Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gay Hopkins and Paul Swansborough with Councillors David Thain and Michael Braley attending as substitutes respectively.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests, and any Party Whip.

There were no declarations of interest nor of any Party Whip.

RESOLVED that

The minutes of the meeting held on 13th January 2015, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the budget savings proposed by the Executive Committee and to identify any additional proposals from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(Members may wish to refer to minute 100 from the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on 3rd February 2015 when considering this item).

(Report attached)

Officers presented the Medium Term Financial Plan 2015/16 – 2017/18 and reminded Members that any recommendations they wished to make would feed in through the Executive Committee and Council meetings to be held on 23rd February 2015. The Chair also brought Members’ attention to Minute No 100 from the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on 3rd February where Members had made recommendations on this matter. 

During the presentation of the report the following areas were highlighted:

·             The actual reduction in the grant funding received and the forecast made for reductions in future years.

·             The localised Business Rates pool and the benefits gained from being part of a pool.  The Council had reached a “safety net” level whereby a payment was made to mitigate the effect of the decline in income.

·             New Homes Bonus and concerns around the possible reduction or cessation of this funding.

·             The methodology behind recommending an increase in Council Tax of 1.9%.

·             Future savings expected to be made through the transformation work being carried out.

·             The revenue bids which had been put forward.  In particular the financing of the Essential Living Fund.  The Committee was informed that Worcestershire County Council had agreed to match fund any monies from the Borough and had also received further funding from central government a proportion of which would be given to the Borough.  This would realise a total of £168k for the Essential Living Fund for 2015/16.

·             Bids had also been received in respect of Small Business Support and the spend to save funds for Energy Management support and advice

·             The assumptions which had been made to reach the current summary position, including a 2.2% pay increase in relation to the National Agreement followed by 1% for future years.

Officers informed Members of the current position in respect of the draw down from reserves and in particular previous advice relating to the replacement of the Job Evaluation reserve with the capital receipt from Threadneedle House. Officers apologised that at the time of this advice they were unaware of the planning issues and therefore other capital receipts are available for replacing the reserve. Officers had discussed this issue to ensure all issues were picked up in the future.  Other capital receipts were available to replace the reserve for Job Evaluation. Details were also provided in respect of the general fund balances and the capital programme, which included replacement of the fleet vehicles.

In relation to unavoidable pressures it was highlighted that with effect from April 2015 the Council would be implementing the Living Wage to staff at a cost of approximately £70k.  There had also been a reduction in the income received from Car Parking Enforcement which was carried out on behalf of the local authority by Wychavon District Council. This was partially offset by a reduction in the costs associated with car parking enforcement.

Officers also highlighted that there were potential savings that could be delivered from a review of how Leisure Services would be delivered.  It was anticipated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

To receive a presentation detailing the outcomes of the framework agreement for the provision of budgeting and debt management advice in the locality areas.

(Presentation to follow)

Officers delivered a presentation on the Financial Framework Agreement.  Members were advised that this had commenced on 1st July 2014 and covered four service providers; CAB, Signs of Hope, Two Pennies and Money Plan with NewStarts.  The Services provided budget advice and budget training courses. 

Referrals were made to these services on an individual basis and the advice provided covered negotiations with debtors, setting budget plans, income and expenditure assessments and, where appropriate, advice and applications for debt relief order or bankruptcy.  It was confirmed that to date no bankruptcies had been put in place.  There had been 96 referrals made from three teams (Early Help, Locality and Housing Options).  Those referred also received assistance and strategies were developed to help them manage spending habits and budgets to ensure that they can keep on track in the future.

Officers also provided details of the training packages provided and explained that by delivering basic training for frontline staff they were able to assist those in need of the service at an early stage.  This could prevent the need for more intense support at a later date.

Following the presentation Members discussed the following areas:

·         That three of the providers were Worcester based and whether this had an impact on the service provided.

·         Concerns around a number of the providers who had strong Christian ethics and whether this would deter some people from seeking help.

·         The cost of the training sessions.  Officers confirmed that each provider levied a slightly different charge.

·         Whether there were any targets set for the providers.  Officers confirmed that trained Council staff were providing early debt support and therefore only the most severe cases were dealt with through the agreement.

·         Concerns around whether the closure of the CAB would compromise the other users.  Officers confirmed that the referrals would be dealt with by the other providers as the funding was still available.

To consider a presentation regarding methods that can be used to expand the range of social housing properties in the Borough.

(Presentation to follow)

The Chair reminded the Committee that this presentation had been delivered at the request of Councillor Mason.

Officers provided a short presentation which covered the following areas:

·         A trial had taken place at Mendip House to see how the pod system worked.  This pod was still in place.

