Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2019 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2019 were approved as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

No Cabinet decisions have been called in.

No Cabinet decisions had been called in.

To note the attached documents from the Council’s Constitution which are for background information.

If members have any queries about any matter within these documents, please will they raise them at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting by contacting the Committee Manager, whose details are shown on the front of the agenda.

·         Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Terms of Reference

·         Overview and Scrutiny Procedure

Rules

The Committee had been provided with two documents from the Constitution for reference: Part 3(f) Terms of Reference and Part 5(b) Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

The Committee noted the contents of the documents.

To note the Treasury Management annual report for 2018/19 and the financial environment in global markets

The Committee received the Treasury Management Annual Report on treasury performance for 2018/19, covering the Council’s activities in the borrowing and investment market and the associated monitoring and control of risk.

Members asked some general questions about the Council’s investment strategy and some specific questions about the detail in the report.

Officers agreed to clarify the points raised both in writing following the meeting and in future reports.

Resolved to note the Treasury Management Annual report.

To note the provisional capital outturn for

2018/19.

The Chief Accountant presented a report on the 2018/19 provisional capital outturn and responded to Committee members’ queries.

Resolved to note the 2018/19 provisional capital outturn and the carry forwards totalling £17,474,900.

To note the provisional revenue outturn for

2018/19.

The Chief Accountant presented a report on the 2018/19 provisional revenue outturn and responded to Committee members’ queries.

Resolved to note the 2018/19 provisional revenue outturn and the carry forwards totalling £1,626,061.

To receive an update on progress with corporate projects and their outcomes across the Council.

It may be necessary to exclude the Press and Public during this item in relation to any confidential information to be provided to the Committee.

The Group Head for Commissioning and Transformation presented an update on progress with corporate projects and answered Committee members’ questions. She confirmed that project recording mechanisms were being simplified to improve the information provided and that the new system would be in place in time for the next report to Committee in September of this year.

During this item, it was moved, seconded and;

Resolved to exclude the Press and Public in order for the Committee to receive a presentation on progress being made with the Council’s housing development projects, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006; Paragraph 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Resolved to note the project update report and the confidential presentation on the Council’s housing developments.

During this session, councillors will be invited

to consider and suggest suitable topics for inclusion

on the Committee’s Work Programmes for 2019-

20 and 2020-21.

Councillors are encouraged to speak to other

Members in advance of the meeting to identify key

issues for their constituents which would result

in improvements for local people.

The following documents are attached to

assist councillors’ consideration of this item:

·         Review of the work programme 2018/19

·         Current draft work programme for 2019/20

·         Cabinet Forward Plan

The Committee identified topics of interest/concern for possible inclusion in the work programmes for 2019-21 including:

·         Provision of crematorium

·         Staines Town Centre littering - land and River

·         Provision of a mix of entertainment facilities and activities in Staines

·         Surrey County Council cuts - How to facilitate shared ownership of the impact on the Borough and especially the impact on the voluntary sector

·         Use of renewable energy

·         Governance of Knowle Green Estates

·         Housing Strategy

·         Fly tipping, abandoned vehicles and litter – how to engage and educate the public through partnership working

·         Triage access to GPs in Shepperton Health Centre

·         Pavement parking

·         Free off-peak parking in Staines-upon-Thames

·         Fire Service operation post reduction in Stations

·         *Ethical investment

The Chairman advised that she and the Vice-Chairman would consider all the topics suggested and decide which ones would be most appropriate for inclusion in the Committee’s work programme.

*amended by Overview and Scrutiny Committee at meeting on 10 September 2019.