Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any).

Apologies were received from Cllrs Mrs H Bainbridge, Mrs A R Berry and T W Snow.

To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

There were no members of the public in attendance.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the last meeting of this Committee (attached).

The Committee is reminded that only those members of the Committee present at the previous meeting should vote and, in doing so, should be influenced only by seeking to ensure that the minutes are an accurate record.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a correct record and SIGNED by the Chairman.

To consider any decisions made by the Cabinet at its last meeting that have been called-in.

The Committee NOTED that none of the decisions made by the Cabinet at its last meeting had been called in.

An opportunity for non-Cabinet Members to raise issues.

There were no issues raised under this item.

To receive any announcements that the Chairman of Scrutiny Committee may wish to make.

The Chairman welcomed the newly appointed Communication and Consultation Manager to the meeting.

He informed the Committee that he had received positive feedback from a member of the public regarding the new leisure facilities at Exe Valley Leisure Centre.

The Chairman provided an update from the Head of Planning, Economy and Regeneration regarding the visit to the Housing Minister and informed Members that a response to the letter he had sent to Lloyds Bank regarding the pending closure of the Cullompton branch had been emailed to them all.

The Chairman also reminded the Committee that an informal workshop was taking place the following week.

The Committee sent their best wishes to Cllr Snow and his wife regarding her ill health.

To review the revised draft budget changes identified and discuss any further changes required in order for the Council to move towards a balanced budget for 2018/19

The Committee had before it and NOTED a report * from the Director for Finance, Assets and Resources in order that the Scrutiny Committee review the draft 2018/19 budget and make any necessary comments/recommendations to the Cabinet to be considered at its meeting on the 1 February 2018.

The officer outlined the contents of the report explaining that since the first round Cabinet and PDG meetings the Finance team and service managers had been revisiting a range of budgets to deliver more savings or increase income levels. He outlined the table below:

The officer explained that it was encouraging that the Council had managed to significantly close the budget gap of £617k discussed at earlier meetings, even after the potential pay award adding an additional £116k and new legislation relating to Homelessness Reduction adding circa £50k to the budget.

The officer informed Members that moving forward probably the biggest concern for the future was the New Homes Bonus arrangements that had seen circa £0.7m removed from the funding source on an annual basis, coupled with the threat that further revisions may be made from 2019/20 onwards.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         Council house stock and the right to buy scheme which resulted in reduced rental income;

·         Grounds Maintenance figures would show an increased income from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) regarding grass cutting on HRA land.

·         Staff movements which had resulted in increased efficiency;

·         Successful funding bids for the Culm Garden Village;

·         Car parking and a pending report from the Economy PDG;

·         Expenditure on toilets;

·         An increase in the number of apprentices, particularly in the skilled trades area;

·         Potential reduction to income from the sale of recycled plastics following changes to the Chinese market;

·         Future refurbishment to areas of Phoenix House;

·         An assurance that funds highlighted for redevelopment would only be used on receipt of a robust business case;

·         The use of external contractors for Legionella checks and future plans to bring this in house.

The officer reminded Members that in order to conclude the statutory budget setting process, the updated draft budget position would go to Cabinet before being agreed at Full Council on the 21 February 2018. During this period officers would continue to identify and examine further savings possibilities that could reduce the current budget gap.

Officers were commended for the thorough work that had been undertaken to date to reduce the budget gap.

Note: - * Report previously circulated and attached  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106.

To receive a report to update the Committee on possible impacts from the rollout of Universal Credit Full Service (UCFS).

The Committee had before it and NOTED a briefing paper * from the Director of Finance, Assets and Resources providing an update on the possible impacts from the rollout of Universal Credit Full Service (UCFS).

The officer explained that Universal Credit (UC) was a national policy change in the way benefits for working age people were claimed, administered and paid. UC would be administered centrally by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The officer further explained that six benefits would be combined: Housing Benefit (HB) which was currently administered by the council, Working and Child Tax Credits, Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support.

The main changes for claimants would be:-

·         UC would be claimed and managed online

·         Payment would be paid monthly in arrears

·         Payment would be to a single member of the household

·         The First payment would usually be paid 5 weeks from the date of claim

·         The rent element would be paid to the claimant and no longer the social landlord.

There had been some slippage to the timetable for the roll out of UC and it would now be in July for the Tiverton office and in September for the Exeter office.

