Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Les Winwood.

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

None were disclosed.

To consider the Minutes of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 24th October 2018 and 14th November 2018.

The Minutes from meetings held on 24^th October 2018 and 14^th November 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any questions, statements or petitions from the public of which members of the public have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is Tuesday 5^th February 2019.

No public questions were received.

To receive any questions of which members of the Council have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is 4.30pm on Friday 1^st February 2019.

Cllr Roger Evans submitted the following question:

What is the situation regarding the Community Enablement Team (CET) please.

My understanding is that the posts are fully funded under the agreed Council Budget until the end of March 2019 so assume the duties and work carried out by the team will continue until around that date.  After that date, subject to the council making a decision regarding the budget for next year at the meeting in February, all funding for this team will be cut.

Which officers will be taking on the duties at present carried out by the CET including of course Local Joint Committees. This latter point is fairly urgent as I wish to ask for the committee covering my area to urgently meet and discuss Youth Club Funding after April in the area covered by my LJC. Who do I ask to organise this meeting please?

Can we be told when Parish Councils and elected members will be informed as to what plans Shropshire Council has regarding who and how the work at present carried out by the CET is to be carried out when the team is disbanded. What if any work will no longer be carried out.

It is further understood that an additional 6 posts are being created in the Place Directorate to carry out work. Where and what work will these posts be responsible for please.

RESPONSE from Steve Brown Interim Head of Infrastructure and Communities provided the following briefing note.

Community Enablement Team (CET) Briefing Note (January 2019).

I thought you would appreciate an update regarding the CET team, as you know the team and their roles and responsibilities will cease by the 31^st March.

Six of the staff from the CET have been successful in securing new posts as Place Plan Officers, which will sit within Economic Growth and Planning Policy. These are new roles, which will focus on developing and delivering Place Plans, CIL funding and infrastructure development across the county, Local Plans and will link and support at a place plan level to ensure that advice and support to Members and Towns and Parishes is provided to ensure these opportunities are maximised.

The Officers that have secured these roles are Corrie Davies, Tracy Johnson, Andrea McWilliams, Mathew Meade, Lucy Roberts and Vicky Turner. The geographical areas and key themes of responsibility are:

The new roles will commence full time on 28^th January 2019, although the approach will be flexible as there is an appreciation that existing CET works needs to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

To receive a report from the Director of Place on unmet housing need in Shropshire.

Contact:  Mark Barrow, Director of Place, tel 01743 258671

Members noted that this item and agenda item 11, Meeting Housing Need Task and Finish Group Report would be considered together.

The Director of Place explained that extensive work had been undertaken by the Meeting Housing Need Task and Finish Group and had contributed to the report on Unmet Housing need to be considered by Council at its meeting on 28^th February 2019.

In response to a Members question relating to timescales, the Director of Place explained that should Council be minded to approve the proposal the process would begin, with delivery of new housing developments once the planning process had been completed.

The Director of Place reassured Members that identification of the type of property required was reached using an established formula.  He continued that it was not desirable to take a one size fits all approach and each development should meet the needs of its locality. The Deputy Portfolio Holder for Housing added that there was a limited stock of affordable housing and it was important to ensure that existing housing needs were prioritised.

Members observed that two-bedroom properties offered greater flexibility for both couples and single residents, and although these properties might fail the housing benefit criteria there were many residents on low incomes who were not constrained by this policy and required these dwellings.  Members offered support for the Right House Right Place initiative, though asked for assurance that the resources were available to deliver it.  The Portfolio for Planning and Housing Development explained that this was early days for the new initiative, but external funding was available to establish it and deliver the housing needed by local communities.  The Director of Place confirmed that some data was already held but further work would be undertaken with town and parish councils to enrich this. 

The Director of Place confirmed that governance arrangements would be detailed in the report to Council on 28^th February 2019.

In response to a Member’s question on the reprofiling of funds allocated for the Empty Property Incentive Grant to the next financial year, the Deputy Portfolio Holder for Housing explained that the current approach to empty properties was being revised, and it had been considered inappropriate to continue with the existing scheme until this work had been undertaken and completed. 

RESOLVED:

That the Meeting Housing Need Task and Finish Group report be approved.

To receive a verbal update from the Director of Workforce and Development on the progress of the Digital Transformation Programme.

