01656 643695 Elizabeth Littlejohns
e-mail: scrutiny@bridgend.gov.uk
FB / SU: OSC.CS.A.2 26 October 2006
To: All Members of the Corporate Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee
Bridgend County Borough Council
Dear Councillor
CORPORATE SERVICES OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
A meeting of the Corporate Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee will be held in Committee Rooms 2/3, Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend on Wednesday 1 November 2006 at 2.15pm to consider the business set out in the attached agenda.
Yours sincerely
P A Jolley
Assistant Director Legal Services and Monitoring Officer
Distribution:
Councillors:
D A Anderson |
M Gregory |
D Sage (Chair) |
M M Bertorelli |
M Mathias |
J C Spanswick |
G Davies |
L Phillips |
M Thomas |
L Davies |
J Radford |
M Wilkins |
P A Evans |
CORPORATE SERVICES OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
DATE: Wednesday 1 November 2006, 2:15 pm
VENUE: COMMITTEE ROOMS 2/3, CIVIC OFFICES, BRIDGEND
AGENDA
Item No. |
Subject |
Page No.s |
1. |
Apologies for Absence |
- |
2. |
Declarations of Interest (Including Whipping Declarations) |
- |
3. |
Minutes of Meetings: 25 September 2006 |
3-5 |
4. |
6-22 | |
|
5. |
23-26 | |
|
6. |
To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency. |
- |
Elizabeth Littlejohns
Assistant Scrutiny Officer
26 October 2006
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CORPORATE SERVICES OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
DATE: 25 September 2006
TIME: 2.15pm
VENUE: Committee Rooms 2/3, Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend,
PRESENT: Councillors: D T Anderson, M M Bertorelli, G Davies, M Gregory, L Philips, J Radford, D Sage, J C Spanswick, M Thomas
Officers: T Buckle, Head of Overview and Scrutiny
E Davies, Principal Lawyer
E Littlejohns, Assistant Scrutiny Officer
Invitee: A Philips, Assistant Director – Finance
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Councillors P A Evans, L Davies and M C Wilkins
2. Declarations of interest
None
3. Minutes of 9 August 2006 and 23 August 2006
The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record.
4. Capital Programme
The Assistant Director – Finance provided Members with an overview of capital expenditure and highlighted key problem areas. Members were informed that the amount of capital expenditure was constrained by a limited budget. Members were advised that the Authority receives in the region of £9 Million approved borrowing from the Welsh Assembly Government, of this funding, in the region of £6.5 million is allocated to Minor Works Programmes and Housing improvements, which leaves the Authority with an estimated £2.5 Million for major projects. Members were advised that this amount of funding enables the Authority to undertake one major scheme every 2/3 years.
With regard to the £2.5 Million for major projects, Members questioned if any of this money could be ring fenced for specific priority projects. Members were informed that there is a constant pressure to spend the money on specific issues within the Authority from the Welsh Assembly Government; however the Authority could choose how the funding is allocated.
Members questioned whether it might be cost effective to spend additional money in certain key areas on an ‘invest to save’ basis. The Assistant Director – Finance noted Members comments and acknowledged the potential benefits of such an approach, although budget constraints often prohibited this. Members were informed that benefits had been seen in relation to insurance cases, whereby the Authority had been able to prove that it was not negligent through ensuring that maintenance work was maintained as a key priority
Members requested clarification with regard to whether the Swimming Pool Scheme was a major or a minor scheme, as it featured on both lists contained in the report. Members were informed that the Scheme had not yet commenced and as such the fund amounts were not allocated, which partly explained the appearance on both lists.
Members asked for clarification of the use of Capital Receipts and were advised that if a property was sold the income of that sale could only be used for capital purposes.
In relation to future borrowing, Members questioned whether the Authority had a clear policy and whether borrowing could be used proactively rather than only after a problem occured. Members were informed that the borrowing code should not be looked at in isolation and that the total resource available in itself should be looked at in relation to what work needed to be undertaken.
Members raised concerns with regard to the relatively late involvement of local Members in the determination of the Capital Programme and questioned whether is would be appropriate to consult local Members at an earlier stage when determining the content of the Programme. Members were advised that due to budget constraints, it was important that the Corporate Management Board agreed on priorities and that it may not be appropriate for political involvement until priorities are agreed. The Assistant Director – Finance advised Members that political decisions would be more appropriate at a later stage.
Members raised concerns with regard to the lack of knowledge in relation to current assets and suggested that this could hinder future implementation of an Asset Management strategy. Members were informed that the Asset Register was up to date and details would be available from the Property Manager. Members were advised that two surveys had been undertaken, one to assess the condition of the Council’s Property and one to examine how it fulfils the needs of the Directorates using it. It was explained that the Asset assessment was a 3 year process and Members raised concerns that the investment required would be known in 3 years and that the required funding would not be available in such quantity at one time. The Assistant Director – Finance acknowledged these concerns and informed Members that it was likely that individual Managers would have more detailed information currently regarding their Properties.
The Chair thanked the Assistant Director – Finance for his contributions and a discussion followed regarding future areas for consideration in relation to the Committee’s consideration of the Capital Programme. Members agreed that the property element of Capital Investments was likely to be a key area of concern, and the need to monitor the implementation of the agreed Capital Programme was also discussed.
The Committee resolved to invite the Assistant Director – Finance to a future meeting to provide an update on the implementation of the Capital Programme, and to invite the Property Manager for an update with regard to the Register of the Authority's Assets. It was agreed that following the provision of an update on the implementation of the existing Capital Programme the Committee would then determine if it wished to invite individual Directors to discuss the progress made with regard to specific capital projects.
5. Task and Finish Group Membership: Consultant Usage
Members noted the confirmed Members of the Task and Finish Group with the inclusion of Councillor M Mathias.
6. Forward Work Programme Planner
Members noted the topics to be considered at the next meetings to be held on 1 November 2006 and 13 December 2006 and noted the invitees who would be in attendance.
7. To consider any other item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with rule 4 of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.
None.
The Meeting closed at 16:20PM
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