Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor R Spooner.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, 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 interests declared at this meeting. 

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the Minutes of the Business Scrutiny Committee held on 18 November 2024.  

The Chair referred to the ‘Performance Management’ item in the draft minutes and wished to note that the Economic Development and Regeneration Manager had now left the organisation.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Business Scrutiny Committee held on 18 November 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To be presented with the East Midlands Chamber Economic Performance and Prospects survey results.

Scott Knowles DL – Chief Executive, East Midlands Chamber

The Chief Executive of the East Midlands Chamber (Scott Knowles) was welcomed to the meeting. He delivered a presentation to the Committee which set out the results of the East Midlands Economic Performance and Prospects
Quarterly Economic Survey for Quarter 4 of 2024. The Committee were informed that the survey was open to all businesses across the East Midlands, not just Chamber members.  The results included responses about:

• Performance
• State of the Economy
• Sales and Orders
• Workforce
• Recruitment
• Cashflow and Capacity
• Prices
• Investment Intentions
• Confidence
• Growing concerns

The Chair referred to the ‘Growing Concerns’ question in the survey (which was put to respondents by asking “What’s more of a concern to you now than 3 months ago?”) and asked that Mr. Knowles return to the Committee to present the results again once the next 3-month period had concluded if it was feasible. Mr. Knowles agreed to return to the Committee to provide this.

The Chair thanked Mr. Knowles for his attendance.

RESOLVED – That the presentation was noted.

Council Plan Targets Performance Update.

Kath Drury, Information, Engagement and Performance Manager/Amar Bashir, Improvement Officer 

The Information & Improvement Manager presented a report setting out progress on the strategies underpinning the Council Plan objective ‘A great place to work’ for the period ending 31 December 2024.

Members were updated on progress under the following objective sub-categories in Appendix 1 of the report:

1)   Community with a diverse range of commutable employment that match the skills of residents.

2)   Community with growing commutable employment opportunities.

RESOLVED - That progress against the Council Plan “A great place to work” objective was noted.

To inform Committee of recent and forthcoming Cabinet business.

A digest of Cabinet decisions taken since 23 May 2024.  This information is published by Cabinet meeting on the Council’s website.  Cabinet Agendas, Decisions and Minutes can be viewed at: Cabinet

The Forward Plan of Executive decisions.

Plans

These plans are updated to include new business.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented a digest of Cabinet decisions taken since the last Committee meeting on 18 November 2024. The digest set out key information for each decision.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer also presented Members with the Forward Plan of Executive Decisions for the period 15 January 2025 – 15 February 2025.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted. 

To contribute to major Policies being considered by the Council.   

The Senior Scrutiny Officer informed the Committee that there were no major policies for Members to consider.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted.  

To consider and contribute to potential changes in the operating environment which may include legislation, regulation and key projects being undertaken by the Council, for example.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer updated Members on potential significant changes in the Council’s operating environment, including changes to national legislation and regulation.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that there was nothing to bring to the attention of Members.

RESOLVED – That the update was noted. 

To consider the Committee’s Work Programme.

Joe Hayden, Senior Scrutiny Officer

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented the draft Work Programme 2024/25 for the Committee to consider.

Members agreed to change the time of the next Committee meeting on 12 May 2025 from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm, on the basis that key officers were available to attend for that time.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the Work Programme 2024/25 be approved.

(2)  That the time of the next Committee meeting on 12 May 2025 be changed from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm, if feasible.

To reflect on what the Committee had done to help the Council achieve the goal of making the District a Great Place for our Community.

The Chair asked Members to reflect on if the work of the Committee at the meeting had added value to the Council Plan objectives.

Members felt the meeting had been very informative and had contributed towards the Council Plan objectives.  

To consider any other matter which the Chair of the Committee is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

None. 

The next meeting of the Business Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to take place on 12 May 2025 at 3.00 pm.

The next meeting of the Business Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to take place on 12 May 2025 at 5.00 pm, subject to the availability of key officers.