Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Kate Lymer (who was replaced by Councillor Chris Pierce), Councillor Angela Wilkins and Councillor David Livett.

Councillor Keith Onslow declared that he was employed by the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Report CSD15033

The Committee received an update on matters arising from previous meetings.

The Resources Portfolio Holder to present scheduled reports for pre-decision scrutiny on matters where he is minded to make decisions.

Report FSD15020

On 11^th February 2015 the Executive had received a report summarising the current position on capital expenditure and receipts and had agreed a revised capital programme for the five year period 2014/15 to 2018/19, including changes to the capital programme for the Resources Portfolio.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to confirm the changes to the Resources Portfolio capital programme agreed by the Executive.  

Report FSD15023

The Council’s contract with HSBC for the provision of banking services was due to expire on 31^st March 2015 and it was proposed to extend this for a further two years.

Members queried whether any banks beyond the “big four” had been considered; officers responded that at present these tended to be the only banks bidding for local authority work, but this could change in future. A member suggested that the newer banks might not have enough capital to be able to cover the scale of the Council’s needs. Further information would be provided on this issue. The Committee was concerned that a decision to extend the contract without going to the market was being taken at a late stage, and, while supporting the recommendation, urged that preparation for a full tendering process should start immediately. 

It was confirmed that the contract fell below the new EU threshold and probably below the old threshold.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree the extension of the contract with HSBC for the provision of banking service for two years from 1^st April 2015, but also to begin work on re-tendering the contract.

The Committee considered the following reports on the part 1 agenda for the meeting of the Executive on 24^th March 2015.

(5)  Budget Monitoring 2014/15

Report FSD15024

The Committee considered the fifth budget monitoring report for 2014/15 based on expenditure and activity levels up to the end of January 2015. The report forecast a net underspend of £478k and set out cost pressures, significant variations and early warnings. It proposed the release of £120k grant funding from Central Contingency for Helping People Home and the creation of earmarked reserves for surplus rental income generated from properties used for temporary accommodation purchased from payment in lieu funds and for the Welfare Fund. It also recommended that Council establish a Financial Planning/Risk Reserve.

The Committee discussed a number of particular spending pressures across the portfolios. There was a projected overspend on Waste Services (offset by underspends elsewhere within the portfolio) due to a decline in the tonnage of paper collected and an increase in residual waste collected. This reflected national conditions, but was possibly due to fewer newspapers being printed and an overall increase in consumption as the economy improved. Government restrictions on the use of CCTV for parking enforcement would also have an impact on income. In Care Services, the budget position had improved slightly but further savings had to be found, because whilst the in- year cost pressures had been managed down the department still had cost pressures of £2.9m that would impact in 2015/16.  Given the financial pressures over the next four years, it was important that officers managed within the overall resources available and took immediate action as overspends were highlighted. Changes in Government grant conditions made it difficult to manage pressures in the Adult Education budget, and new solutions were being sought following the ending of the market testing process. 

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(6)  Phase 2 – Drawdown of Government (New Burdens) Grant Funding held in Contingency to Support the Local Authority in Implementing the Special Educational Needs Reforms

Report ED15082

The Government had provided New Burdens Grants in 2014/15 and 2015/16 to assist local authorities in meeting their statutory duties to deliver reforms in Special Educational Needs. It was proposed to carry forward an underspend in 2014/15 to 2015/16, and to approve drawdown of part of the 2015/16 grant. 

The report had been supported by the Education Budget Sub- Committee on 3^rd March 2015.

RESOLVED that the recommendations be supported.

(7)  Approval of Procurement Strategy for Basic Needs Projects

This report had been withdrawn.

(8)  Gateway Review 0, 1 and 2 approval of 2015/16 Education Building Maintenance Budgets, Education Planned Maintenance Programme and Preferred Procurement Options

Report DRR15/018

The report set out the maintenance budget for education buildings and the preferred procurement option for the programme. The Government funding announcement had been later than usual, but Members complained that the report had not been scrutinised by Education PDS Committee. The Chairman indicated that there was a general need to ensure that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 132.

The Committee received an update on the performance of the Bromley Youth Employment Project for the period November 2014 to the end of January 2015. The majority of performance indicators had been met and in many cases exceeded, vindicating the decision to end the previous contarct with Bromley College. Performance on placing young people into contracted employment had dipped slightly, but was now improving. The target for the end of March was 30 placements; the current figure achieved had now risen to 23.

Members were informed that the Project included work to prepare young people for work in terms of attitude and expectation. Some required a lot of preparation and support. A series of employability workshops and sixth form conferences had been held. The project also involved trying to make contact with young people whose current status was not known; during this reporting period 317 doors had been knocked. It was confirmed that the gender balance of those young people assisted through the project was roughly 50:50.

The Resources Portfolio Holder commended the Project for taking a holistic approach to the issue of youth unemployment, proactively seeking out those not in education or employment, providing support to make them employable and working with schools and employers. He suggested that at a future meeting the Committee should hear from one of the young people helped through the project.

RESOLVED that progress with the Bromley Youth Employment Project be noted.

Report CSD15044

The Committee received a monitoring report on the performance of Capita IT Enterprise Services in delivering the IT and Voice and Data Networks contracts during 2014. A representative from Capita attended the meeting to answer questions.

A Member asked for further detail on the failure to meet the KPI of completing 95% of service requests within 5 days – a more detailed breakdown of the figures would be circulated.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

Report CSD15037

The Council’s Constitution required that a report be made each year to full Council summarising the work carried out by Policy Development and Scrutiny Committees. The draft report had been circulated, but a number of Chairmen were expecting to make further changes before it was submitted to Council, and the Democratic Services Manager was asked to ensure that Chairmen were informed of the relevant deadlines.

RESOLVED that, subject to any further amendments made by PDS Committee Chairmen, the annual Policy Development and Scrutiny report be approved for submission to full Council.  

Report CSD15035

An update had been circulated regarding the joint Education/Care Services PDS Committee hearing into Child Safeguarding on 25^th February 2015. This is attached as appendix 2 to these minutes.

The Chairman to move that the Press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.