Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

None were received.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 9^th August 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the Key Decisions to be taken for the period September to December 2018.

Members noted the Notice of Key Decisions and Private Meetings for the period September to December 2017.

To consider Capital Budget Monitoring in Q1 of 2017/18.

Howard Hamilton-Smith presented the report which detailed the Council’s capital expenditure and resources position for Quarter 1 up to 30^th June 2017.

IT WAS AGREED

That the report be noted.

To consider Revenue Budget Monitoring for Quarter 1 of 2017/18.

Howard Hamilton-Smith presented the report detailing the Council’s forecast outturn position for the year 2017/18 based upon actual spending and income to 30^th June 2017.  He informed members that the projected revenue budget forecast underspend was £70k and that Council would be asked to approve the latest revised budget of £14.596m and the net transfers from earmarked reserved of £1.582m.

Members asked about the current financial position of the Pennine Lancashire Building Control joint partnership which had shown a deficit in the previous year.  Officers said that nothing had been declared at this stage but that they would clarify the position.

IT WAS AGREED

That the report be noted.

To receive a report detailing the latest position with regard to savings proposals and balancing the Council’s budget for 2018 to 2021.

AsadMushtaq reported on the latest position regarding balancing the Council’s 2018/21 revenue budgets and outlined the savings proposals which were proposed.  He highlighted the £3.8m budget gap and detailed savings proposals of £1.4m over the next three years which required a further £84k to be found in 2018/19.  A report on the how this deficit was to be met would be taken to the budget Council meeting in February 2018.

IT WAS AGREED

That the report be noted.

To receive an update on Service Delivery and Transformation.

Ian Brotheridge, Regional Contract Director for Liberata gave a presentation on the progress and achievements to date with the strategic partnership.  He highlighted that the Key Performance Indicators for 2016/17 had been fully achieved and that the new jobs creation was ahead of plan.  He also informed members that the Citizen Access launch had been completed and that Liberata was now preparing for the upgrade to the e-Revs module.  He further highlighted the awards & recognition for customer services which Liberata had achieved and also the successful project management of the Padiham Town Hall Reinstatement Project which was expected to be completed November 2017.

Going forward he emphasised the focus on the optimisation of service automation with support for vulnerable customers

Members commented on the excellent quality of the Padiham Town Hall refurbishment and thanked Liberata for overseeing the work.  Members also enquired if the cost of the work had been met by the insurers.  Ian confirmed that a large percentage had been covered by insurance.

The Chair thanked Ian for his presentation.

To consider the draft report of the Scrutiny Review Group, and to submit the finalised report to the Executive for consideration.

Members received the report of the Scrutiny Review Group on the outcomes of the review of rail facilities in Burnley.  The report would be presented to the Executive for approval at its meeting on 19^th September.

The recommendations from Scrutiny to the Executive was for the Council to continue to work alongside colleagues from Lancashire County Council and Northern Rail to raise the profile of Manchester Road Station, and support Northern Rail to access funding to provide access improvements at the station.

In discussions members said that there was still very little at the station that t promoted Burnley despite this being raised two years ago.

Ward members further highlighted the inadequate parking facilities at the railway station which was causing parking problems in the Springfield Road/Piccadilly area.  They asked the Chair when presenting the report to the Executive, to emphasise the need for the Council to push for the release of land at the Ambulance Station as a matter of urgency to alleviate these parking problems. 

Members also requested that the Chair ask the Executive to keep the pressure on the train operating companies to upgrade the rolling stock on the rail line.

IT WAS AGREED

That the Scrutiny report be submitted to the Executive for approval.

To receive an update on the work of any Scrutiny Review Groups and to plan for future reviews.

The Chair reminded members of the three topics that had been put forward for review which were

·         Fire safety

·         Environment enforcement

·         Dementia services in Burnley

The Democracy Officer said that position statements on the three tropics were awaited and would be circulated to members.  She also asked that members email Alison McEwan with the topic(s) they were interested in and also for their availability and preference for daytime or evening meetings.  Dates for meetings would then be arranged.

In respect of fire safety it was suggested that a presentation by the Fire and Rescue Service on the situation in Burnley would be a good before any review was scoped.

Members asked if updates on the following could be brought for possible future scrutiny

·         S106 monies (in terms of commitments and unspent money) and the associated legalities

·         Food Hygiene Rating Scheme -  how it works and how scores are awarded

To consider any additions to the draft Work Plan for 2017/18

Members noted the work programme.