Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Pope and Rogers.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in items on the agenda in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct. For any advice on declarations of interest, please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting.

There were no disclosable pecuniary or other significant interests declared at the meeting.

To receive any declarations by members of instruction given by or on behalf of a political group as to how that member should speak or vote on any items on the agenda. For any advice on declarations of a party whip, please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting.

There were no declarations that any Member was subject to a party whip.

-       Members were asked whether this item was still necessary or whether it could be removed from the agenda.

-       Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee should be impartial and independent and therefore should not be subject to a party whip.

-       Any instruction from a particular party to a Member should be made known under Declarations of Interest.  

-       Rather than lose the item entirely, it was suggested, at least initially, that it was combined with Agenda Item 2 – Declarations of Interest. 

RESOLVED – That this agenda item is combined with Agenda Item 2 – Declarations of Interest and Party Whip.

To note any Visiting Members or members of the public wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18 or 19, and which item(s) they wish to speak on.

There were no members of the public or visiting Members registered to speak.

To approve the minutes of a previous meeting as a correct record. The only issue relating to the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.

Members reviewed the minutes.  No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting dated 16 January 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To approve the minutes of a previous meeting as a correct record.  The only issue relating to the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.

Members reviewed the minutes.  No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting dated 13 March 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any items ‘Called-In’ under Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 13, details of which will have been circulated to Members under separate cover.

There were no items which had been called in.

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report.

Caroline Britt, Senior Democratic Services Officer introduced the report set out in the agenda.

The report was taken as read.

RESOLVED – That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2022/23 be approved and presented to Full Council on 5 July 2023.

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report.

Caroline Britt, Senior Democratic Services Officer introduced the report set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       It was noted the Membership of the Committee was incorrect and should include Councillor Le Page.

-       It was noted that notes from earlier discussions were missing. 

-       It was the view of the Members of the Group that a report with recommendations should now be put together for consideration by the Committee.

-       Councillor Morton agreed to forward her notes to the group.  This would help provide the necessary information that would enable the Group to progress to the next stage.

-       The Task and Finish Group Membership was confirmed, as Councillors Ellis, Le Page, Morton, Palmer and Rogers.

-       The Group would liaise via email with the aim of putting a report together to be presented at the next OSC meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Contracts Task and Finish Group should continue and that a report be presented to the next OSC meeting.

2.    That the Membership of the Task and Finish Group be confirmed as Councillors Ellis, Le Page, Morton, Palmer and Rogers.

To consider the Committee’s future work programme.

Caroline Britt, Senior Democratic Services Officer presented the Work Programme to the Committee which included the following comments:

-       As this was the start of the new municipal year, there was currently very little included in the Work Programme.

-       This was now the time for Members to consider what they would like included for 2023/24.

-       The only ‘outstanding’ item was a request made at the meeting held on 13 March for the member of the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership (KMSCP) to be invited to give a presentation to Overview and Scrutiny.

-       This request had been raised with the TWBC Community Safety Unit and an invitation had been sent to KMSCP.  Members were however asked to note that no guarantees could be given and that there was a reasonable chance the request would be politely declined.  

-       If Members had questions that they would like to put to the KMSCP, they can submit them to Dem Services.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       Cabinet Members (Portfolio Holders) and Officers should be invited to give presentations to OSC on issues that were of interest to the Committee.

-       One topic of particular relevance was the problems currently being experienced by the Council in recruiting staff and how this was impacting on the delivery of Council Services. It was noted that responsibility for staff rested with the Head of Paid Services (Chief Executive) and Members would need to be sensitive to the division of responsibilities between Members and the Chief Executive.  However, it was felt important that Members were provided with information about the challenges currently being experienced. 

-       It was suggested that this might be tackled by organising an All Members Briefing on the subject.  If this were to take place, it might remove the need to bring the subject to OSC.

-       A request should be made to South East Water to give a presentation about how they were going to build resilience into their water supply and what plans were being made to support new housing in the Borough.

-       A request was made for a member of the Planning Team to come to OSC to provide an update on Planning Enforcement.  The Council’s reputation was suffering due to the problems with enforcement

-       It was noted that the Council  was in the process of recruiting and making appointments for Planning Enforcement Officers and a full compliment of enforcement officers should soon be in place. 

-       A suggestion was made to invite the Camera Safety Partnership (KMCSP) and Kent Police in to discuss road safety and speed management. 

-       Kent Police were at the meeting on 13 March where there was a long and informative discussion on road safety issues and their plans to train officers on speed enforcement. 

-       Road safety management and Highways Issues were included in the remit for the Joint Transportation Board (JTB) which included both TWBC and KCC. 

-       Consideration could be given as to whether the  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC10/23

To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business.

To note that the next scheduled meeting is Monday 31 July 2023

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday 31 July 2023.