Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cabinet expressed its deep sadness at the illness of Her Majesty the Queen. Members made clear that the thoughts and prayers of the whole Council were with Her Majesty and the Royal Family.

Apologies were received from Councillor P Parkin.

With the agreement of the Chair, Councillor M Foster contributed to the meeting virtually through the electronic Conference Call system. He did not participate in the decisions taken by Cabinet.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on Thursday 4 August 2022

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 August 2022 were approved as a true record.

Report of Councillor K Tait, Chair of the Communities Scrutiny Committee

Cabinet considered a report of Councillor K Tait, Chair of the Communities Scrutiny Committee. The report set out the Committee’s findings and recommendations from its review of the Council’s ‘Out of Hours’ services. The Review had, it was explained, sought to understand what demand, if any, there was for Out of Hours services, what the Council currently offers beyond normal working hours and what would be the benefits and difficulties of introducing a formal Out of Hours service.

Members considered the Committee’s findings and recommendations. These included setting up a dedicated Out of Hours area on the Council’s website, which would give the key contacts for reporting those issue that may require attention outside of normal working hours. The Committee concluded that this would meet the Council’s   requirements and so there would be no need to introduce a specific Out of Hours service, at this time.

Cabinet welcomed the Review and thanked the Committee for its valuable work. Members supported the recommendations and agreed that a detailed response to the Committee’s specific findings and recommendations as set out in the report be prepared. They also agreed that the Committee’s recommendations be kept under review, in order to determine whether the demand for services outside normal working hours had increased and a more formal Out of Hours Service should now be introduced.

RESOLVED

(1)      That Cabinet supported the recommendations of the Communities Scrutiny Committee as set out in the report.

(2)      That a detailed response to the Committee’s specific findings and recommendations as set out in the report be prepared.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To appraise Cabinet of the Scrutiny Committee’s review and to respond to its specific findings and recommendations.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - No other options were considered.

Report of Councillor S Clough, Chair of the Organisation Scrutiny Committee

Cabinet considered a report of Councillor S Clough, Chair of the Organisation Scrutiny Committee. This set out the findings and recommendations of the Committee into its Review of ICT and Transformation. It was explained that the Review had sought to understand what Council services were now available online, how the change to online services had been implemented and what measures had been taken to ensure that all service users could still access them.

Cabinet considered the Committee’s findings and recommendations.  These included the creation of a dedicated and centralised budget for Digital Transformation, the introduction of ‘cloud based’ ICT systems, which many other local authorities now use, and setting up a single ‘sign-on’ system, in order to streamline and simplify access to online services. The Committee also asked that the potential use of the Council’s Mill Council Chamber as a ‘community hub’ venue should be explored. Cabinet felt that this was a good suggestion. However, Members recognised that the limited size of the Chamber might make it difficult to implement.

Cabinet welcomed the Review and thanked the Committee for its valuable work Members supported the recommendations and agreed that a detailed response to the Committee’s specific findings and recommendations as set out in the report be prepared. 

RESOLVED

(1)      That Cabinet supported the recommendations of the Organisation Scrutiny Committee as set out in the report.

(2)      That a detailed response to the Committee’s specific findings and recommendations as set out in the report be prepared.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To appraise Cabinet of the Scrutiny Committee’s review and to respond to its specific findings and recommendations.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - No other options were considered.

Report of Councillor A Powell, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Communities and Communications.

The report to Cabinet provided an overview of the outcomes achieved by Voluntary and Community Sector infrastructure support organisations funded by the Council during the 2021-22 financial year. Members were asked to note the information.

Cabinet discussed the report. Members were reminded how this support had contributed towards achieving the Council Plan Target to assist over 20,000 vulnerable and disadvantaged households each year. They also heard how over the last three years more than £540,000 had been invested and over 90,000 households in the District had been assisted. Members welcomed this. They also emphasised their commitment to vulnerable and disadvantaged households as part of their Council Plan aims and objectives. In particular, Cabinet stressed its aim to help those most affected by the cost of living financial pressures facing local communities. 

RESOLVED - That Cabinet noted the content of the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To ensure that the Council maximises efficiencies and outcomes through commissioning voluntary sector organisations to help achieve the Council’s Priorities.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - No alternative options are considered appropriate as the aim of the aforementioned review was to increase transparency and accountability of commissioned services.

Report of Councillor P Parkin, Portfolio Holder for Finance

The report to Council sought approval of the revised Risk Management Strategy and Action Plan for 2022. Members were reminded how following a comprehensive review of the Council’s Risk Management Framework the Risk Management Strategy had been approved in 2020. This Strategy, it was explained, set out the mechanisms and processes for developing Risk Management within the Council and ensuring that this was then carried out in a systematic way.

Cabinet heard about the changes to the Strategy and Action Plan. Members were informed that these would help demonstrate the Council’s response to the changing risk environment and provide more information about how the Council assesses its ‘Risk Appetite’, or when it would be prudent to take appropriate risks in order to achieve specific goals. The changes to the Action Plan, it was stressed, would also reflect the requirements for continual improvements which had been identified.

Members discussed the report. Cabinet welcomed the good progress which had been made in developing a robust strategic approach to risk Management since 2020. In this context, Cabinet reflected on the important role played by the Member-led Risk Management Group’, Chaired by Councillor P Parkin, Portfolio Holder for Finance, in promoting and overseeing risk management throughout the Council.

RESOLVED - That Cabinet approved the new/reviewed Risk Management Strategy and Action Plan.

REASONS FOR DECISION - The Council is committed to maintaining, developing and actively monitoring the operation of a formal and systemic approach to Risk Management. The key objectives of this Strategy meet that commitment.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - Under relevant good practice and to facilitate the development of robust managerial arrangements the Council is required to have in place a robust risk management framework - the alternative of not providing this is therefore rejected.

To consider any other matter which the Leader is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with the provisions of Statutory Instrument 2012 No 2089, Regulation 11.

None.