Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 January 2022.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 January 2022 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair, subject to the following amendment:

Minute 40: Budget Scrutiny

Amend the third paragraph to read as follows: "At the invitation of the Chair, Councillor Jonathan Harris addressed the Committee and thanked the Executive Director – Finance and the wider finance team for all of the hard work and for the support that they had provided in sharing information and answering questions relating to the budget. Councillor Harris asked a number of detailed questions regarding the draft budget which were duly answered by officers".

To receive communications from the Chair.

The Chair made the following announcements:

1.    The Budget Scrutiny Task and Finish Group held on 27 January 2022 had been a big success, and on behalf of the Committee the Chair thanked all Officers who were involved in the setting up and running of the meeting. 

2.    Several Members of the Committee had recently attended a Treasury Management training session hosted by Officers, recordings of this training were available for any Members who were unable to attend.

3.    That a Treasury Management Task and Finish Group would be established at the meeting of  the Committee in March, with final details to be circulated in due course.

4.    That consideration of  the draft Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report would be deferred until approximately June or July of 2022 for the Committee’s consideration and approval.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

The Committee to receive a report detailing the findings of the Budget Scrutiny Task and Finish Group.

The Committee considered a report from the Deputy Democratic Services Manager which set out a number of recommendations from the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny to Cabinet on the Draft Budget 2022/2023 arising from the recent Budget Scrutiny process.

At the invitation of the Chair, Jane Wood, of Climate Action West Northants (CA-WN) addressed the Committee and set out CA-WN’s response to the recognition of climate change mitigation and adaptation in West Northamptonshire Council’s corporate plan objectives, specifically the commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and proposed spending on Green and Clean, and asked a number of questions of the budget regarding how these commitments would be achieved.

In response to the public  address, the Committee agreed to propose a further recommendation to Cabinet that a dedicated Officer be employed on a fixed term contract for a period of five years, to work across the service areas on Carbon Neutrality, understand the Council’s own carbon emissions, monitor and look to reduce these emissions, and report the information publicly. It was proposed to fund this post from the Risk Reserves. 

Members of the Committee thoroughly examined each of the recommendations to Cabinet, including the additional recommendation rising from the public address and, following some minor amendments, agreed the set of recommendations to Cabinet.

Resolved

(1)  That the recommendations of Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee (annexe to the minutes as set out in the minute book) on the Draft Budget 2022/2023 be forwarded to the Executive Director – Finance and recommended to Cabinet for consideration.

To review and note the Committee Work Plan.

The Committee considered its Work Programme.

Resolved

(1)  That the Committee Work Programme 2021/2022 be noted.