**A pre meeting for Members to prepare for the Panel will take place 45 minutes before the meeting**
The Press and Public are welcome to attend for the consideration of any items which are public.
Councillor Bainbridge (Chair) , Councillors Alcroft (Vice Chair), Allison, Mrs Bowman, Mrs Mitchell, Mitchelson, Sunter, Dr Tickner
Substitutes: Councillors Mrs Atkinson, Mrs Birks, Brown, Collier, Ms Ellis-Williams, Mrs Finlayson, Mrs Glendinning, Glover, Lishman, Mrs McKerrell, Meller, Morton, Patrick, Robson, Shepherd, Miss Sherriff, Southward, Mrs Tarbitt, Miss Whalen.
To note that Council, on the 9 November 2021, received and adopted the minutes of the meetings held on 26 August and 7 October 2021. The Minutes will be signed by the Chair. Minute Book Volume 48(3)
To consider any matter which has been the subject of call-in.
Portfolio:
Finance, Governance and Resources
Directorate:
Finance and Resources
Members are reminded that the Budget Book was circulated to all Councillors on 12 November 2021 and are asked to bring it to the meeting.
The Executive Decisions from 22 November 2021 are attached.
(a) Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Panel and Economic Growth Scrutiny Panel
To receive the views of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Panel and the Economic Growth Scrutiny Panel on the service implications of the Budget reports.
(Copy Minutes of 25 November and 2 December 2021 to follow)
Revenue Budget Reports:
(b) Budget Update – Revenue Estimates 2022/23 to 2026/27
Report:
RD.46/21
Officer:
Alison Taylor, Corporate Director of Finance and Resources
Background:
To consider and comment on the summary of the Council’s revised revenue base estimates for 2021/22, together with base estimates for 2022/23 and forecasts up to 2026/27 for illustrative purposes. Potential new spending pressures and savings are also considered along with new savings proposals and additional income generation.
(c) Individual Charges Reviews –
To consider and comment upon Individual Charges review reports as follows:
Community Services
CS.37/21
Darren Crossley, Deputy Chief Executive
Economic Development
ED.39/21
Jane Meek, Corporate Director of Economic Development
Governance and Regulatory Services
GD.55/21
Mark Lambert, Corporate Director of Governance and Regulatory Services
Licensing
GD.82/21
(d) Revised Capital programme 2021/22 and Provisional Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2026/27
RD.79/21
To consider and comment on the revised capital programme for 2021/22, together with the proposed method of financing and the proposed programme for 2022/23 to 2026/27 the light of new capital proposals identified, and the estimated capital resources available to fund the programme.
(e) Corporate Assets –3 Year Repair and Maintenance Programme 2022/23 – 2024/25
GD.79/21
To consider and comment on the repair and maintenance programme budget proposals for the Council’s Corporate Property assets for the three year period 2022/23 to 2024/25 together with an update on building maintenance.
(f) Treasury Management Quarter 2 2021/22 and Forecasts for 2022/23 to 2026/27
RD.49/21
To receive the regular quarterly report on Treasury Transactions and the City Council’s Treasury Management estimates for 2022/23 with projections to 2026/27.
(g) Local Taxation 2022/23 – 2026/27
RD.48/21
To receive the considerations as part of the budget process that need to be made in relation to aspects of funding received by the Council from Local Taxation.
Why are these items on the agenda?
Annual scrutiny as part of the Budget process
What is the Panel being asked to do?
Scrutinise the reports and provide feedback to the Executive.
RD.50/21 and Minute Excerpt herewith
The Corporate Director of Finance and Resources to submit a report providing an overview of the Council’s overall budgetary position for the period April to September 2021 for revenue schemes only. The matter was considered by the Executive on 22 November 2021.
Why is this item on the agenda?
Budget monitoring report.
To scrutinise the overall budgetary position for the period April to September 2021.
RD.51/21 and Minute Excerpt herewith
The Corporate Director of Finance and Resources to submit a report providing an overview of the budgetary position of the City Council’s capital programme for the period April to September 2021. The matter was considered by the Executive on 22 November 2021.
Budget monitoring report
What is the Panel being asked to do? To scrutinise the overall budgetary position for the period April to September 2021.
CS.45/21 herewith
The Deputy Chief Executive to submit a report on the authority’s quarter 2 sickness absence levels for the period 1 April to 30 September 2021 and other sickness absence information.
Annual monitoring of sickness absence within the authority.
What is the Panel being asked to do? Scrutinise and comment on the information on sickness absence provided in the report.
