To receive apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence had been received.

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

There had been no named substitutes.

To receive declarations of interests from members of the board in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2025.

The minutes of the previous meeting were received.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2025 be confirmed as a correct record and be signed by the Chairperson.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

No questions had been received from members of the public.

To receive any written questions from councillors.

No questions had been received from councillors.

To present the financial outturn position for 2024/25 for revenue and capital budgets, subject to external audit, as reported to Cabinet at the meeting in June 2025. 

The Chair opened the discussion by expressing disappointment that the planned agenda item on Hoople Ltd and its value-for-money assessment had been removed without committee agreement. The Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services explained that the item had been discussed at the shareholder committee and apologised on behalf of the Executive -- assuring members that such an occurrence would not happen again. The principal points of the subsequent discussion are summarised below:

Central and Corporate Services

1. In response to concerns raised over £5.7million in transformation savings not being achieved, the Director of Finance acknowledged that of the £7.9million savings target only £2.2 million had been delivered. The shortfall was attributed to: staff retention pressures in critical services, a challenging supplier environment hampering contract cost reductions and the fact that transformation had taken time to implement. The Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services highlighted a planned 2% reduction across all directorate budgets in 2025/26 to offset the shortfall whilst transformation work continued.

2. In response to criticism around the lack of detailed savings delivery plans, the Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services confirmed that an actionable plan existed, and the 2025/26 budget would assume full delivery of undelivered savings. The committee warned against overestimating potential savings from Hoople and urged early engagement with partners.

3. Replying to a question about the £1million underspend in the IT and Transformation capital budget, the Director of Finance confirmed this had no direct link to missed savings, but that future digital investment would support efficiency and income generation.The Cabinet Member Finance added that capital prioritisation was based on delivering services and ensuring projects were revenue-neutral or revenue-positive, not solely on savings potential.

Community Wellbeing

4. Regarding a request asking for clarity on key pressures on community wellbeing, the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing highlighted substantial increases in service demand for domiciliary care, extra care housing, home first users, residential respite care and temporary accommodation. The Cabinet Member Adults, Health and Wellbeing commented that despite overspends, cutting services was not an option, particularly for vulnerable residents.

5. In response to a question about service redesign and demand management, the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing outlined several initiatives underway including: in-depth data analysis to understand demand drivers, potential redesign of expiring domiciliary care contracts, increased emphasis on reablement incentives, the expansion of ‘Shared Lives’ and additional focus on hospital admission avoidance. Preparations were also being made for the new neighbourhood health model guidance.

6. In relation to concerns over hidden homelessness, housing affordability and Section 21 evictions, the Corporate Director Community Wellbeing acknowledged there were gaps in data on sofa-surfing and overcrowded household figures. However, the council had invested in projects such as the Buttercross flats development - in a bid to reduce annual bed and breakfast costs of £4.4 million. The Cabinet Member Adults, Health and Wellbeing added that a business case was in development for complex care residential provision.

7. The committee stated the need for greater use of council borrowing powers and criticised the removal of a £100 million housing development line  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137.

To consider the work programme for the board.

1.     The committee members reviewed the draft terms of reference for the Task and Finish Group and suggested expanding ‘background’ to ‘background and context’. The members also suggested that a ‘purpose’ section be included, and further clarity be provided around the scope of the group’s work.

Resolved: That the inequality task and finish group terms of reference, with suggested amendments, be approved by the committee.

2.     The Chair provided an outline of the work programme and suggested that members formally approve it, but also informally work toward establishing working groups on budgetary strategy and two aspects of the transformation programme before the next committee meeting in December. A slot for the outstanding report on Hoople would also need to be identified.

3.     The Statutory Scrutiny Officer pointed out that the work programme was quite heavy, potentially creating workload pressures. The officer suggested the committee should informally review the collective workload to ensure the next 12 months were sustainable.

Resolved: That the committee note the changes to and agree the draft work programme for Scrutiny Management Board contained in the work programme report attached as appendix 1.

Monday 8 December 2025, 10am

The date of the next meeting meet is Monday 8 December 2025, 10am