Agenda item

Consideration was given to the Work Programme for this Committee.  The Chair stated that there was now just twelve months before the next elections.  The next meeting would be the first one of the final Municipal Year of this current Council and therefore the Committee could not look at programmes which would extend over a number of years.  The usual items could be brought, such as the quarterly reports for finance and performance and the budget.  Members were asked what they would like to see on the Work Programme in addition to those already determined.

Councillor Stubbs had mentioned the Commercial Strategy, commencing at the meeting after the next one (September).  Councillor Hutton agreed with this stating that the Strategy would change as circumstances changed.  Councillor Hutton stated that he would also like to look at the Procurement Strategy to ensure that it was integrated with all of the other work done to ensure that the Council was following good management practice. 

Councillor Stubbs felt that a review needed to be carried out on how the Council handled the Coronavirus.  This may be a cross – committee review or just sit with one.  The purpose being that, should another pandemic come along in the future, the Council would react as it had this time, if not better. 

The Chair asked Councillor Sweeney what the Cabinet’s attitude was towards lessons learned and the recovery plan.  What provisions did the Leader have in mind for scrutinising or reflecting on the processes that the Council had been through?    Councillor Sweeney advised that Cabinet received a Covid update report at every month giving the current position.

The Council’s Head of Operations, Roger Tait stated that the Economy, Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee had regular updates on the Council’s recovery plan.

Councillor Stubbs stated that he was looking for a proper review.  Going back to day one and looking at everything step by step so that, should the worst happen and another pandemic came along, there would be structures in place.  He did not feel that the Council did all what was needed this time and this was not a criticism as nobody knew what was going to happen.  What was done for businesses, the public and staff should all be looked at.  The Chair agreed that this was a good point and stated that no amount of preparation could have prepared this or any other authority for the pandemic. 

Councillor Fear agreed that something should be done in case a pandemic was to happen again.  Councillor Paul Waring also agreed.  Audit and Standards had already agreed to look at this in some depth.

In the changing society, it was imperative that all efforts needed in resurrecting society were not taken away, spending time looking back at what could have been done better although it was important to recognise those things. Concentration needed to be on making things right for the future.

Councillor Sweeney stated that this Council had responded superbly to the pandemic.  £30m+ had gone out to businesses and the waste collection service were examples of why the Borough Council should be very proud of how it had performed throughout a very difficult time.

Resolved:     (i)         That the Work Programme be received.

                        (ii)        That Cabinet be asked to update this Committee on the

provisions in mind to scrutinise/reflect upon the processes that the Council had used throughout the pandemic.

(iii)       That Cabinet be asked for the best way to carry out

a step by step review of the processes used during the pandemic to ensure that there was a strategy in place for future occurrences.