The HR Manager submitted the authority's sickness absence levels for the period 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021 and outlined other sickness absence information (CS.45/21). The HR Manager reported that the new Improving Attendance Policy took effect on 22 September 2021. Current sickness statistics were set out in table 2.1 and showed the number of days lost per FTE equated to 5.9 in the fist half of 2021/22. The report set out the split between long term and short term absences; absences split by directorate; trends and the reasons for sickness absence. In considering the report Members raised the following comments and questions: - The Panel asked for an update on the return to work interview figures. The HR Manager agreed to circulate the figures when the next quarter figures were confirmed. - Had the new Improving Attendance Policy been implemented, had training been carried out and was there any feedback on the new Policy? The HR Manager confirmed that the Policy had been implemented and some online training had been made available with further training being organised for the new year. The HR team were engaging with officers and staff when an absence occurred and were guiding individuals through the Policy as necessary. The HR Manager felt that the Policy and the proactive approach was working very well and she expected to see a reduction in long term absence figures in the next quarter. She added that the Organisational Development initiatives also supported a quicker return to work and ensured staff had a range of support available to them. - A large percentage of the sickness absence figures fell to one Directorate, what work was being undertaken to support individuals? The Deputy Chief Executive acknowledged the issue and explained that work was being carried out to give supervisors the confidence and support to address the issues in a consistent focused way in tandem with the wellbeing support that was available. - Was there any statistics on how LGR was impacting staff? The Deputy Chief Executive was not able to say if LGR had negatively impacted the wellbeing of staff, however, the Senior Management Team was doing everything possible to engage with staff throughout the process and keep them informed. He reminded the Panel that pulse surveys had been undertaken during the pandemic and suggested it may prove useful to carry out one on the impact of LGR in the future. - Had the percentage of stress, depression, mental health, fatigue syndromes related absences increased during the pandemic? The Deputy Chief Executive agreed to add this information to the next update report.
RESOLVED - 1) That the Sickness Absence Quarter 2 2021/22 report be received (CS.45/21) 2) That the HR Manager circulate the next quarter return to work figures to the Panel as soon as they were available.
Corporate Support
Gary Oliver, Policy and Performance Officer
PC.40/21 herewith
Background
The Policy and Communications Manager to submit a report on the Quarter 2 2021/22 performance against the Council’s current Service Standards and a summary of the Carlisle Plan 2021-23 actions as defined in the Plan. Performance against the Panel’s 2021/22 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are also included.
Annual monitoring of performance.
Scrutinise the performance of the City Council with a view to seeking continuous improvement in how the Council delivers its priorities.
The Policy and Performance Officer submitted the quarter 2 2021/22 performance against current Service Standards and an update on the delivery of the Carlisle Plan 2021-23 actions as defined in the Plan. Performance against the Panel's 2021/22 Key Performance Indicators were also included (PC.40/21). The Policy and Performance Officer drew the Panel's attention to the Summary of Exceptions and the associated reasons. At the request of the Chair, the Policy and Performance Officer gave an update on the increase in the number of corporate complaints received: 38 complaints had been received in the first two quarters. 17 of them related to actions / decisions that were not within the remit of the Council to change ie planning decisions. 12 complaints had been received in neighbourhood services, primarily missed collections, this had been a result of the HGV driver shortages. 9 complaints had been received by Environmental Services and related to 2 cases with multiple complainants / complaints. One of the complainants had since received a vexatious complaint warning letter from the Council.
A Member highlighted the number of working days to process new benefit claims and asked if the authority was still supporting the Test and Trace Support payments and if any additional staff had been employed to carry out the additional work.
RESOLVED - 1) That the Quarter 2 Performance Report 2021/22 be received (PC.40/21); 2) That the Policy and Performance Officer provide the Panel with further information on the Test and Trace Support payments and how the additional work was staffed.
Cross Cutting
Rowan Jones, Overview and Scrutiny Officer
OS.29/21 herewith
To consider a report providing an overview of matters related to the work of the Business and Transformation Scrutiny Panel.
The Business and Transformation Scrutiny Panel operates within a work plan which has been set for the 2021/22 municipal year. The Plan will be reviewed at every meeting so that it can be adjusted to reflect the wishes of the Panel and take into account items relevant to this Panel in the latest Notice of Executive Key Decisions.
What is the Panel being asked to do? Note the items within Panel remit on the most recent Notice of Executive Key Decisions Note the current work programme
- NIL -
Enquiries, requests for reports, background papers etc to: committeeservices@carlisle.gov.uk