Corporate Scrutiny Panel – 23 January 2012

PRESENT: –   Councillor Glover in the chair.

Councillors Wilson (Vice-Chair), Bainbridge, Eckhardt, Marper, Oldfield and Wardle.

Councillor Mrs Bromby, Collinson, T Foster, Godfrey, I Jawaid MBE and Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.36 (b).

The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.

44  DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests.

No whip was declared.

45  PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK There were no requests received.

46  OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY AND THE COUNCIL’S BUDGET – The Chairman welcomed the council’s Director of Finance to the meeting.  Mr Wedgewood had been invited to discuss the council’s budget consultation for the period 2012-2016 with members

Mr Wedgewood’s presentation guided members through the following –

  • Economic growth and inflation forecasts
  • The threats to our national economy
  • The public finance spending plans
  • The public finance borrowing and debt
  • The public finance local government settlement
  • The financial challenges for local government
  • The potential revenue funding gap
  • The council’s financial plan for 2011-2015
  • The council’s finance service budgets 2011-2012
  • The council’s capital investment plans for 2011-2015
  • The council’s projected income for 2011-2016
  • The council’s projected costs for 2011-2016
  • The options the council was actively exploring to reduce costs
  • The council’s finances and how the council intended to consult with its residents.

The Director added that this presentation was one of many the council was delivering to the business community, town and parish councils and the general public.

Members then engaged in a discussion and the Director responded to their questions.

Resolved –  (a) That the Director of Finance be thanked for his attendance at the meeting and for his team’s valuable work, and (b) that the position be noted.

47  LEISURE SERVICES REVIEW – The Chairman welcomed the council’s Assistant Director Sport, Leisure and Culture to the meeting.  Mr Coburn had been invited to discuss the current review of leisure, arts, sport and culture in North Lincolnshire and its likely impact on the scrutiny panel’s proposed review into leisure services.

Mr Coburn informed members that the council review of leisure, arts, sport and culture in North Lincolnshire was designed to make the area a better place to live, work and play.  The council review would incorporate sport usage and accessibility across all North Lincolnshire, therefore, potentially duplicating the scope and brief that the scrutiny panel approved when it agreed to undertake its review.

The Chairman then invited panel members to discuss and comment on Mr Coburn’s presentation.

Resolved – (a) That the council’s Assistant Director Sport, Leisure and Culture be thanked for his attendance and for answering members’ questions, (b) that to avoid duplication, members agree not to continue with their review into leisure services, and (c) that the scrutiny panel receive a presentation on the findings from the current consultation and review of leisure, arts, sport and culture in North Lincolnshire once the responses have been collated.

48  CAR LEASE SCHEME – The Director of Corporate and Community Services informed the meeting that the council’s Executive were currently part way through a review into the council’s management structure, which would encompass the car lease scheme.

Therefore, to avoid duplication, it was advisable not to pursue undertaking a review into the subject matter

Resolved – That the position be noted and the Car Lease Scheme be removed from the panel’s work programme.

49  LOCALISM ACT – The Director of Corporate and Community Services provided a verbal update on recent developments with regards to the Localism Act.

Resolved – That the update be noted.

50  ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.