Agenda item

To include Scrutiny proposals received from Members.

Members discussed the Work Plan and Scrutiny Proposals submitted.

There was consensus that having fewer items on the agenda would allow for more efficient scrutiny and, consequently, it was agreed that the items ‘Update on Exeter Community Lottery - First Year of Operation’ and ‘Tenants Energy Review of

our Passivhaus Council Homes’ were not time-critical and could be deferred. Also, in Councillor Parkhouse’s absence, the discussion around Stagecoach South West was pushed back to the November meeting.

Citizens Advice in Exeter

Clarity was given to Members that Standing Order 18, under which Councillor M Mitchell had submitted this proposal, could trigger an item not only to be discussed for inclusion on the work programme but, if the matter was deemed urgent, to feature on the agenda for the next meeting.

Councillor M Mitchell, speaking under Standing Order 44, made particular reference to:-

·         the context of Wellbeing Exeter;

·         the financial position of Citizens Advice;

·         how, to many people in the community, Citizens Advice was seen as an emergency service;

·         conversations he had had with Citizens Advice.

He suggested the piece of scrutiny could take the shape of:-

·         an officer report which considered the relationship between ECC and Citizens Advice;

·         a presentation from Citizens Advice; and

·         a Q&A session.

There was consensus for the item ‘Citizens Advice in Exeter’ to be put on the agenda of the November meeting but the Monitoring Officer reminded that clarity was essential for the scoping out of the report, remarking that Councillor M Mitchell had not yet submitted a detailed proforma.

Consequently, it was moved by Councillor Moore, and seconded by Councillor Fullam:-

1.    that the item ‘Citizens Advice in Exeter’ be added to the agenda of the 28 November 2024 meeting of the Customer Focus scrutiny Committee; and

2.    that the scoping of the item in question be delegated to the Scrutiny Programme Board at their 16 October 2024 meeting.

On a vote, the motion was CARRIED unanimously.

Members then discussed the budget scrutiny suggestions submitted to Councillors Parkhouse and Rees in the summer, as requested at the previous meeting. The suggestions had been collated and included in the agenda for the present meeting.

The Monitoring Officer reminded Members that submitting a proforma facilitated the scrutiny process and made the following further comments:-

·         the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources wanted to enable scrutiny;

·         it was sensible for the Section 151 Officer to present budget scrutiny items; and

·         for the 2025-26 exercise, it would be possible to bring forward the January meeting of the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee.

Proposal from Councillor Read (as submitted)

After discussion, it was moved by Councillor Read, and seconded by Councillor Miller-Boam, that the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee receive an Update on the Budget Setting Process, to include the Capital Budget and the consideration of options at the 28 November 2024 meeting.

On a vote, the motion was CARRIED unanimously.

Proposal from Councillor Moore (as submitted)

After discussion, it was moved by Councillor Moore, and seconded by Councillor Patrick, that Councillor Moore’s budget scrutiny proposal be approved in principle subject to a detailed proforma being submitted.

On a vote, the motion was CARRIED.

Proposal from Councillor Miller-Boam

It was noted that Councillor Miller-Boam had submitted a second part to her proposal, which had been left off the agenda pack. This second part was tabled at the meeting; it suggested the following be covered:-

·         the process for the budget public consultation (after the completion of the consultation);

·         how many responses were received;

·         availability and accessibility of the consultation; and

·         demographics of the respondents.

After discussion, it was moved by Councillor Miller-Boam, and seconded by Councillor Read, that Councillor Miller-Boam’s budget scrutiny proposal be approved in principle subject to a detailed proforma being submitted.

On a vote, the motion was CARRIED unanimously.

Key People Activity Across the Council

Councillor Miller-Boam suggested and moved that, in light of supportive comments from SMB about Councillor Palmer’s proforma, discussion on this proposal should take place at the January 2025 meeting, with a potential date of March 2025 for the report to be presented to committee if approved. This was seconded by Councillor Rees and CARRIED.

It was moved by Councillor Rees and seconded by Councillor Darling that the Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee approve the Work Plan as amended during the meeting. Following a vote, the recommendation was CARRIED unanimously.