Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the remote meeting, held under regulations which came into effect on 4 April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Referring to the recent passing of His Royal Highness the Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, the Chairman asked all present to join her in a minute silence in remembrance.

The Chairman then took Members through some general housekeeping issues, together with the etiquette for the meeting and then asked Officers and Councillors in attendance to introduce themselves.

This was followed by a roll call of all Committee Members present.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor R P F Dewick.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 21 January 2021 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED (by assent) that the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21 January 2021 be approved and confirmed.

To receive the views of members of the public of which prior notification in writing has been received (no later than noon on the Tuesday prior to the day of the meeting).

Should you wish to submit a question please completed the online form at www.maldon.gov.uk/publicparticipation.

There was none.

To disclose the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, other Pecuniary Interests or Non-Pecuniary Interests relating to items of business on the agenda having regard to paragraphs 6-8 inclusive of the Code of Conduct for Members.

(Members are reminded that they are also required to disclose any such interests as soon as they become aware should the need arise throughout the meeting).

There were none.

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance providing an update on the approach to agreed scrutiny items.

The report reminded Members of two areas of scrutiny the Committee had, at its last meeting, agreed to include in its workplan.  The report provided an update on the two areas following the start of information gathering by Officers.

Transformation – Learning from what we have done

The Programmes, Performance and Governance Manager took Members through the report provided at Appendix 1 which detailed a review of the outcomes from the transformation programme and identified learning points.  The report highlighted where further financial information was expected, and the Officer explained that the Finance team were working on a wider reconciliation exercise for transformation.  Members were requested to consider revising the final reporting date to 31 May 2021 to allow the finance work to be included in the final conclusions.

The Chairman proposed that recommendation (i) as set out in the report be agreed.  This was duly seconded.

Members were advised that the report and related papers for the Council meeting in August 2018 were available through the internal I Drive.

In response to a question regarding reviewing the impacts originally identified in the Committee report, Officers agreed to include this within the report.

The Chairman thanked the Programmes, Performance and Governance Manager for her work in relation to this scrutiny report.

Responding to a question raised, the Officer advised that the results of the recent staff survey had been considered by the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee (PGA).  The responses had shown that since the last survey there had been a good increase in staff satisfaction and a decrease in turnover.  The Programmes, Performance and Governance Manager advised that she would share the report considered by the PGA with the Committee.

The Chairman then put recommendation (i) as set out in the report to the Committee as this related specifically to the Transformation item.  Upon a vote being taken this was duly agreed.

A review of the debt collection process and policy and the impact on residents

In Appendix 2 to the report Officers had attempted to address the key outcomes and bring back in interim response as the team involved were very busy managing the Covid response.  The Programmes, Performance and Governance Manager outlined the further background information that the response sought to provide.  It was noted that staff worked closely with partner agencies to support customers in difficulty although it was difficult to assess issues around vulnerability if people did not engage properly with the Council.

The Chairman thanked Officers for their work putting the report together and particularly thanked Revenues and Benefits Staff for the work they did to support the vulnerable people in the community.  She then put recommendation (ii) as set out in the report to the Committee and this was duly seconded.

The Programmes, Performance and Governance Manager reminded Members that this was an interim report and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 376.

The Chairman reminded Members of the requirement to present an annual report from the Committee to the Council for consideration.  She requested that Members feed any matters to her by email and advised she would be working with the Corporate Governance Project Officer to compile the report.