New Forest Borough Council
Councillors:
48
Wards:
27
Committees:
15
Meetings (2025):
72
Meetings (2024):
78
Meeting
Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel - New Forest
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 18th June 2020
9:30 AM
Thursday, 18th June 2020
9:30 AM
End:
Thursday, 18th June 2020
1:30 PM
Thursday, 18th June 2020
1:30 PM
Actual Time
Started:
Thursday, 18th June 2020
12:00 AM
Thursday, 18th June 2020
12:00 AM
Finished:
Thursday, 18th June 2020
12:00 AM
Thursday, 18th June 2020
12:00 AM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
18 Jun 2020
18 Jun 2020
Location:
Skype Meeting - Online
Skype Meeting - Online
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Cllr Fran Carpenter
Present, as expected
Chairman
Cllr Alexis McEvoy, BSc (Hons)
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Cllr Sandra Delemare
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Cllr Mahmoud Kangarani
Present, as expected
Committee Member
Cllr Martyn Levitt
Present, as expected
Officer
Service Manager - ICT
Rob Beere
In attendance
Officer
Strategic Director of Corporate Resources & Transformation, Section 151 Officer
Alan Bethune
In attendance
Officer
Assistant Director Transformation
Rebecca Drummond
In attendance
In Attendance
Cllr Michael Harris
Portfolio Holder
In attendance
Officer
Democratic Services Officer
Andy Rogers
In attendance
Officer
Service Manager - Estates and Valuation
Andrew Smith
In attendance
Committee Member
Cllr Beverley Thorne
Present, as expected
Agenda
0
Apologies
No apologies were received.
Minutes
1
Minutes
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2020 as a correct record.
Minutes
RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2020 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2020 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
2
Declarations of Interest
To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item. The nature of the interest must also be specified.
Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.
Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.
Minutes
No declarations of interest were made by any member in connection with any agenda item.
3
Public Participation
To note any issues raised during the public participation period.
Minutes
No issues were raised during the public participation period.
4
Portfolio Holders' Updates
To receive an oral update from the Portfolio Holders for
· Leader and Corporate Affairs
· Finance, Investment and Corporate Services
· Economic Development
on developments within their Portfolio areas, including Covid 19 impacts on services.
· Leader and Corporate Affairs
· Finance, Investment and Corporate Services
· Economic Development
on developments within their Portfolio areas, including Covid 19 impacts on services.
Minutes
Members received updates from the portfolio holders for this Panel.
Leader and Corporate Affairs
· Covid 19 Lockdown 18 March
· Things changing on a daily basis and maintaining services. Thanks to staff.
· Creation of 4 new Covid 19 Recovery Task and Finish Groups, to deal with the new normal. Remote meetings have their opportunities
Finance, Investment and Corporate Services
· Thanks to ICT for enabling the council to continue service delivery
· New finance system now up and running
· New phone system – voice over internet
· Covid 19 impact on finances - £2m income loss to date.
· Government Funding of £410k for leisure centres
· £1.783m further support funding
· Impact on General Reserve = negative net effect figure of £269k reducing reserve to £2.731m
· Overall losses approx £1m per month.
· Task and finish groups to address lost income.
· Options being formulated.
· Council entered pandemic in a good financial position.
Economic Development
· £38m government funding to support local business community. Economic development team and planning service collaborated to disburse.
· Further £2m discretionary fund to fill gaps in Central Govt funding. Being processed.
· Future tax and inflation increases predicted.
Leader and Corporate Affairs
· Covid 19 Lockdown 18 March
· Things changing on a daily basis and maintaining services. Thanks to staff.
· Creation of 4 new Covid 19 Recovery Task and Finish Groups, to deal with the new normal. Remote meetings have their opportunities
Finance, Investment and Corporate Services
· Thanks to ICT for enabling the council to continue service delivery
· New finance system now up and running
· New phone system – voice over internet
· Covid 19 impact on finances - £2m income loss to date.
· Government Funding of £410k for leisure centres
· £1.783m further support funding
· Impact on General Reserve = negative net effect figure of £269k reducing reserve to £2.731m
· Overall losses approx £1m per month.
· Task and finish groups to address lost income.
· Options being formulated.
· Council entered pandemic in a good financial position.
Economic Development
· £38m government funding to support local business community. Economic development team and planning service collaborated to disburse.
· Further £2m discretionary fund to fill gaps in Central Govt funding. Being processed.
· Future tax and inflation increases predicted.
5
Annual Performance and Provisional Budget Outturn
To consider the annual performance of services under the review of this Panel and the provisional budget outturn figures.
Attachments:
- Document Annual Performance and Provisional Budget Outturn 10 Jun 2020
- Document Appendix 1 10 Jun 2020
- Document Appendix 2 10 Jun 2020
Minutes
The Panel received details of the annual performance of services under the review of this Panel and the provisional budget outturn figures.
RESOLVED:
a) That the updated position statement be noted, including the highlights from 2019/20;
b) That the development of the new performance framework be noted;
c) That the provisional outturn of the General Fund revenue and capital budgets
for 2019/20 be noted;
d) That the provisional outturn of the Housing Revenue Account for 2019/20 be noted.
