Agenda item

Work Programme

Report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services

Minutes:

The Chairman noted that an update on the Management of Open Spaces was scheduled to report to the Corporate Overview Group in September and said that she hoped that an outcome of that would be the establishment of a Working Group.

 

The Chair noted that the Communities Scrutiny Group and the Growth and Development Scrutiny Group were scheduled to have a joint meeting to review Accessible Housing on 17 October 2024.

 

It is RESOLVED that the Corporate Overview Group:

 

a)    reviewed the current work programme for each of the scrutiny groups.

 

 

Work Programme 2024/25 – Corporate Overview Group

 

4 June 2024

·     Standing Items

o   Feedback from Scrutiny Group Chairmen

o   Feedback from Lead Officer

o   Consideration of Scrutiny Group Work Programmes

o   Financial and Performance Management

·     Rolling Items

o   Diversity Annual Report and update on the Equality and Diversity Strategy

o   Annual Update on Strategic Tasks

3 September 2024

·     Standing Items 

o   Feedback from Scrutiny Group Chairmen 

o   Feedback from Lead Officer 

o   Consideration of Scrutiny Group Work Programmes 

o   Financial and Performance Management 

·     Rolling Items 

o   Health and Safety Annual Report 

o   Business Continuity Report

o   Update on Management of Open Spaces

19 November 2024

·     Standing Items

o   Feedback from Scrutiny Group Chairmen

o   Feedback from Lead Officer

o   Consideration of Scrutiny Group Work Programmes

o   Financial and Performance Management

·     Rolling Items

o   Customer Feedback Annual Report

25 February 2025

·     Standing Items

o   Feedback from Scrutiny Group Chairmen

o   Feedback from Lead Officer

o   Consideration of Scrutiny Group Work Programmes

o   Financial and Performance Management

·     Rolling Items

o     

 

Work Programme 2024/25 – Governance Scrutiny Group

30 May 2024

·     Internal Audit Progress Report

·     Internal Audit Annual Report

·     Annual Fraud Report

·     Annual Governance Statement (AGS)

·     Capital and Investment Strategy Outturn

·     Constitution Update

·     Code of Conduct

19 September 2024

·     Risk Management Update

·     Going Concern

·     Capital and Investment Strategy Update

·     Internal Audit Progress Report

28 November 2024

·     Internal Audit Progress Report

·     Annual Audit Completion Report 2023/24

·     Statement of Accounts

·     Capital and Investment Strategy Update

·     RIPA Review

20 February 2025

·     Internal Audit Progress Report

·     Internal Audit Strategy

·     Risk Management – Update

·     Capital and Investment Strategy Update

·     External Annual Audit Plan

·     Asset Management Plan

·     Annual Audit Letter and Value for Money Conclusion

·     Capital and Investment Strategy 2024/25

 

Work Programme 2024/25 – Growth and Development Scrutiny Group

 

Items / Reports

17 July 2024

·     Review of the Crematorium

·     Infrastructure Delivery

23 October 2024

·     Moved to 17 October 2024

29 January 2025

·        

26 March 2025

·        

 

Work Programme 2024/25 – Communities Scrutiny Group

 

Items / Reports

25 July 2024

·     Use of Community Facilities

17 October 2024

·     Accessible Housing Briefing (Joint Scrutiny Group)

23 January 2025

·      

3 April 2025

·      

 

Actions Table

 

Minute No.

Action

Officer Responsible/ Update

4

The Chair of Governance noted that the number of employees not wanting to give their nationality had increased and asked if there was any reason for this.

The information is usually captured when employees join the Council as part of their application information, although removed at the shortlisting stage. However, the transfer of Streetwise staff has required each individual to complete a form to update the records, and some individuals were hesitant to complete the form. HR complete a 3 year audit where all staff are asked to check their data and update any details, so there will be opportunity to request this information on an ongoing basis.

4.

The Vice Chair of Governance Scrutiny Group suggested that the Council request Councillor’s ethnicity at the next election intake

This will be reviewed at the next Councillor election in 2027.

4.

The Vice Chair of Communities asked for more information on outputs from the UKSPF projects funding

This information will be provided as part of the next UKSPF update to the Group.

5.

The Group asked for information about the process for rent increases charged by supported housing providers and whether there was any requirement for them to consult the Council and whether the Council had to cover all of the rent or a percentage if not fully covered by the housing benefit subsidy

Senior Finance Business Partner

5.

The Vice Chair of Communities asked whether the Government review of the formula for the discretionary part of the Disabled Facilities Grant had taken place

Senior Finance Business Partner

5.

Members of the Group asked for more information about fly tipping

The cumulative number of fly-tipping cases below show the downward trend of cases in recent years. Subsequently, fines are also lower due to this, also impacted by whether there is sufficient evidence in each case to produce a fine to the right party

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents: