Agenda item

The Chair referenced an email from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services. The Chair and the Committee Support Officer explained that the affordable housing scrutiny proposal form hadn’t been received ahead of the meeting. The topic would therefore now be moved forward in the work programme to the meeting in June. The same rule would apply to other items in the work programme where a scrutiny proposal form was required.

Councillor Boylan said that scrutiny proposal forms should form part of the agenda of these meetings, and Overview and Scrutiny Members could then discuss and then agree the proposals. The Committee Support Officer explained why the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) had been moved to the meeting in March 2025 with the consent of the Chair.

The Head of Communication, Strategy and Policy briefly set out the themes of the item that would be coming to meeting on 4^th March 2025 in respect of the UKSPF. The Chair explained that not every item on the work programme needed a scrutiny proposal form as some of the items were brought to the committee by the Executive.

Councillor Carter mentioned section 106 funding in terms of how this process worked and how section 106 monies were allocated. The Committee Support Officer invited the committee to consider the work programme well beyond March and June 2025. He referred to an action from November 2023 that the Committee review Development Management Forums within two years of when these were set up, subject to the when the Head of Planning and Building Control wished to present this matter back to the Committee.

Members were advised that a workshop was held on 11 June 2024 where the Committee got together to consider work programme topics. The Committee Support Officer said that another workshop could be arranged, or Members could have proactive discussions offline about potential topics for the work programme going forward.

The Committee Support Officer reminded Members that the work programme should be Member led, subject to matters brought forward from the Executive. Councillor Andrews welcomed the helpful suggestion of short-timed workshop to discuss the work programme.

Councillor Carter said that it was important to refresh ideas and topics which were immediately important at a short workshop. Councillor Swainston said it was very reasonable to get the scrutiny proposal forms submitted in a timely manner to give officers time to respond. She said the committee should be scrutinising Executive decisions.

The Chair said that a consensus was emerging that a work programme workshop would be useful, and he said that would consult with the Vice-Chair and then consider whether this would be held in person or online.

The Committee Support encouraged any Member of the Committee to take the lead on completing the scrutiny proposal form in respect of affordable housing in discussion with other Members of the Committee.

Councillor Clements mentioned the possible discussion of BEAM around the end of 2025 once the theatre had been operation for a year. Councillor Nicholls concurred with the suggestion that the committee consider Section 106 matters.

Councillor Clements proposed and Councillor Swainston seconded a motion that the 2024/25 Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme in Appendix 1, be agreed subject to the following:

·               The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) be considered at the meeting on 4 March 2025;

·               Affordable housing be considered at the meeting on 10 June 2025, subject to the submission of a scrutiny proposal form by the 4 March 2025;

·               Section 106 be added to the programme subject to the completion of a scrutiny proposal form;

·               Scrutiny Proposals Forms be included in the agenda for consideration by the Committee.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the 2024/25 Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme in Appendix 1, be agreed subject to the following:

·               The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) be considered at the meeting on 4 March 2025;

·               Affordable housing be considered at the meeting on 10 June 2025, subject to the submission of a scrutiny proposal form by the 4 March 2025;

·               Section 106 be added to the programme subject to the completion of a scrutiny proposal form;

·              Scrutiny Proposals Forms be included in the agenda for consideration by the Committee.