Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the evacuation and housekeeping procedure.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 28 March 2023

AGREED the minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Select Committee received an update on the priorities included in the Council Plan 2022/25. 

Key issues highlighted and discussed were as follows: 

• Under the Our People theme, Members asked for details of Delta Academies Trust’s performance on school exclusions

• Under the Our Economy theme, Members welcomed proposals on the forthcoming Cabinet meeting for a new Business Park in the Borough 

• Under the Our Places theme, Members asked for information about the performance of the programme of road and pavement maintenance repairs and how money was allocated across the Borough. It was agreed that it would be useful for a presentation to be given to all Members at a Members’ Briefing Session  

AGREED that the report be noted and actioned as set out above.

The Committee considered a report summarising suggestions for in-depth scrutiny reviews. Councillors and officers had been invited to submit topic suggestions for the scrutiny work programme for 2023/24.  

The suggestions had been discussed by Scrutiny Liaison Forum and a draft work programme was agreed by Executive Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 28 March 2023. It was agreed that the draft work programme would be reported by to the Committee for confirmation after the May elections. 

AGREED that the Work Programme for 2023/24 be confirmed.

AGREED that the Forward Plan be noted.

In response to a concern expressed by a Member in relation to the recent local elections, the Head of Democratic Services confirmed that the Returning Officer would be presenting a report to the July Cabinet meeting providing feedback on the administration of the polls. The conduct of the elections was a function of the Returning Officer not a Council function. 

The Chair advised that, following the Hartburn Countermanded Poll on 22 June, revised allocations of seats to Committees would be submitted to full Council on 26 July 2023. 

AGREED that the work programme be noted.