Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED –

THAT Councillor Oliver Cooper be elected as Chair of the Resources and Corporate Performance Scrutiny Committee for this meeting only.

Apologies had been received from Councillor Andrew Parkinson, Councillor Cooper was attending as a substitute.

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you are seated in the Chamber, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

Any other announcements

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair announced that the meeting was being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and could be viewed on the website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts were archived and could be made available upon request. Those who had asked to address the meeting were deemed to be consenting to having their contributions recorded and broadcast and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.

No declarations were made.

There was no such business.

There were no deputations.

Report of the Leader of the Council.

This report updates on the Renewal Commission, including the Commission’s official outputs, principles and recommendations that have emerged from the work to date (Appendix 1). This includes background evidence and recommendations for taking forward the four missions:

-   By 2030, those holding positions of power in Camden are as diverse as our community – and the next generation is ready to follow

-   By 2025, every young person has access to economic opportunity that enables them to be safe and secure

-   By 2030, everyone eats well every day with nutritious, affordable, sustainable food

-   By 2030, Camden's estates and their neighbourhoods are healthy, sustainable and unlock creativity

The report also sets out the Council’s response to the Commission’s findings, including proposed next steps on the journey to develop and deliver renewal missions for Camden. It recognises that further Cabinet decisions will be required on any specific areas of policy change required to achieve these missions. 

Consideration was given to the report of the Leader of the Council. The report was introduced by the Director of Corporate Strategy and Policy Design.

In their discussion the Committee made the following comments:

·       Members were concerned that there were areas of the report that were not easy to understand, they asked if a shorter, easy read version would be made available.

·       Members agreed that that the Commission’s recommendation to Take an active listening and learning approach – and learn on behalf of and with others, should be embedded across all levels of the organisation and that Camden Staff should receive coaching on how to do this.

·       The Committee thought that in relation to the Commission’s recommendation to Bring partners together, with the Council as a ‘mission steward’, a focus should be put on the Council as a role model for what good and successful partnerships looks like, rather than focus on the Council as a leader. They suggested that Camden considers changing the language of the missions to reflect this.

·       That the proposed structure for community decision making should be joined more with the existing democratic structure of the Council. This new model should not replace the role of democratically elected councillors.

·       That in the Cabinet’s response to the mission they include quantitative targets with challenging but realistic timelines.

·       Members process around selecting decision making groups is transparent, so all can see those who have been included and the diversity of the groups.

·       That specific information of the content and scope of each mission is given, stating what issue each mission is trying to tackle and explaining how it will do this.

In response to member questions regarding the £300,000 allocation or reserves mentioned in the report, the Director of Corporate Strategy and Policy Design explained that the money would come from unallocated funds within the Camden Plan reserves. The money would be used to support the mission approach which was consistent with the original purpose of the reserves.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted and that the following recommendations be made to Cabinet:

·       That the Commission’s recommendation to Take an active listening and learning approach – and learn on behalf of and with others be embedded across all levels of the organisation and that Camden Staff receive coaching on how to do this. This will ensure the missions are shared and achieved together by all council colleagues, and all of them learn from experiences. 

·       That in relation to the Commission’s recommendation to Bring partners together, with the Council as a ‘mission steward’, a focus is put on the Council as a role model for what good and successful partnership looks like, rather than focus on the Council as a leader. That changing the language of the missions to reflect this be considered.

·       That should any future plans propose new structures for community decision, that these are fully joined up with the existing democratic structure of the Council. Future models should not replace the role of democratically  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation.

This report considers the options for a Council Tax Support (CTS) for the year 2022/23.

The report is coming to the Cabinet because The Local Government Finance Act 2012 amends the Local Government Finance Act 1992 which sets out the requirement for the Council to agree a local council tax reduction scheme on an annual basis.

Camden’s Council Tax Support scheme was fundamentally reviewed in 2019 and a new scheme launched for working age households for 2020/21.  The changes meant it is one of the most generous and innovative Council Tax Support schemes in the country with income bands based on London Living Wage, ensuring that 16,352 households (including pensioners) in Camden receive 100% support and are not required to pay any Council Tax.  This is alongside other commitments such as providing an exemption to Council Tax for foster carers and young people leaving care.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Council has seen the number of claimants increase substantially from March 2020 as residents have experienced changes in income and circumstances.  This has led to an increase in working age claims of 1895 between March 2020 and October 2021 at an additional cost of £2.5m.

