Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P W Whittle, JP and J V Bryant.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Scrutiny Board meeting held on 22 November 2012.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Board held on 22 November 2012 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman made an announcement concerning a dispensation granted to all members as follows:

The Monitoring Officer has granted a dispensation to all Members to enable discussion and decisions to be taken in respect of matters that relate to the setting of the Council Tax and Housing related matters where Members or their spouses hold a tenancy or lease with the Council.

The dispensation covers Members in respect of any discussions and decisions/recommendations made in respect of item 8 which relates to the spending plan and which ultimately leads into the setting of the Council Tax and item 9 which relates to the Housing Revenue spending plans and rents.   

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

In accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct, Councillor Price declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in respect of item 8 below as he leases an allotment in Portchester and if necessary would leave the meeting and not take part in any discussion relating to allotments.

(Minute 3 above also refers to members' interests)

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To give consideration to the following motion, which was submitted to Council on 13 December 2012 by Councillor N Gregory and subsequently considered by the Executive on 7 January 2013. The Executive agreed to refer the motion to the Scrutiny Board, inviting its comments on the proposed new safeguarding policy before the policy was considered by the Executive:-

"I would like to request support from all Councillors to implement a review of this Local authorities current Safeguarding Policy.

After speaking to this Borough’s CPO, I feel that our current Policy does not go far enough in safeguarding all the vulnerable sectors of our communities. I fully understand that the current Policy meets all current Government guidelines; however it is mostly based around Children and young adults.

I request that this Local Authority’s Safeguard Policy covers all the vulnerable population of this Borough, i.e. our children, young Adults, elderly, disable and those who suffer with Mental or Health problems.

 This will give assurances to all residents, especially those from the most vulnerable sectors of our commitment for safeguarding them.

This review, I feel, will not just safeguard the most vulnerable sectors of our Borough but also the members of this Authority in carrying out their duties".

The Board is requested to note that in accordance withstanding Order 47, Councillor Gregory is entitled to attend the meeting of the Scrutiny Board and the Executive to address members on the motion.

The Board gave consideration to the following motion which was submitted to Council on 13 December 2012 by Councillor N R Gregory and subsequently considered by the Executive on 7 January 2013. The Executive agreed to refer the motion to the Scrutiny Board, inviting its comments on the proposed new safeguarding policy before the policy was considered by the Executive:-

"I would like to request support from all Councillors to implement a review of this Local authorities current Safeguarding Policy.

After speaking to this Borough’s CPO, I feel that our current Policy does not go far enough in safeguarding all the vulnerable sectors of our communities. I fully understand that the current Policy meets all current Government guidelines; however it is mostly based around Children and young adults.

I request that this Local Authority’s Safeguard Policy covers all the vulnerable population of this Borough, i.e. our children, young Adults, elderly, disabled and those who suffer with Mental or Health problems.

 This will give assurances to all residents, especially those from the most vulnerable sectors of our commitment for safeguarding them.

This review, I feel, will not just safeguard the most vulnerable sectors of our Borough but also the members of this Authority in carrying out their duties".

The Board was requested to note that in accordance with standing Order 47, Councillor Gregory was entitled to attend the meeting of the Scrutiny Board and the Executive to address members on the motion.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)       the officers be requested to prepare a report on the proposed review of the Council's current safeguarding policy with regard to children and vulnerable people for the Board to consider before the revised policy was submitted to the Executive for approval;

(b)       the item be added to the work programme for the next meeting (21 March 2013); and

(c)       it be noted that the Health and Safety of elected members whilst carrying out their duties was a different issue and that the officers be requested to report separately on that. 

To consider a report by the Director of Finance and Resources which invites members to review the Board’s work programme for 2012/13 and consider a draft programme for 2013/14.

The Board considered a report by the Director of Finance and Resources which invited members to review the Board's Work Programme for 2012/13 and consider a draft programme for 2013/14 (copy of report sb-130123-r01-awa circulated with agenda).

It was AGREED that:-

(a)       Councillor P J Davies be invited to attend the meeting of the Board on 21 March 2013 for the Question and Answer session with representatives of First Bus;

(b)       it be noted that an invitation had been sent to the Environment Agency (minute 7 of 22 November 2012 refers) and that a response was awaited;

(c)       in view of (b) above, consideration be given to moving the item from the 2012/13 work programme to the 2013/14 work programme (possibly the 30 May 2013 meeting);

(d)       the individual Executive Members be invited to attend meetings of the Board to report on the performance of services within their portfolios for the last twelve months and to give an indication of their plans for the future;

(e)       as a general rule, but not exclusively, individual Executive members and external organisations be invited to alternate meetings of the Board;

(f)        from the list of external organisations shown in Appendix B to the report, the following be invited to attend a future meeting of the Board to answer members' questions:

(i)            Environment Agency ((b) above refers);

(ii)          Fareham Community Savers - The Credit Union;

(iii)         Solent Local Enterprise Partnership;

and that members be requested to e-mail any further suggestions to the Chairman prior to the next meeting of the Board;

(g)       subject to (c), (d), (e) and (f) above, the provisional work programme for 2013/14, as shown in paragraph10 to the report, be approved;

(h)      the progress on actions since the last meeting of the Board, as shown in Appendix C to the report, be noted; and

(i)        the work programme for 2012/13, as shown in Appendix A to the report, be noted. 

To consider a report by the Director of Finance and Resources concerning the Executive's proposals for the overall capital programme and revenue budget for 2013/14.

Councillor Price declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in respect of this item as he leases an allotment in Portchester and if necessary would leave the meeting and not take part in any discussion relating to allotments (minute 4 above refers).

(Minute 3 above also refers to members' interests).

          The Board considered a report by the Director of Finance and Resources concerning the Executive’s proposals for the overall capital programme and revenue budget for 2013/14 (copy of report sb-130123-r02-nwo circulated with agenda).

The Director of Finance and Resources advised that he would refer any proposals or comments of the Board to the Executive meeting on 11 February 2013.  He duly answered members’ questions thereon.

It was AGREED that the report be noted.

To consider a report by the Director of Finance and Resources which requests the Board to consider and review the Executive's proposals for the Housing Revenue Account Budget and Capital Plans for 2013/14.

The Board considered a report by the Director of Finance and Resources which requested it to consider and review the Executive's proposals for the Housing Revenue Account Budget and Capital Plans for 2013/14 (copy of report sb-130123-r03-kgo circulated with agenda).

(Minute 3 above also refers to members' interests).

The Board was advised that the report had also been considered by the Housing Tenancy Board at its meeting on 21 January 2013.  The Board had been asked to give its views, which would be forwarded to the Executive.

The Finance Strategy and Development Manager duly answered members’ questions thereon.

It was AGREED that the report be noted.

If requested by a member, to consider any item of business dealt with by the Executive, since the last meeting of the Board. The relevant Executive meetings are 3 December 2012 and 7 January 2013. (This will also include any decisions taken by individual Executive members during the same time period).

Members were invited to indicate if they wished to consider any item of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Board.

There were no items of Executive business considered.