To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 June 2016, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2016 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Any interests not already registered

No additional declarations of interest were made, however for reasons of transparency Cllr. Mrs. Bosley advised that she was a Council’s appointed representative on the SENCIO Board.

There were none.

The Portfolio Holder’s update was noted. The Portfolio Holder further advised that the Handy Hero service would be launched soon but due to timescales the report would need to go straight to Cabinet.

With the Committee’s consent, the Chairman changed the agenda item order, taking agenda item 6 then 8 before 5.

a)                Scrutiny Committee report on Leisure Value for Money across the District

(Papers exempted in part under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, Sch.12A, para.3)

At its meeting on 15 September 2016, Cabinet had referred a reference from the Scrutiny Committee for consideration to the Advisory Committee.  Scrutiny Committee had asked Cabinet to review the management and asset management fees paid to SENCIO; consider whether the Council could more effectively carry out the outreach element of the Sports Development function while retaining part of the management fee; and in its consideration be advised that it may wish to take account of the further investment that SENCIO had been taking forward.  The Advisory Committee considered all the papers that had been submitted to Cabinet and noted the further exempted information which had been circulated earlier in the day which was also tabled.

Cllr. Brown, Vice Chairman of Scrutiny Committee and Chairman of Leisure In-Depth Scrutiny Working Group and Jane Parish, Chief Executive of SENCIO, were in attendance and addressed the Committee.  Members asked questions of clarity.

It was noted that the management fee was to be considered later under ‘Budget 2017/18: Service Dashboards and Service Change Impact Assessments (SCIAs) (see Minute 24).

Resolved:  That

a)           the management and asset management fees paid to SENCIO be considered (see Minute 24); and

b)           subject to any decision above, agree to review whether the Council could more effectively carry out the outreach element of the Sports Development function.

(There was a short recess after this item.)

Members considered a report which had been agreed at Cabinet on 14 July 2016, and had the opportunity to ask questions of the Housing Policy Manager. 

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Members received a presentation and considered a report updating them on externally funded sport development projects in the District. The Council had successfully bid for external funding for sports development projects in the district. The work supported residents to become more active, reduce obesity and social isolation, whilst enabling local people to have better access to new sporting opportunities, particularly in rural areas of the District. 

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The Chief Finance Officer presented the report which set out updates to the 2017/18 budget within the existing framework of the 10-year budget and savings plan.  The report also presented proposals that had been identified which needed to be considered, together with further suggestions made by the Advisory Committees, before finalising the budget for 2017/18.

The major message of the report was that the Council was able to remain financially self-sufficient.

The budget agreed by Council in February included £100,000 of new savings or additional income per annum and the Advisory Committees were being asked to make suggestions to Cabinet that would achieve the £100,000 required for next year. Two Member Budget Training sessions had recently taken place with the intention of increasing, or refreshing, Members knowledge of the budget process and to enhance the discussions that would take place at this round of Advisory Committees.

The Chief Finance Officer reminded reminding Members that over £6m had already been agreed to be saved between 2011/12 and 2017/18 made up of over 130 items and over £10m had been saved since 2005/06.

Members reviewed and discussed Appendix D which contained the growth and savings proposals put forward by the Portfolio Holder and Chief Officers, and the Service Change Impact Assessments (SCIAs) in Appendix E.  Consideration of the reduction in the SENCIO  Management fee had also been considered as part of Minute 21 above.

Members also considered and gave their individual ideas for growth and savings items.  The Chief Finance Officer summarised the suggestions put forward and Members considered whether there was anything they wanted taken forward as potential growth or savings suggestions.   It was discussed that potentially there needed to be a future further growth item in relation to the HERO service.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty and that individual equality impact assessments had been completed for all Service Change Impact Assessments (SCIAs) to ensure the decision making process was fair and transparent.

Resolved:  That it be recommended to Cabinet that

a)     the growth proposal identified in Appendix D applicable to the Advisory Committee (SCIA 6) be agreed;

b)     the savings proposals identified in Appendix D applicable to the Advisory Committee (SCIA 7) be agreed; and

c)     there were no further suggestions for growth and savings from the Advisory Committee at this time.

The Head of Housing and Health presented the report regarding the Syrian Community Sponsorship Programme.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That the report be noted and recommended to Cabinet.

To note the minutes of the meeting of the Health Liaison Board held on 27 September 2016.

The Chairman of the Health Liaison Board presented the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2016 highlighting some of the discussion.  The minutes were noted.

The Chief Officer Communities and Business presented the report which gave details of the proposed devolution arrangement for Public Health and Health Improvement in partnership with Kent County Council, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That it be recommended to Cabinet that

a)     the principles of the West Kent Public Health Preventative Services devolution model, be approved; and

b)   the Partnership Agreement, as set out in the Annex to the report, be approved.

The work plan was noted.