With such significant changes to people’s employment and situations, it is proposed that the scheme remains the same for 2021/22 so that the Council can provide certainty for residents.  Income bands will however be uplifted in line with the new levels for London Living Wage

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation.

This report sets out the key recommendations of the Corporate Peer Review alongside the outcome of the recent LGA follow up discussions in October 2021. The Council’s proposals to act on these recommendations are outlined within this report for Cabinet approval.

Appendix A: LGA Corporate Peer Review feedback report (July 2020)

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation.

The report was introduced by the Executive Director Corporate Services and the Director of Corporate Strategy and Policy Design.

Members felt it was important to link the work in this report to the work being done with the Renewal Commission.

The Committee wanted more explicit mention in the report of working with community stakeholders to ensure the experiences of Camden residents were being represented.

The Committee also commented that Members were accountable as decision makers, and any discussions with any groups that did not have to work within that accountability framework needed to be managed.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted and that the following recommendation be made to Cabinet:

·       That explicit reference to residents as the most important stakeholders is included within the proposals around engagement, complementing the proposed account management approach which focus getting more for residents from relationships businesses and large institutions. This should include mention of engagement with resident groups, resident associations as well as elected members.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation.

This report provides an update on:

·         The Council’s response to the pandemic

·         Government response to the pandemic including funding announcements

·         Financial resilience and sustainability

·         The latest outlook for the Council’s funding and spending

·         Spending Review – Autumn Budget update

·         Economic Outlook

·         Reserves and balances position including planned use

·         2022/23 Budget setting considerations

·         Capital review update

·         Local Climate Bond

·         Forecast outturn position for 2021/22

·         Recommended Fees & Charges for 2022/23

The reason for lateness is that the report was being prepared for the Cabinet meeting on 15^th December 2021 and officers were not able to complete the report in time to meet the earlier report deadline for the Resources and Corporate Performance Scrutiny Committee.  The reason for urgency is to enable the Resources and Corporate Performance Scrutiny Committee on 13^th December 2021 to consider the report, and (if appropriate) submit any views it may have to the Cabinet when it considers the report on 15^th December 2021.

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation.

The report was introduced by the Head of Finance, Corporate Services.

In response to member questions about the amount of additional spending because of the pandemic, the Head of Finance said that additional spending last year was around £68 mil, the Council used £19 mil of its own resources. Camden were forecasting around £28 mil additional financial pressure this year because of the pandemic.

The Head of Finance said to Members that Camden were continuing to talk to Government and lobby for resources however, financial plans had to be made with the current financial forecast.

Members raised questions the increase in reserves being put aside between 2022-2024. The Head of Finance explained that this was because the Council would be balancing the deficit in local tax collection, caused by the pandemic, over the next three years.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted

Report of the  Executive Directors of Supporting People, Supporting Communities and Corporate Services.

This report provides an update on service performance in Quarter 2 2021/22 drawn from a broad range of measures from across each directorate and division in the organisation. Individual services have provided a narrative covering key performance challenges and areas of positive improvement.

Lifted up from the individual service data and narrative is an overarching narrative that seeks to identify key challenges and emerging issues over the next six months (i.e. looking ahead to Quarter 3 and Quarter 4) that could have negative impacts on service delivery and performance. This section is divided into three: the ongoing impacts of Covid-19, new emerging issues and organisational health issues i.e. cross-cutting challenges in which corporate services play a key role HR, communications, strategy, finance, legal etc.

This report also provides a brief overview of work to develop a new insight and accountability framework. This work is taking place in parallel to the refresh of Camden 2025, and there are a number of key connections.

Consideration was given to the report of Executive Directors of Supporting People, Supporting Communities and Corporate Services.

The report was introduced by the Executive Director Corporate Services.

Members commented that improvement could be made to the visual representation of the figures and suggested the use of colour to indicate whether the change was positive or negative.

In response to concerns raised by Members about the number of staff sick days, the Executive Director commented that bench marking had been done across other local authorities and Camden’s number was of a similar level.

The Executive Director Corporate Services agreed to circulate with the Committee up to date data on business grants, showing the number and scale of grant made.

Action by: The Executive Director Corporate Services

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Executive Director Corporate Services.

This paper provides a proposed outline of the 2021/22 work programme.

Consideration was given to the report of the Executive Director Corporate Services.

The Executive agreed to investigate whether any reports could be brought forward to help reduce the number going to the March meeting.

Action by: Executive Director Corporate Services

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

There was no such business.