Agenda and minutes

To receive and record apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr Rory Heard.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Board meeting held on 10 November 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

Cllr Ponsonby advised that following from the last meeting of the Scrutiny Board, members had received a very useful and highly informative presentation on lone working.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no matters the Chairman wished to report to the board.

The board was given an opportunity to review progress with regard to the work undertaken by the scrutiny and policy development panels since the last meeting and to identify any additional matters of inclusion in the board’s work programme.

The scrutiny leads advised that the following reviews should be included in the work programme:

·                         Planning and Economy Scrutiny Panel - traffic congestion in the Borough

·                         Environment and Communities Panel - the standards provided by independent supported housing across the Borough

·                         Governance and logistics Panel - fees and charges.

Scrutiny leads were asked to give a brief update on any progress with their respective scrutiny projects.

RESOLVED that traffic congestion, Social Housing Maintenance and review of fees and charges be included in the Scrutiny Board Work Programme.

The Scrutiny Board is asked to consider whether to pass a resolution excluding the public from the meeting during consideration of any of the items on the agenda.  If members wish to do so then this could be achieved by passing the following resolution.  Members are not required to pass the resolution but the Monitoring Officer recommends this as to the item set out below.

That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the item headed and numbered as below because:

(a)       it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information of the descriptions specified in paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972 shown against the heading in question; and

(b)       in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Item 8 – Delivering Differently - Future Service Delivery of Operational Services - Business Case for JVC

(Paragraph 3)

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items as :-

i.                   It was likely, in the view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as specified in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Local Government Act 1972;and

ii.                   In all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The report considered was exempt under paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial affairs or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information).

Business case circulated separately.

This item was taken in Camera.

Cllr Gary Hughes and Cllr Tim Pike were invited to attend the meeting.

The Board was given an opportunity to consider and comment upon the full business case for the Joint Venture Company, which had been the subject of detailed examination by the Environment and Neighbourhood Quality Panel.

The Cabinet Lead and Lead Officers for the project answered questions raised by members of the Board relating to: potential savings; the future management of staff; and the impact the proposal would have on existing services and assets.  Members of the Panel were also asked to submit any additional comments.

The Board agreed that the response from the staff had been very positive and the Chairman thanked the officers for their hard work on the business case and the detailed information provided.

RECOMMENDED to Cabinet that the following be approved:

a)               The Business Case for the JVC, and authority for the Officer Negotiation Team to hold strategic discussions with representatives of Norse Commercial Services to ensure the integrity and best interests of Havant Borough Council are protected, and gets the best value from a Joint Venture Partnership with Norse Commercial Services with a start up date of 1^st April 2016;

b)               The development of an Overheads Savings Plan, to identify where further HBC staff savings could be made following mobilisation to ensure opportunities for savings are maximised;

c)               The development of an accommodation strategy for Southmoor Offices and implementation of initial phase;

d)               The mobilisation of the JVC; and

e)               Development of links to other strategic objectives and opportunities.