To receive apologies for absence.

None.

To receive details of members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

None.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of Schedule 1, Schedule 2 or Other Interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

None.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 29 November 2019.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 November 2019 be approved as a correct record.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

Details of the scheme and related guidance are available here:

 https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/info/200148/your_council/61/get_involved

Please submit questions to councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk

The deadline for the receipt of questions is Tuesday 14 January 2020 at 5.00 pm.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

None.

To receive any written questions from members of the council.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5.00 pm on Tuesday  14 January 2020.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

Please submit questions to councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk

A copy of the question and answer received is appended.

To seek the views of the general scrutiny committee on the budget proposals for 2020/21 and on the draft corporate plan following the conclusion of consultation and the announcement of the provisional financial settlement.

The Committee’s views were sought on the budget proposals for 2020/21 and the draft corporate plan following the conclusion of consultation and the announcement of the provisional financial settlement.

The Assistant Director People and Performance and the Chief Finance Officer gave a presentation.  A copy of the presentation was attached at appendix 7 to the report.

In discussion the following principal points were made (page number references are to pages in the agenda papers/Corporate Pan (CP) as numbered):

Corporate Plan

·        (p49/CP15)  It was requested that explicit reference be made to protecting and enhancing community based health services and that an appropriate success measure should be included at CP17 along the lines of numbers of people accessing services outside Hereford.

The CMFCS observed that health service partners had responsibility for this issue but the council would seek to use the influence it had.  The Plan did have an emphasis on community centric services noting the development of the Talk Community initiative and community hubs encompassing all aspects of wellbeing including access to health services.

·        (p43/CP7) The following points were made in relation to the “till receipt” showing how the council spent revenue:

·        It was suggested that there were a number or areas where expenditure appeared to be lower than in 2019/20 such as roads and bridges and care of public spaces and libraries, records and customer services and looking after children.

The CMFCS commented that what was shown on the till receipt did not represent the full picture of expenditure.  There were, for example a number of capital projects involving investment in the public realm which would not feature on the till receipt except as revenue expenditure on debt and interest repayments.  She provided a number of examples.

A member proposed that If the till receipt did not represent the complete picture this should be made clear in the accompanying text.

The CMCPA commented that it was proposed that savings of some £250k that had been planned in libraries, records and customer services would not proceed.  She would clarify if the till receipt would need be adjusted to reflect this proposal if it were agreed.

The CFO commented that the till receipt was a summary of a range of services. It covered revenue spend only and did not include capital expenditure.

The CMEES commented that some categories had been modified from the previous financial year so comparing the two till receipts was not necessarily comparing like with like.

·        (P51/CP17)  With regard to the proposed success measures it was proposed that there should be a specific reference to market towns and focusing resources to improve infrastructure and community resilience. 

The CMFCS commented that p19 of the Plan stated that the Council wanted to emphasise the critical role the market towns and villages play in the county’s economy. P20 referred to supporting investment programmes across all the market towns.  A suggested indicator for success in strengthening market towns and communities would be welcome.

·        (p41/CP7) The CFO acknowledged that the paragraph referring to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

To review the committee’s work programme.

The Committee considered its work programme.

RESOLVED: That

(a)        the draft work programme as set out at appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

(b)       a task and finish group on the climate emergency be established to undertake the work outlined in the draft scoping statement (Appendix 2 to the report) membership comprising Cllrs Fagan, Hewitt, Swinglehurst and Wilding (Chairperson).

The next scheduled meetings are Monday 27 January and 23 March 2020

Monday 23 March 2020 at 10.15 am.</AI10>