The officer explained that the main risk to the authority from UC was regarding housing rent collection.  Other areas, that had already started UC, had seen rent arrears increase to around 7% whereas this authority was currently at only 1%.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         UC could only be claimed online and this could cause difficulties to some claimants;

·         Claimants would only move to UC if they made a change to their claim or for a new claim;

·         The potential that the Citizens Advice would receive a lot of enquiries.

·         Potential impacts on staffing levels.

The officer reminded Members that an officer from the DWP would be providing a Member Briefing on UC at Phoenix House on 1^st February 2018 and he encouraged Members to attend.  

Note: - * Briefing paper previously circulated and attached to Minutes.

To inform the Scrutiny Committee on what measures are in place to cope with the expected demand on hospital and GP services as a result of proposed housing development and for this coming winter.

The Committee had before it and NOTED a report* from the Public Health and Policy Research Officer regarding measures that were in place to cope with the expected demand on hospital and GP services as a result of proposed housing development and for the coming winter.

The officer introduced himself to the Committee, explaining that he had been working full time within Public Health until the end of last year when he was seconded to provide support to the Scrutiny Committee.

The officer outlined the content of the report, explaining that at the last meeting of the Committee concerns had been raised in relation to NHS capacity pressures that could arise as a result of housing development in Mid Devon and also more generally for the winter period. The officer explained that although there was development and there would be an increase in population it was phased and would allow the NHS sufficient time to plan and manage additional demand through ongoing review and modelling.  As part of his Public Health role he had been involved in meetings with representatives from the Cullompton surgeries, NHS and planning officers from Mid Devon District Council as part of the Culm Garden Village Project. Devon County Public Health had also expressed interest in assisting in providing expertise and review of any proposed health impact assessment (HIA). It was envisaged that Devon County Public Health consultants would form part of a Working Group with other key stakeholders to look at how best to meet the health and care needs of these new communities.

The officer informed Members that Devon County Public Health were holding a one day workshop in February 2018 to which District Planning Officers were invited. The event would provide a national update on Garden Villages, share learning from the new developments of Sherford and Cranbrook, and discuss the next steps for the Culm Garden Village. Other stakeholders attending included the Culm Valley Integrated Health Centre, Taunton Deane Garden Town, Devon County Council Planning, Sport England and the NEW Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         Potential issues in other areas of the district as well as the Culm Valley and ongoing discussions regarding the Crediton Health Hub.  The Scrutiny Officer would look into attending future meetings regarding this;

·         There was a District Council representative on the Devon County Council Health Scrutiny Committee that should communicate on behalf of the Districts;

·         Bed blocking and the perception that this was due to the closure of care homes;

·         Operations being cancelled to free up beds to allow for winter pressures;

·         The Clinical Lead at Castle Place Surgery Tiverton had offered to attend a meeting to discuss local issues;

·         The need for accurate data regarding delayed discharges.

It was AGREED that the Scrutiny Officer arrange a future meeting with the Clinical Lead at Castle Place Surgery Tiverton and that data regarding delayed discharges be obtained.

Note: - * Report previously circulated and attached to Minutes.

The Committee to discuss the House of Common report regarding effectiveness of local authority overview and scrutiny committees.

The Committee had before it and NOTED a report * from the House of Commons regarding effectiveness of local authority overview and scrutiny committees.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The participation of Cllr Mrs Roach in the consultation process which had begun with the previous government;

·         The Committee was already carrying out a number of the recommendations within the report;

·         The introduction of the Scrutiny Officer role;

·         The use of external experts and the quality of questions put to them;

·         The residents survey that had recently been undertaken and would be reported to the Committee in March;

·         The public role in Scrutiny:

·         Training requirements.

It was RESOLVED that the Standards Committee be asked to consider and review the conclusions and recommendations within the report at pages 76 – 79.

(Proposed by Cllr Mrs J Roach and seconded by Cllr F J Rosamond)

Note: - * Report previously circulated and attached to Minutes.

Members are asked to consider any items within the Forward Plan that they may wish to bring forward for discussion at the next meeting.

The Committee had before it and NOTED the Forward Plan *.

Note: - * Forward Plan previously circulated and attached to Minutes.

The Committee to prepare questions to be put to the MP Neil Parish at its next meeting.

Committee Members were asked to consider some questions to put to the MP and forward them to the clerk in advance of the meeting.

Members are asked to note that the following items are already identified in the work programme for the next meeting:

Note: - this item is limited to 10 minutes. There should be no discussion on items raised.

MP – Neil Parish

Cornwall Housing – moves to increase the ‘local need’ for council housing applicants

Cabinet Member for Planning

Whistleblowing update

Establishment

RIPA update