Agenda and minutes

Pursuant to the Council’s constitution the appointment of the following substitute Member was reported: - Councillor G Westwater for Councillor L Arkley.

Please complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

Councillor Julie Cruddas declared a non-registerable personal interest in Item 7 – Efficiency, Savings Programme 2021/22. She is a Director of Justice Prince Community Interest Company.

Councillor Pat Oliver declared a non-registerable personal interest in Item 7 – Efficiency, Savings Programme 2021/22. A family member receives support from the Council

Councillor Matthew Thirlaway declared a non-registerable personal interest in Item 7 – Efficiency, Savings Programme 2021/22. He has a family member who is employed by the Council.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2022.

Resolved that the minute of the meeting held on 17 January 2022 be agreed.

To receive a briefing with regard to the work to be undertaken to look into the Authority’s response to the Winter Storms.

Following a Motion that was agreed at the Council Meeting 20 January 2022, the Overview, Scrutiny & Policy Development Committee had been asked to consider undertaking a task and finish review of the response to Storm Arwen.

The Director of Environment attended the meeting to present a report that detailed the suggested scope of the task & finish group and asked the committee for its views and acceptance to undertake the work.

Members raised a number of points that the review should aim to address as follows:

·       Need a deadline for completion

·       Need to consider if the Authority had the necessary resources available to tackle emergency events

·       Look at the relationship with our partners to scale up support when future events occur.

·       Need to understand the level of support to staff who are operational when emergency events occur and what support is provided to them during and after events.

·       Need to understand the views and experience of those directly affected by the storms.

·       Ensure all information is readily available when undertaking the Task & Finish Review to avoid any delay.

It was agreed that Overview, Scrutiny & Policy Development Committee establish a Task and Finish group. That the terms of reference once amended to take into account the committee’s comment be finalised through the chair.

It was expressed that the work should be completed prior, and the findings reported to the June 2022 meeting. That all non-executive members be canvassed to take part with a membership maximum of 10.

It was Agreed that the Overview, Scrutiny & Policy Development Committee establish a Task and Finish group to undertake a review of the response to the events of Storm Arwen and winter storms.

To receive an update report on progress with delivering the updated Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025.

The Assistant Chief Executive & Senior Manager Policy, Performance and Research presented a report that provided the Committee with an update on progress with delivering the updated Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025.

The appended Our North Tyneside Performance Report provided an overview of performance since the start of the plan and identified the agreed activities that the Authority would pursue in the future. In addition, it provided national or regional comparator performance information, as there were several issues where North Tyneside was facing similar challenges as other parts of the country.

Members raised a number of questions in relation to the themes within the Our North Tyneside Plan and it was agreed that responses would to be provided to members through a briefing note.

It was Agreed that the Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025 Performance report be noted.

To receive update an report on the current year progress of key 2021/22 projects and business cases within the overall Efficiency Savings Programme.

The Committee received a report that provided a update to the current year progress of the key 2021/2022 projects and business cases within the Efficiency Savings Programme.

The financial position as at 31 January 2022 showed that there was £1,384m savings yet to be achieved from the £4,537 target, where £2.323m had been delivered against the overall target via project activities outlined in associated business cases. A further £0.830m was achieved as the direct result of management actions during the course of the financial year.

It was Agreed that the Efficiency Savings Programme 2021/22 Progress Report be noted.

To receive the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2020/21.

The Chair presented the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2021-22 that provided an overview of the work undertaken throughout the year by Overview, Scrutiny & Policy Development Committee and its seven sub-committees.

In relation to Member scrutiny training, the Chair informed that the Centre of Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) had delivered training to all the current Scrutiny Chairs and Deputy Chairs and it was the intention that training would be extended to all members.

Members were given an opportunity to address the meeting in relation to areas of work that they had been involved during the year with the work of the sub-committees. Members from Economic Prosperity, Environment, Culture & Leisure, Children Education and Skills and Finance sub-committees addressed the meeting.

It was Agreed that the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2021-22 be noted; and (2) refer the report to Annual Council on 19 May 2022.

To receive an update on the performance of the Technical Services Partnership.

The Committee received a report that detailed the Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 performance monitoring update for the current financial year 2021/22 following consideration by the established partnership governance arrangements.

The report reminded the Committee of the mechanism in place in monitoring performance of the Capita Partnership to meet a series of performance milestones for each service it delivers on the Authority’s behalf.

Performance scorecards were reported for each of the following service areas:

· Property Services

· Engineering Services

· Regulatory Services

The Committee received a presentation from Partnership Director to the service delivery performance and was attached to the report.

Agreed that (1) the Technical Services Partnership Q2 & Q3 service performance update for 2021/22; (2) the Benchmarking Action Plan and approach to the development of the Annual Service Plan 2022/23 report be noted.

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and having applied a public interest test as defined in Part 2 of Schedule 12A of the Act, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Resolved that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and having applied a public interest test in accordance with Part 2 of Schedule 12A the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Agreed that the Financial update 2021/22 Quarter2 be noted.