Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 25 October 2022  were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The Chief Executive submitted a report which identified the forthcoming issues to be considered by the Executive, as outlined in Appendix A to the report. The report provided the Overview and Scrutiny Board with the opportunity to consider whether any item contained within the Executive Forward Work Programme should be considered by the Board, or referred to a Scrutiny Panel.

NOTED

The Executive Member for Finance and Governance provided an overview of his portfolio. As part of his presentation the following points were made:

·        The Executive Member’s portfolio covered an extensive range of issues and services and as such only a selection of those services and issues were covered in his presentation.

·        The Board was advised about the continuing work initiated by the CIPFA Governance Improvement journey. Members were informed that the improvement journey was the result of CIPFA being appointed in the summer of 2022 to undertake diagnostic work. This had culminated in a report to Council in October 2022.

·        That report had recommended that a Governance Improvement Board be established with four thematic Task and Finish groups reporting to it. Those themed were the Constitution; Culture and Communication; Roles and Responsibilities; and Training and Development.

·        Members were advised that initial meetings of the Governance Improvement Board and its Task and Finish Groups had taken place.

·        Actions arising from the groups had progress updates at 30, 60 and 90 day intervals and regular updates would be reported to full Council.

·        Importantly, there was no desired outcome at the outset, instead outcomes would be established via conversation in the groups.

·        The Executive Member informed OSB that some of the issues being examined were not new, but the process was an opportunity to address some of those long standing issues.

·        There was a need to make sure the improvement journey moved at pace but that such pace did not inhibit meaningful dialogue.

·        The first report on the improvement journey’s progress will be made to Full Council on the 30^th November and would outline the overall improvement plan.

·        In terms of Corporate Performance; the Executive Member commented performance was monitored regularly and reported to both Executive and OSB.

·        Performance was also linked to financial output and OSB was advised that, due to a forecasted overspend of up to £9 million, a financial recovery plan was required. Members were also advised that if the recovery plan was successful that overspend would be reduced to approximately £2 million.

·        As a consequence of such forecasted overspends, corporate performance had been affected but the Executive Member was confident that targets would be met.

·        In terms of Human Resources; several initiatives were being implemented that aimed to improve employee wellbeing. Such initiatives included the “Email for All” whereby all staff members would receive the same information across the organisation and could equally access employee benefits.

·        The Executive Member advised OSB that the Council needed to be seen as an attractive place to work and that he was concerned about the level of staff turnover at certain levels.

·        OSB were advised that staff had been awarded approximately £1,900 as part of the NJC pay award.

·        In terms of Resident and Business Support; it was noted that Middlesbrough had risen from being the 3^rd worst Council for Council Tax Collection rates to 11^th worst. This was a significant improvement.

·        While there remained numerous challenges to Council Tax  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/132

The Chair advised OSB that the Chief Executive had submitted his apologies for the meeting.

NOTED

The Chair of the Adult Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel presented the Panel’s final report on the issue of ‘The Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Supporting Adult Social Care (With a Focus on COVID-19 Recovery)’. 

The Chair of the Panel advised OSB the review was both an interesting and worthwhile investigation and the panel commended the valuable work undertaken by Middlesbrough's vibrant and diverse VCS sector, which undoubtedly enhanced the support provided to residents.

The recommendations contained in the report were:

a)  That exploratory work be undertaken to identify opportunities for more collaborative working between the Council and the VCS, particularly in relation to the availability of meeting space.  To be undertaken by Spring/Summer 2023.

b)  That the Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration works with LMT to explore the most effective form of relationship management between the Council and the VCS. To be undertaken by Spring/Summer 2023.

c)  That a link between the VCS and the Council’s Emergency Planning Team be established to assist with policy/practice statement development.  To be undertaken by Spring/Summer 2023.

ORDERED: That the conclusions and recommendations of the Adult Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel be endorsed and referred to the Executive.

Adult Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel

Councillor J. Platt (Chair)

Children & Young People’s Learning Scrutiny Panel

Councillor D. McCabe (Chair)

Children & Young People’s Social Care and Scrutiny Panel 

Councillor D. Davison (Chair)

Culture and Communities Scrutiny Panel

Councillor C. McIntyre (Chair)

Economic Development, Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel

Councillor R. Arundale (Vice Chair)

Health Scrutiny Panel 

Councillor D. Jones (Chair)

The Chair of the Adult Care and Services Scrutiny Panel

OSB was advised that at its last meeting on the 2^nd November the Panel considered and approved its Final Report into the Role of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Supporting Adult Social Care (With a Focus on Covid-19 and Recovery). The Panel also received updates from the Executive Member of Adult Social Care, Public Health, Public Protection and Digital inclusion and the Director of Social Care.

The Chair of the Children & Young People’s Learning Scrutiny Panel

OSB was advised that at its last meeting the Panel would be receiving a presentation on school exclusions, which would include data and information on Middlesbrough’s historic exclusion figures during the 2021/2022 academic year; suspensions during the same period as well as information about how the Council could increase support in this area.

The Panel was also expecting a response to Ofsted’s finding of Outwood Academy Ormesby.

The Chair of the Children’s Social Care and Services Scrutiny Panel

OSB was advised that at its last meeting on the 14^th November the Panel had received information regarding young people transitioning to Adult Care and what support was available to those young people. The Panel heard about what support was available to assist with securing employment and were keen to speak to a young person about their experiences.

Chair of Culture and Communities

OSB was advised the Panel had not met since the previous meeting of OSB and that the Panel’s next meeting was scheduled for the 17^th November at which Members would continue to examine the issue of dirt bikes and anti-social behaviour.

Vice Chair of Economic Development, Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel

OSB was advised that at its last meeting on the 9^th November 2022 the Panel received the annual update on Flood Risk Management which also included a demonstration of the new Gully Smart Asset Management Software. The software was purchased to enable a proactive and reactive response to tackling flood risk and management of the highway drainage network.

The Vice Chair or the Panel also submitted a change to its in-year work programme to the extent that Nutrient Neutrality would be put on hold and that the issue of School Transport be examined given its statutory nature and ongoing spending and demand pressures. It was also requested that an additional investigation be added to the Panel’s work programme. The investigation would be about a scheme operating in Greater Manchester whereby Business Rates were collected then redistributed according to need.

OSB were also advised that at its next meeting on 7^th December the Panel had requested an update on the Linthorpe Road Cycle Lane.

Chair of the Health Scrutiny Panel

            OSB was advised that the Health Scrutiny Panel had not met since the previous OSB meeting and that at its next meeting on 13^th December it would continue to look at Dental Health and the impact of COVID-19.

ORDERED that:

1.    The amendment to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/135

None.

The Chair advised Members that the date of the next meeting of OSB was to be 13^th December 2022 at 10:00am,