RESOLVED:
a) That the updated position statement be noted, including the highlights from 2019/20;
b) That the development of the new performance framework be noted;
c) That the provisional outturn of the General Fund revenue and capital budgets
for 2019/20 be noted;
d) That the provisional outturn of the Housing Revenue Account for 2019/20 be noted.
6
Development of the Performance Management Framework
To consider the principles and design of the Performance Management Framework in support of the delivery of the Corporate Plan.
Attachments:
- Document Development of the Performance Management Framework 10 Jun 2020
Minutes
The Panel considered the principles and design of the Performance Management Framework in support of the delivery of the Corporate Plan.
It was suggested that the report show the environmental impact of all portfolios. It was emphasised that the indicators should be measurable. It was suggested that staff retention and turnover should be included.
Benchmarking data from previous years would be included wherever possible. It was noted that benchmarking against other councils was not straightforward as different councils used different reporting tools.
Most members felt that 4 to 6 monthly reporting would be preferable.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel endorse the principles and design of the performance management framework in support of the delivery of the Corporate Plan ‘Community Matters’ and continuous improvement across the organisation, subject to the comments above.
It was suggested that the report show the environmental impact of all portfolios. It was emphasised that the indicators should be measurable. It was suggested that staff retention and turnover should be included.
Benchmarking data from previous years would be included wherever possible. It was noted that benchmarking against other councils was not straightforward as different councils used different reporting tools.
Most members felt that 4 to 6 monthly reporting would be preferable.
RESOLVED:
That the Panel endorse the principles and design of the performance management framework in support of the delivery of the Corporate Plan ‘Community Matters’ and continuous improvement across the organisation, subject to the comments above.
7
Annual Commercial and Residential Property Investment Update - Presentation
To receive a presentation on progress with the Commercial and Residential Property Investment Strategy.
Minutes
The Panel received a presentation on the Council’s commercial and residential property investment activities. A copy of the slides is attached to these minutes as Appendix 1.
It was pointed out that as well as providing income for the Council, both strategies had a positive impact on the local economy, providing local businesses with premises, and leading the way in providing quality accommodation and services being provided to local people renting privately.
Members noted the benefits from the agreed rate of return and capital growth potential for properties, with low risk investment, within the District.
It was pointed out that as well as providing income for the Council, both strategies had a positive impact on the local economy, providing local businesses with premises, and leading the way in providing quality accommodation and services being provided to local people renting privately.
Members noted the benefits from the agreed rate of return and capital growth potential for properties, with low risk investment, within the District.
8
ICT Update - Strategy Delivery / Business Website / App Development - Presentation
To receive an update on delivery of the ICT strategy, progress with the website upgrade, and app development.
Minutes
The Panel received an update on progress with the ICT strategy.
Details were given on progress with strategic projects, many of which were continuing through the pandemic, in addition to business continuity works in lockdown. Examples of completed and ongoing projects were:
· Infrastructure renewal
· finance
· Windows OS replacement
· Digital Customers (Website)
· Telephony
· Smartphone contract
· Sharepoint
· Accolaid replacement
· Digital Customers (Back end services)
Some Business as Usual services had now been recommenced after the lockdown pause, which included:
· PSN Certification
· PSN Network 2.1
· Gosport fall over facility
· Depot network
· App upgrade
The following works were ongoing to support remote working:
· Members’ ICT
· VPN / Cloud optimisation
· ATC Server room
· Officer equipment longer term
Recent developments had justified the significant investment in ICT, and Members paid tribute to the ICT team for their invaluable support to the organisation over recent months.
Details were given on progress with strategic projects, many of which were continuing through the pandemic, in addition to business continuity works in lockdown. Examples of completed and ongoing projects were:
· Infrastructure renewal
· finance
· Windows OS replacement
· Digital Customers (Website)
· Telephony
· Smartphone contract
· Sharepoint
· Accolaid replacement
· Digital Customers (Back end services)
Some Business as Usual services had now been recommenced after the lockdown pause, which included:
· PSN Certification
· PSN Network 2.1
· Gosport fall over facility
· Depot network
· App upgrade
The following works were ongoing to support remote working:
· Members’ ICT
· VPN / Cloud optimisation
· ATC Server room
· Officer equipment longer term
Recent developments had justified the significant investment in ICT, and Members paid tribute to the ICT team for their invaluable support to the organisation over recent months.
9
Work Programme
(a) To consider the Panel’s future Work Programme, including any reviews of previous work undertaken; and
(b) To receive any updates on Task and Finish Group work.
(c) Special Panel Meeting on Broadband in July - to agree arrangements
(d) To discuss the addition of Business Improvement Ideas to the next staff survey
(b) To receive any updates on Task and Finish Group work.
(c) Special Panel Meeting on Broadband in July - to agree arrangements
(d) To discuss the addition of Business Improvement Ideas to the next staff survey
Attachments:
- Document Work Programme 10 Jun 2020
Minutes
The Panel considered its future work programme.
It was agreed that a special Panel meeting be called in July to discuss Broadband provision in the District.
The Chairman suggested that staff be asked for their business improvement ideas through the next staff survey.
It was suggested regular updates be given on tackling climate change corporately.
It was agreed that a special Panel meeting be called in July to discuss Broadband provision in the District.
The Chairman suggested that staff be asked for their business improvement ideas through the next staff survey.
It was suggested regular updates be given on tackling climate change corporately.
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