Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Wilson.

To receive any declarations of pecuniary interest.

There were no declarations of interests relating to matters on the agenda.

To receive the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 January 2023 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee was given an opportunity to comment on the proposed 2023-24 Revenue budget, Capital budget, Reserves and Balances, Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

The Committee noted the corrections to the garden waste fees stated in the report.

The Committee, via verbal brief and presentation, followed by a question and answer session, examined the following issues:

1.                  The reasons for a 6% increase in fees in managing garden waste.

2.                  The reasons for the loss of parking income, in particular the council had predicted a loss of £247,000 in the anticipated income from off-street parking, and whether this is related to an increase in parking fees.

3.                  The reasons for an increase in homelessness and what actions the council had undertook to reduce this problem.

4.                  The scope of homelessness in the Borough and the reasons for the increase in homelessness.

5.                  The reasons for the precept levied by Langstone Harbour Board and actions taken by the Council to reduce the need for future precepts.

6.                  The reasons that led to the fall of planning income.

7.                  Discussed the multi-year spending review.

During the debate, the officers agreed to supply the members with details of the usage of the car parks.

A motion proposed by Councillor Kennett and seconded by Councillor Richardson to note the information submitted to the Committee was agreed.

RESOLVED that the submitted 2023/24 budget proposals, Reserves and Balances, Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) be noted.