Agenda and minutes

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 1st August 2023 7.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Maldon District Council Offices, Princes Road, Maldon. View directions

Contact: Committee Services  Email: committee.clerk@maldon.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

195.

Chairperson's Notices

Minutes:

The Chairperson welcomed everyone present and went through some general housekeeping arrangements for the meeting.

196.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

An Apology for absence was received from Councillor J C Hughes.

197.

Minutes of the last meeting pdf icon PDF 146 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28 March 2023 (copy enclosed).

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 March 2023 be approved and confirmed.

198.

Disclosure of Interest

To disclose the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registrable interests and Non-Registrable Interests relating to items of business on the agenda having regard to paragraph 9 and Appendix B 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).

Minutes:

There were none.

199.

Scrutiny Workplan Update pdf icon PDF 215 KB

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources (copy enclosed).

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources that provided the new Committee at its first meeting with an update on the existing scrutiny workplan for review. The Chairperson introduced the report and deferred to the Corporate Governance Project Officer to give further detail on some of the items that would be before the Committee and the Working Group at their next meetings, particularly Planning Decision Making and Planning Enforcement.

 

The Head of Service - Planning Policy and Implementation, gave Members an update on performance and resources.  In reply to a question, she added that work on the review of the Planning Enforcement Policy would depend on service priorities and how the new structure and resourcing is established and suggested it would be helpful to include input from members.

 

The Chairperson then moved the recommendation set out in the report and this was agreed by assent.

 

RESOLVEDthat the Committee endorses the existing scrutiny workplan, together with the updates, as a basis for the planning of its future meetings.

200.

Working Group of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 129 KB

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources (copy enclosed).

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources that reviewed the process of establishing a Working Group of the Committee. The Chairperson introduced the report and deferred to the Vice Chairperson who suggested that the Working Group should perhaps consist of all members of the Committee. This would enable all Members to become more fully engaged in the work of the Committee and reduce the need to rehearse the proceedings of the Working Group at meetings of the Committee.

 

The Chairperson then moved the proposal that the Overview and Scrutiny Working Group consists of all members of the Committee, and this was agreed by assent.

 

RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Working Group consists of all members of the Committee for the ensuing municipal year.

201.

Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies pdf icon PDF 161 KB

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources (copy enclosed).

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources that sought appointment of one Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to an Outside Body for the ensuing Municipal year 23/24.

 

The Chairperson then called for nominations to the below outside body.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee appoints one representative to the Outside Body as detailed below, for the ensuing municipal year.

 

Outside Body

APPOINTED 2023/24

Essex County Council (ECC) Health Overview Policy and Scrutiny Committee (District Representative)

Councillor P L Spenceley

 

202.

Process Improvement Framework.

To appoint two Members to represent the Committee to support the above work internally.

Minutes:

The Committee considered the request to appoint two Member representatives to support the work on the Process Improvement Framework.

 

The Chairperson introduced the item and Councillor E L Stephens nominated herself to be a representative so she could continue her role as a Member Champion. The Chairperson then asked Councillor Stephens to give some background to allow Members to understand the role.

 

The Chairperson then nominated Councillors S J N Morgan and E L Stephens and these were agreed by assent.

 

RESOLVED that Councillors S J N Morgan and E L Stephens be appointed as the two Member representatives to support the work of the Process Improvement Framework.

203.

Reference from the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee

To receive a reference from the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee seeking a review of the management processes associated with the Splash Park at Promenade Park, Maldon.

Minutes:

The Committee received a reference from the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee (PGA) to review the management processes associated with the Splash Park at Promenade Park, Maldon.

 

The Corporate Governance Project Officer gave some brief background to this and pointed out that the PGA had also asked for a separate report to be made to the Strategy and Resources Committee to consider the wider business model and commercial aspects of the operation of this facility.

 

Councillor K M H Lagan, an in-attendance Member, gave further information regarding the referral which related to the separate issue of the maintenance of the Splash Park, and why it had not been open earlier in the season as agreed.  He expressed his keenness for this matter to be reviewed pending the separate issue of the operation of a District asset.

 

The Chairperson then proposed that the Committee accepts the reference from the PG&A Committee, which would then be picked up for consideration as to whether it should be added to the scrutiny workplan or a watching brief kept, and this was agreed

 

RESOLVED that the Committee accepts the reference from the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee.