had, relatively speaking, been completed recently.  He had also addressed questions around political oversight of the then unauthorised commitments by Officers to expenditure in respect of the delivery of the Spendells House works to enable the building to be used for temporary accommodation for homeless families.  The commitments made had been subsequently approved to facilitate the delivery of that project.

The Committee had decided to submit the following recommendations to the Cabinet:-

“That:-

(a)   due to the reliance on the newly established Project Delivery Unit (PDU) for the larger Capital Delivery projects, Cabinet should give consideration to how projects are being managed and risk assessed for those projects not managed through the PDU;

(b)   the criteria for projects within the PDU currently depends upon its funding source, Cabinet is requested to confirm this and consider expanding the scope of the PDU to other Capital Delivery Projects;

(c)   Cabinet members should be reminded of their roles and responsibilities on managing projects, budget controls and risk assessments; and

(d)   Cabinet should give consideration to not only risk management in relation to the individual projects but the totality of what Cabinet is seeking to achieve, based on the projects list (at Appendix B) presented to the Committee.”

Cabinet had before it the following response of the Leader of the Council to the Committee’s recommendations:-

“I want to thank the Members of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its attention to risks associated with project delivery by the Council.  The recognition by the Committee of the positive steps taken by the Administration in establishing and resourcing the PDU to provide good project management of major capital regeneration schemes locally is heartening.  Likewise, the Committee’s appreciation of the work undertaken across non PDU projects by Portfolio Holders and Officers to determine and manage major risks associated with those projects is noteworthy. 

Beyond risk assessments, the multitude of projects being delivered by the Administration are also monitored through the approved highlight priorities adopted by Cabinet which also checks on progress with those projects.  This process allows a more holistic assessment of the objectives and outcomes of projects within those priorities.  This process has stood the test of time over many years, and different Administrations. It is right to continue to use that process to assess progress with particular projects in the context of delivery against the Council’s Corporate Plan. In addition, monitoring takes through the Financial Performance Reporting, the Cost Pressure process and regular Budgetary / Performance review meetings of Senior Management and the Officer Corporate Projects Progress Board.

The opportunity to look at the capacity of the PDU to take on projects beyond their current remit and/or to ensure that good practice in project management (including, but not limited to, risk assessment) is applied outside of the PDU is something I have been discussing and will continue to review.  The prompt from the Committee shows me that I was right to be considering these matters. 

I also welcome the Committee’s suggestion that, in the coming period, Cabinet takes the opportunity to again reflect on its collective role and responsibilities and the role and responsibilities for individual Portfolio Holders in respect of managing projects, budget controls and risk assessments.”

Having duly considered the recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the response thereto of the Leader of the Council:-

It was moved by Councillor Stephenson, seconded by Councillor Baker and:-

RESOLVED that the recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee be noted and that the response of the Leader of the Council thereto be endorsed.