Contact: Michele Leith, Director of Workforce and Development, tel 01743 254402

The Director of Workforce and Transformation updated Members on the progress of the Digital Transformation Programme.  She agreed to provide Members with a copy of her notes after the meeting.

Members noted that many of the projects were nearing implementation and work to achieve this had been intensified, although some delays had been unavoidable.  In answer to a Member’s question, the Director of Workforce and Transformation confirmed that the projected savings for Adult Social Care were not dependent on the implementation of the new computer systems. 

To receive the Quarter 2, 2018/19 Corporate Performance Report, to consider the key underlying and emerging performance issues, to identify any performance areas for further consideration or referral to the appropriate overview and scrutiny committee.

Contact: Tom Dodds, Information, Intelligence and Insight Manager, tel 01743 258518

The Intelligence and Insight Manager presented the report, drawing Member’s attention to improved figures for delayed transfer to care and increased visitor numbers for Ludlow. 

In response to a Member’s query, he explained that the presentation of the report to the Committee had been delayed due to changes in the Cabinet timetable.

To receive the Quarter 2 2018/19 Financial Monitoring report, to consider the key underlying and emerging performance issues, and to identify any performance areas for further consideration or referral to the appropriate overview and scrutiny committee.

Contact: Tom Dodds, Information, Intelligence and Insight Manager, tel 01743 258518

The Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance introduced the report, which had been considered by Cabinet on 28^th November 2018.  He observed that the Quarter 3 report had also been published.

Members noted that he Quarter 2 overspend had reduced significantly.  The Financial Strategy for the current year was to be considered by Council on the 28^th February 2019 and contained savings proposals to cover the recent staff pay award.  Should Council approve these proposed savings the projected overspend would be significantly reduced.

Members discussed the revenue from the Shrewsbury shopping centres.  The Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance advised Members that £2.4 had been received and although further borrowing was expected this had not yet been undertaken.    As a result, the Council was not yet paying for any external borrowing.  He added that, overall, the financial implication of the Shopping Centres had at this time, significantly exceeded expectations. 

In response to a Member’s query, the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance confirmed that it was anticipated that a proportion of the budget allocated for broadband provision was being taken forward to the next financial year due to the Council reconsidering its methods of broadband provision and broadband providers.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To consider the final report of the Financial Strategy Task and Finish Group.

Contact: Danial Webb, Scrutiny Officer, tel 01743 258509

The Chair of the Financial Strategy Task and Finish Group introduced the Group’s report.  He observed that both Senior Officers and Portfolio Holders had been invited to contribute to the Group’s work.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance explained that changes to generate the savings from the Digital Transformation Programme would be put into place during 2019 to achieve savings in 2020.  As implementation had been delivered up to 12 months later than originally anticipated, savings would correspondingly be delivered from 2020, although some £1.7m of savings would be delivered immediately. 

The Director of Workforce and Development observed that savings were expected to be made as a result of more efficient working practices and changes to work patterns and not wholly due to staff reductions. 

A Member expressed disappointment the Group had not drilled down sufficiently and had not included the examination of capital expenditure or the concept of invest to save in its work.

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance responded that many savings proposals built into the budget were subject to consultation processes.  Should these proposals be found not to be achievable then other ways of achieving the savings would need to be identified. 

The Chair of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee thanked the Group for their hard work.

RESOLVED:

That the Financial Strategy Task and Finish Group report be endorsed.

To receive the Meeting Housing Need Task and Finish Group report.

Contact:  Danial Webb, Scrutiny Officer, tel 01743 258508

This item was considered with Agenda Item 6, Unmet Housing need.

To consider the work programme of the Committee and to appraise the merit of establishing a Climate Change Task and Finish Group to scrutinise how the Council addresses climate change. 

Contact: Danial Webb, Scrutiny Officer, tel 01743 258509

Members proposed the establishment of a Task and Finish Group to examine the issue of climate change as discussed at Council on 14^th December 2018.  The Intelligence and Insight Manager observed that this topic had strong links to the new priorities and themes of the Council’s Corporate Plan.

RESOLVED:

That a Climate Change Task and Finish Group be established.

The Committee is scheduled to next meet at 2.00pm on 6^th March 2019.

Members noted that the Committee would next meet at 2pm on Wednesday 6^th March 2019.