Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair, nominations were invited to Chair the meeting.  Councillor Rob Broom was nominated and seconded and it was RESOLVED that Councillor Broom be appointed to Chair the meeting.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Lin Martin-Haugh (Chair), Phill Bibby CC (Vice-Chair), Bret Facey, Sarah Mead, and Robin Parker CC.  Councillors Alex Farquharson and Graham Lawrence CC were in attendance as substitute members.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24 July 2023.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24 July 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the deletion of the reference to the east and west of the Town in Item 4, bullet point 6.

To consider the following Part I Decisions of the Executive taken on 20 September 2023.

2.       Minutes – 18 July 2023

3.       Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees

4.       Future Council 2025 Transformation programme Savings Update

5.       Corporate performance – Quarter 1 2023/24

6.       Council Tax Support Scheme 2024/25

7.       General Fund medium Term Financial Strategy Update (2023/24 – 2027/28)

8.       First Quarter Revenue Budget Monitoring 2023/24

9.       Annual Treasury Management Review 2022/23 and Prudential Indicators

          Notice of Decisions to follow.

2.       Minutes – 18 July 2023

          Noted.

3.       Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees

          Noted.

4.       Future Council 2025 Transformation Programme Savings Update

          The Committee was advised by the Assistant Director (Digital and Transformation) that the report had been brought to the Executive due to a number of factors such as the changing behaviours of customers.  The main proposal within the report was to move the Customer Service Centre (CSC) to the main entrance of Daneshill House and to move to one shift for staff of 9.00am – 5.00pm.

In response to questions from Members, the Head of Customer and Digital Service gave the following responses:

·       The move from the CSC to the front entrance of Daneshill House had not been carried out in the previous year as Officers considered that it had been important to track the trend of customer behaviour before making the decision;

·       One of the major savings from the move would be the reduction in having to staff both entrances replacing this with a single meet and greet entrance for customers;

·       The Council’s Estates Team were working on a valuation of the current CSC space and opportunities would be looked for in the commercial market for a rental for the space;

·       Customer satisfaction was a corporate performance measure and was currently around 87%.  The Strategic Director (CF) advised that the 5 star customer service referred to in the report related to keeping the customer at the heart of the service.  It was considered that the measure of housing front and back office staff together in the new space should significantly help improved communication;

·       In terms of reporting issues with rubbish collection, new technology was now being used by operatives which allowed validation of complaints and it was hoped that this would address some concerns in this area.  Officers agreed to look at the specific issue raised by a Member outside of the meeting;

·       The planned date for the move of the CSC was 1 November 2023;

·       In relation to monitoring the success of this part of the Transformation Programme, officers advised this would be reflected in the existing suite of performance measures for customer satisfaction.  It was envisaged that having specialist officers on hand would avoid the need for transferring calls to other departments and would speed up the response to more complex cases.

5.       Corporate Performance – Quarter 1 2023/24

          SD (TP) advised that the Executive had considered issues relating to recruitment challenges; retrofitting of solar panels to seven of the Council’s refuse lorries and had also welcomed the progress toward the completion of Helston House, with 29 new Council homes being delivered.

          A Member commented that Helston House was a development to celebrate as a first class Local Authority project and hoped that there would be similar schemes coming forward in the future.

          It was confirmed that alongside the solar panels fitted to the refuse vehicles, the Council had purchased its first fully electric van.

          SD (RP) responded to a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider any urgent Part I Decisions authorised by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

None.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent

None.

To consider the following motions:

1.       That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.       That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED:

1.  That, under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 to 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

2.  That having considered the reasons for the following item being in Part II, it be determined that maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

To approve as a correct record the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24 July 2023.

It was RESOLVED that the Part II Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24 July 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the following Part II Decisions of the Executive taken on 20 September 2023.

12.     Part II Minutes – 18 July 2023

13.     Stevenage (Survivors) Against Domestic Abuse (SADA) Service Update

Notice of Decisions to follow

12.       Part II Minutes – 18 July 2023

            Noted.

13.       Stevenage (Survivors) Against Domestic Abuse (SADA) Service Update

            The Committee received a report and asked a number of questions regarding this item which were answered by the Operations Director (RG).

To consider any urgent Part II Decisions authorised by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent

The Committee expressed their best wishes to the Chair, Councillor Lin Martin-Haugh as she was currently unwell.