Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair for the meeting.

It was moved, seconded and agreed that Councillor Danny Beales be elected Chair for the meeting.

RESOLVED -

THAT Councillor Danny Beales be elected Chair for the meeting

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

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There were none.

 ‘To discuss the Leader’s Annual Statement to the Council and other relevant cross-cutting matters arising from the business of the Cabinet.’

The membership of the Joint Chairs of Scrutiny Committee will comprise the chairs of the five scrutiny committees, with the Chair being appointed by the Committee. The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council will attend each meeting of the Committee to discuss issues arising from the Leader’s Annual Statement to the Council.

The Joint Chairs of Scrutiny Committee shall meet annually. The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council shall attend this meeting to discuss issues arising from the Statement.

RESOLVED –

THAT the following terms of reference be noted:

‘To discuss the Leader’s Annual Statement to the Council and other relevant cross-cutting matters arising from the business of the Cabinet’

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th October 2014.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th October 2014 be agreed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Report of the Leader of the Council

To consider the Leader of the Council’s Annual Statement to Full Council.

Consideration was given to the Annual Leader’s statement as considered by the full Council meeting on 16^th September 2015, and set out in the agenda papers.

The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council gave the following key responses to Members questions:

Future Financial and other challenges for the Council

·         The Council was continuing to have to face huge financial challenges due to continuing Government cuts. The scale of the challenge meant that traditional ‘salami slicing’ of budgets was no longer an option. In response to these cuts, the Council had pioneered an Outcome Based Budgeting approach to its proposed future funding programme. This approach had looked in detail at all spending to understand how to transform services, to provide maximum value for residents by focussing the Council’s investment on activities that would make most difference.

·         The Government’s Comprehensive Spending review, which was seeking Government departments to identify between 20 – 40% additional savings, were again likely to have a huge impact on local government. The Government would be making its announcement on the impact this would have on local government in the late autumn, and local authorities would then be expected to revise their budget plans at short notice to cater for any changes. At that point the Council would then have to consider what other options it had in relation to the raising of resources through other sources. This level of uncertainty made it very difficult to plan and make considered decisions regarding the provision of services.

·         The possible cuts to local government funding meant that every Council service was vulnerable to facing a budget cut.

·         The Government’s proposals in relation to housing and welfare would have a huge impact on the social fabric of the borough. With the Council potentially being forced to sell off high value Council voids, to pay for the extension of the Right-to-Buy for Housing Association Tenants; the pay to stay proposals; the forced 1% annual reduction in social rents effectively ripping up the self-financing policy agreed a few years ago and reducing the resources available for major repairs by £69M by 2019/20; and the reduction in the benefits cap meaning more families would have to face having to move out of Camden.

·         The Council had managed to obtain the support of other public sector bodies, along with sections of the private sector to help in meeting the Camden Plan objectives. Private Sector partners had been working with the Council to help boost the number of apprenticeship schemes available in the borough. The Health and Wellbeing Board allowed for good working relationships and the planning of health services in the borough. Again though, the delivery of the Camden Plan’s objectives would have to be considered, should the Council face the drastic cuts to its resources as being identified in the press.

Voluntary Sector provision

·         The Council recognised the important role that the voluntary sector played in Camden. The Council had sought to enhance and strengthen this role through the high level of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.