Agenda and minutes

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting. 

Councillor Keith Williams made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of agenda item 5 Consideration of Cabinet Decisions – Minute 66 – Outcomes of the Local Government Association Peer Review, as his brother was an employee of Capita.

Councillor Chris Watts made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of agenda item 5 Consideration of Cabinet Decisions – Minute 67 – Securing a Sustainable Future for Swindon’s Library Service, as he was Chair of the new shadow Central Swindon South Parish.

Councillor Steve Weisinger made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of agenda item 5 Consideration of Cabinet Decisions – Minute 67 – Securing a Sustainable Future for Swindon’s Library Service, as he was the Chair of the new Shadow Blunsdon St. Andrew Parish.

Councillor Des Moffatt made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of agenda item 5 Consideration of Cabinet Decisions – Minute 67 – Securing a Sustainable Future for Swindon’s Library Service, as he was the Chair of the new Shadow Central Swindon North Parish.

Councillor Gemma McCracken made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of agenda item 5 Consideration of Cabinet Decisions – Minute 70 – Commercial Investment Strategy, as she rents a commercial unit in the Town Centre with her husband.

Councillor Kevin Parry made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of agenda item 5 Consideration of Cabinet Decisions – Minute 67 – Securing a Sustainable Future for Swindon’s Library Service, as he was a Nythe Parish Councillor and a Trustee of Covingham Parish Council.

Mr Brian Cockbill, a local resident, asked a question about a response he had received to a question asked at the Cabinet meeting held on 7^th December 2016. The Cabinet Member for Communities agreed to provide a written response.

Mr Cockbill, asked an additional question about the vacancies created at Nythe Parish Council. The Director of Law and Democratic Services responded at the meeting and the Cabinet member for Communities agreed to provide additional information, via a written response.

Mrs Shirley Burnham, a local resident, had submitted a written question about the library service. As Mrs Burnham was not present, the Chair requested she be provided with a written response.

Mr Keith Smith, a local resident representing the Highworth Community Partnership Group, asked a question about the libraries strategy. The Cabinet Member for Communities responded to the question at the meeting. 

Mr Smith, asked a supplementary question about the opening hours of libraries. The Cabinet Member for Communities agreed to provide a written response. 

To receive the minutes of the meetings held on 10^th and 24^th October 2016.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings held on 10^th October and 24th October 2016, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Director of Law and Democratic Services submitted a report introducing decisions arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 7^th December 2016.

65.      2016-17 Budget Management, 2017-18 Draft Budget

Councillor Russell Holland, Deputy Leader of the Council, Vice-Chair of Cabinet and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillors James Robbins, Des Moffatt, Mark Dempsey, Vera Tomlinson and Chris Watts on the following matters:

·         Funding available in the Youth Service Provision budget. 

·         Potential to raise additional income for Adult Social care through an increase in Council Tax.

·         Opportunities to develop land.

·         Proposals for charging employees to use car parks during their working day.

·         Savings achieved by closing children’s centres.

·         The number of children in care.

·         Reduction in Revenue Support Grant since 2010.

·         The length of time that a car parking season ticket is valid at Stanton Country Park.

·         Reasons for the School Improvement Fund and whether the Fund was adequate.

·         The extension of the loan to Public Power Solutions (PPS)

·         The intended use of hay bales by PPS if they were not fit for purpose.

·         The Environment Agency and the need to seek costs.

·         Format of Diversity Impact Assessments.

Resolved – That Minute 65 of the Cabinet be noted.

66.      Outcomes of the Local Government Association Peer Review

Councillor David Renard, Leader of the Council and Chair of Cabinet, responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillors James Robbins, Emma Faramarzi, Mark Dempsey and Chris Watts, on the following matters:

·         Timescales and delivery of the digitalisation of services.

·         The role of One Swindon and how to realise town centre ambitions.

·         Reasons to engage further with communities, seeking views and opinions in a structured manner.

·         Peer Review process and interviews with Councillors and Staff.

·         Use of clear resourcing plans when choosing development partners for regeneration programmes.

Resolved – That Minute 66 of the Cabinet be noted.

67.      Securing a Sustainable Future for Swindon’s Library Service

Councillor Mary Martin, Cabinet Member for Communities, responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillors James Robbins, Des Moffatt, Mark Dempsey, Chris Watts, Steve Weisinger, Gemma McCracken and Kevin Parry on the following matters:

·         Options available to secure a sustainable future for Swindon Libraries.

·         Timescales and delivery of the Library Strategy.

·         Feasibility of community groups adopting a trust model for the operation of libraries.

·         Concern at the timescales for new Parish Councils to adopt a library service and also the need to prepare and deliver their precept by the end of January 2017.

·         Process for establishing a community run library.

·         Potential for a commercial enterprise to operate within a library building and the impact on the payment of non-domestic rates.

·         Accuracy of Diversity Impact Assessments.

·         The mechanism for transitional funding to help Parish Councils retain community libraries.

·         Covingham Parish Council’s decision to investigate the trust model of operating a community library.

·         The assessment of long term costs and conclusions drawn.

·         The financial framework for the funding of the core provision, transitional funding and staffing hours.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

Resolved – That the Leader of the Council Update report be deferred until 9^th January 2017.

Report to follow.

Resolved – That the Cabinet Member for Communities report be deferred until 9^th January 2017.

.

Report to follow.

The Chair advised the Committee that following the resignation of Councillor Heenan as the Cabinet Member for Sustainability, Highways and Transport, this report had been withdrawn.  The Committee noted that the Leader of the Council had reassigned the Cabinet Portfolio’s responsibilities as follows:

·        Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Sustainability – Councillor Elliott

·        Cabinet Member StreetSmart, Highways, and Transport – Councillor Williams

The Chair confirmed that the Cabinet Member for Streetsmart, Highways and Transport would now include issues relating to Highways and Transport in his Question and Answer Session due to be considered by the Committee at its meeting on 13^th February 2017.

            Resolved – That the reassigned Cabinet responsibilities be noted, and the Committee’s Work Programme be updated accordingly.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services setting out the topics for inclusion in the 2016/17 Scrutiny Work Programme as agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 20^th June 2016.

Resolved – That the work programme 2016/17 be noted and updated to reflect the changes detailed in minute 48 above.

The Committee received an updated report advising on the status of outstanding issues and member requests for information.

            Resolved – That the report on the status of outstanding issues and member requests for information be noted.