The Press and Public are welcome to attend for the consideration of any items which are public.
Councillor Mrs Finlayson (Chair), Councillors Bainbridge, Ms Ellis-Williams, Pickstone, Mitchelson, Sunter (Vice-Chair), Dr Tickner and Wills.
Substitutes:
Councillors Alcroft, Allison, Atkinson, Birks, Bomford, Brown, Collier, Mrs Glendinning, Glover, Lishman, Mrs McKerrell, Mrs Mitchell, Morton, Patrick, Robson, Shepherd, Miss Sherriff, Southward, and Miss Whalen.
To consider any matter which has been the subject of call-in.
Portfolio:
Cross Cutting
Directorate:
Community Services
Officer:
Steven O’Keeffe, Head of Policy and Communications
Report:
OS.02/23 herewith
Background:
The Head of Policy and Communications to submit a report on the Resources panel’s remit and the links to the LGR Programme.
Why is this item on the agenda?
To provide an overview of items within the Resources Panel remit in order to offer the Panel assurance on these matters.
What is the Panel being asked to do?
Consider and comment on the report.
The Head of Policy and Communications submitted an update on the Resources Panel remit and the links to the LGR Programme (OS.02/23). The Panel discussed, in some detail, their disappointment that the remit of the new Resources Panel had been confined to scrutinising the City Council's budget in a year when the City Council would not be producing a budget. They noted that the report had focused on the budget process for Cumberland Council and therefore the Panel had nothing to scrutinise within their remit. The Panel expressed concern that members of the public would have expected the Panel to scrutinise the matters within their remit and there was some apprehension that the strategic financial planning documents had not been scrutinised.
The Corporate Director of Finance and Resources clarified that the City Council had not produced the strategic financial planning documents as this was now the role of the Shadow Authority for Cumberland. She assured the Panel that budget monitoring reports had been the subject of regular scrutiny by the People Panel. Members queried their role in the setting of the Cumberland Council budget and how the City Council could raise issues should there be some concerns about the proposed budget. The Corporate Director of Finance and Resources responded that the Cumberland Council budget for 2023/24 would be subject to a consultation period. During the consultation Members, as residents of the area, could submit their response to the budget. There was no role for the City Council Scrutiny Panels in the setting of the Cumberland Council Budget. A Member highlighted the Cumberland Shadow Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme that had been included in the report and asked how the City Council Cost of Living Task and Finish Group work would feed into the Cumberland Council Scrutiny Cost of Living work. The Policy and Scrutiny Officer explained that the City Council Task and Finish Group would be an additional resource for the Cumberland Council work. It was expected that the Cumberland Council work would take into consideration similar reports and documents from all of the sovereign Council's to inform their work. RESOLVED - That the overview report (OS.02/23) be noted.
Rowan Jones, Policy and Scrutiny Officer
OS.03/23 herewith
To consider a report providing an overview of matters related to the work of the Resources Panel.
For the consideration of the Panel.
Consider and note the report.
The Policy and Scrutiny Officer submitted an overview of matters related to the Panel's work (OS.03/23). RESOLVED - That the Overview Report be noted (OS.03/23)
- NIL -
Enquiries, requests for reports, background papers etc to: democraticservices@carlisle.gov.uk
Officers: Corporate Director of Finance and Resources Head of Policy and Communications Policy and Scrutiny Officer Democratic Services Support Officer (Observing)