Agenda item

To update the Committee on the progress of works to office buildings. Complimentary reports will be made in relation to IT, customer and human resources initiatives within the programme.

It was reported to the Committee that in December 2016 Cabinet had approved a proposal to make major changes to the Council’s office services and accommodation. In September 2017 the Chief Executive (Ian Davidson) had subsequently signed off a detailed business case for a package of measures aimed at four main areas of modernisation:

1. Customer Services
2. Information Technology
3. Working methods and staff wellbeing
4. Office buildings.

The report focussed on the progress of works to office buildings. Complimentary reports would be made in relation to IT, customer service and human resources initiatives within the programme.

Progress on office facilities is as follows:

The Committee was then asked to consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of an element of agenda item number 5 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended,  of the Act”.

The Chairman read out the following statement for the benefit of the press and public:

“It is unusual to discuss items to an Overview and Scrutiny Committee without the press and public being able to sit in and observe. However, there are rare occasions when we deal with a restricted number of items, when it is necessary to exclude the press and public. Councillors will be looking at those items here. For instance, what the council be expected to receive in payment for a plot of land it owns. We want the council to get the best price and we do not want to jeopardise this by discussing the price in public so that the best offers that are potentially provided aren’t raised up or down.

Once we have discussed these points we will readmit the press and public for the remainder of the meeting. For this meeting, this means the live stream will be temporarily paused until we reconvene in public.

Thank you for your understanding”.

It was then moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Scott and:-

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of part of Agenda Item 5 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, of the Act.

Following the discussions in private referred to above the press and public were re-admitted to the meeting.

Following further discussions of the report it was RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.