·         In 2010 the Council had experimented with two pod extensions which had extended one bedroom properties into two bedrooms.  One of the buildings had included adaptations for a resident with disabilities.  At the time this had proved more cost effective than a brick built extension.

·         Work had been carried out through the Locality teams and currently there did not appear to be a need for larger houses.  There was more demand for one and two bedroomed properties.

·         The Council had signed up tenants for a home swapper service in 2012 and the demand for larger properties had been met through this scheme.

·         There were 40 Council tenants on the transfer list and the team were looking as to whether there was a real need or a desire amongst these tenants to move.

·         In 2015 it was felt more cost effective to build brick extensions rather than use the pod system and there was no current demand for it.

Members discussed the following areas in further detail once the presentation had been delivered:

·         The need for three bedroom properties in Abbeydale and the use of prefabricated homes to meet that need.

·         The use of pods and prefabricated homes in other parts of the country.

·         The limitations of brick built extensions in meeting the needs of residents with physical disabilities.

·         The pods that the Council owned had remained in situ and no consideration had been given to moving them to other properties.

·         Brick built extensions were found to be providing added value to the property.

·         The costs of undertaking the various types of extensions available.

·         The planning implications from the use of pods or prefabricated extensions.

To consider the minutes of the latest meeting(s) of the Executive Committee and also to consider whether any items on the Executive Committee’s Work Programme are suitable for scrutiny.

(Minutes and Executive Committee Work Programme attached).

Members considered the Executive Committee’s Minutes from the 20th January and 3rd February 2015 together with the latest edition of the Work Programme. 

Officers informed Members that the recommendation in respect of additional funding from the Kingfisher Shopping Centre for the Shopmobility scheme had been approved.  The appropriate Officers had been contacted with a view to taking the matter forward.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the Executive Committee held on 20th January and 3rd February 2015 and the latest edition of the Executive Committee’s Work Programme be noted.

Members considered the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme and whilst doing so Officers highlighted that as requested the future management of Redditch outdoor market had been scheduled in for the March meeting.

Councillor Baker, in his capacity as Chair of the Provision of Support Networks for the LGBT Community Task Group requested an extension to the timescale for completion of the investigation.  He explained this was due to both the complexity of the work involved and the impending elections, which would impact on the time Members were able to devote to the Task Group.

Councillor Witherspoon, as Chair of the Proposal for Change by Tudor Grange Academy Short Sharp Review, took the opportunity to remind Members of the presentation which would be given at the Town Hall on Friday 27th February by Officers from Worcestershire County Council and encouraged Members to attend.  She stressed the importance of this meeting and its content which could potentially affect all wards in the Borough.

RESOLVED that

1)    the deadline for the Provision of Support Networks for the LGBT Community Task Group review be extended to July; and

2)    the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme be noted.

To consider progress to date on the current reviews against the terms set by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The current reviews in progress are:

a)        Provision of support Networks for the LGBT Community Task Group – Chair, Councillor Joe Baker; and

b)        Tackling Obesity Task Group – Chair, Councillor Jane Potter.

 (Oral reports)

Provision of Support Networks for the LGBT Community – Chair, Councillor Joe Baker

Councillor Baker advised that the group were meeting regularly and had gathered a great deal of information, but had quickly become aware that there was limited support in Redditch for the LGBT community.  Councillor Baker provided the example of pages on the Council’s website and events for the LGBT History Month being held in Bromsgrove and explained that the LGBT community was not always aware of the support that was available.

The group had considered other authorities’ task and finish reports and had found the conclusions reached by Brighton and Hove Council to be particularly useful.  The group had also interviewed a number of expert witnesses and had been encouraged to learn that work was already being carried out in some local schools.  It was already clear that there was more work needed to be done and funding was an issue.

Councillor Baker thanked the Committee for allowing the review to go ahead as it was vital to the local community that the appropriate support was made available.

Tackling Obesity Task Group – Chair, Councillor Jane Potter

Councillor Potter provided Members with an update of the work of the group.  At the most recent meeting the group had considered written evidence from the CCG and what areas they wished to include in the final report.  The Group had been disappointed with the response from the Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group and had been concerned at what appeared to be a lack of any plan to address obesity.  It was confirmed that the group’s final report would be presented at the March meeting.

Councillor Pat Witherspoon, the Council’s representative on the Worcestershire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC), informed Members that at the most recent meeting of the Committee the main issue discussed was changes to the opening hours for the Tenbury minor injuries unit.  The Committee had been assured that the suggested cutbacks were not due to financial constraints, but difficulties in having to bring agency staff in to man the unit at particular times and it was conceded that the service could not continue at its current level.  Comparative data in respect of attendance at all minor injury units were provided and it was clear from this information that the Tenbury unit was not sustainable.  Members were advised that it was anticipated that the changes proposed would be implemented in the near future.