To elect a Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board for the 2018/2019 Municipal Year.

Councillor Lewis (C) was elected Chairman of the Board for the 2018/2019 Municipal Year.

Councillor Lewis (C) in the Chair

To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Board.

It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Conservative Group, the membership of the Board had been amended to include Councillors Brooks, Robson and Tolchard in place of Councillors Bye, Barnby and Sykes.

To consider appointing a Vice-chairman of the Board for the 2018/2019 Municipal Year.

Resolved:  that Councillor Darling (S) be appointed Vice-chairman of the Board for the current Municipal Year.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 11 April 2018.

The minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 11 April 2018 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Board considered the item in Minute 5, and not included on the agenda, the Chairman being of the opinion that it was urgent by reason of special circumstances i.e. the matter having arisen since the agenda was prepared and it was unreasonable to delay a decision until the next meeting.

The above decision of the Elected Mayor was called in by Councillors Lewis (C), Thomas (D), Robson, Tolchard, Lewis (B), Thomas (J), O'Dwyer, Hill, Stubley, Tyerman, Darling (S), Carter, Pentney, Long and Morey.

The reasons for the call-in are attached together with the Record of Decision.

The Board considered the details of a call-in by fifteen Members of the Council of the decision of the Elected Mayor to commence market testing commences, through accredited agents, to see whether there is interest in securing the freehold or long leasehold disposal of Oldway Mansion and Estate.

The Call-in Promoter (Councillor Lewis (C)) explained that the signatories believed that the Elected Mayor’s decision was contrary to the Council’s Policy Framework.  He explained that the Corporate Plan identified one of the Council’s principles as “Using reducing resources to best effect” and that, given that there was no political will to dispose of Oldway Mansion, undertaking market testing would not be an effective use of officer time.

Members of the Board indicated that they were minded to agree that the decision was contrary to the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework and, at that point, the Monitoring Officer provided advice to the Board.

Resolved:  that, having listened to the advice of the Monitoring Officer, the Board is of the view that the Mayor’s decision is contrary to the Policy Framework as it does not believe that it makes best effect of the Council’s reducing resources and therefore the matter is referred to the Council.

To consider the outturn position of the Revenue Budget for 2017/2018 and make any recommendations to the Council.

The Board noted the outturn for the Revenue Budget for 2017/2018 had been an overspend of £1.7 million primarily as a result of expenditure pressures in children’s social care.  The overspend would be funded from the Comprehensive Spending Review Reserve (as approved by the Council in February 2018).

To consider the outturn position of the Capital Plan for 2017/2018 and to make any recommendations to Council.

The Board noted the outturn of the Capital Plan budget for 2017/2018 whereby £121 million of capital expenditure was uncured, of which £99 million related to the purchase of investment properties.

To agree the Board’s Work Programme for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

Resolved:  that the Work Programme for the Board be approved.

Prior to consideration of the item in Minute 11 the press and public were formally excluded from the meeting on the grounds that the item involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).)

To consider the report scheduled to be presented to the Council on the future of the TOR2 company and to make any recommendations to Council.

The Board received an update on the future of TOR2.

(Note:  Prior to consideration of the item in Minute 11, Councillor Bent declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Council-appointed director of the Board of TOR2.)