Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor P M Brivio.

It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, Councillor S H Beer had been appointed as substitute member for Councillor P M Brivio.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

Councillor T A Bond declared a Voluntary Announcement of Other Interests (VAOI) in Minute No. 116 (Council Budget 2022/23 and Medium-Term Financial Plan 2022/23 – 2025/26) by reason of a family member working part-time in the district leisure centres.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 January 2022 (to follow).

The consideration of the Minutes was deferred.

To receive the Cabinet decisions in respect of recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Democratic and Corporate Services Manager advised that there were no issues referred to the Committee by Council, Cabinet or another Committee.

The Democratic and Corporate Services Manager advised that there were no issues referred to the Committee by Council, Cabinet or another Committee.

The Democratic and Corporate Services Manager presented the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions to the Committee for its consideration.

There being no dissent indicated, it was agreed that the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions be noted.

The Democratic and Corporate Services Manager presented the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme to the Committee for its consideration.

Members were advised that the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had rejected the committees request to attend a meeting to discuss Blood Services at Deal Hospital. The CCG referred Members to the evidence given to a recent meeting of the Kent Health Overview Scrutiny Committee and offered to respond to additional written questions in place of attending.

Members expressed their disappointment and anger in respect of the CCG’s refusal to attend a meeting of the committee. It was proposed that the Chair write to the CCG and express the committees view that refusing to attend a meeting was not an appropriate response to a request from elected representatives to attend a meeting.

Councillor C D Zosseder agreed to write to the CCG on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

There being no dissent indicated, it was agreed that the Work Programme be noted.

Please note that in accordance with the agreed Protocol for Public Speaking at Overview and Scrutiny, the right to speak only applies to agenda item 10.

Members of the public wishing to speak must register to do so by no later than 2.00 pm on the second working day (Thursday) before the meeting.

The Democratic and Corporate Services Manager advised that no members of the public had registered to speak on items on the agenda to which the public speaking protocol applied.

To consider the attached report of the Helen Lamb, Head of Finance and Investment.

The Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) and the Head of Finance and Investment presented the Council Budget 2022/23 and the Medium-Term Financial Plan 2022/23 – 2025/26.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor T J Bartlett, was also in attendance at the invitation of the Committee.

Members raised the following points:

·         The structure of the ear marked reserves and how the amount of smoothing reserve was calculated

·         The uncertainty over Port Health income streams in the future as there was not yet sufficient data to determine volumes of work

·         The impact of business rate pooling

·         Whether the Dover District received a fair funding settlement from the government based on its needs

·         To congratulate the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) and his team for the hard work they had undertaken in respect of the budget

·         Councillor S H Beer asked for clarification over the smoothing reserves intended use. In response it was stated that it was intended for emergencies.

·         To question the impact of current and forecast inflation on the figures for 2% contract inflation set out in the budget

·         To welcome the proposals to move to socially responsible investment

It was moved by Councillor S H Beer and seconded by Councillor S C Manion

That it be recommended to the Cabinet:

(a)       That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee notes the budget and welcomes the work undertaken by officers.

(b)     That the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet be encouraged to consider the points raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the meeting held on 21 February 2022 in respect of the need for clarification over the intended use of the smoothing reserve and that the ESG investment policy links to achieving the Council’s climate change targets.