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Agenda and minutes

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 20th December, 2021 9.30 am

Venue: King Edmund Chamber, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich. View directions

Media

Items
No. Item

116.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

Minutes:

Councillor Dave Muller declared a local non-pecuniary interest in his capacity as a Trustee for Mid Suffolk Local Citizens Advice.

 

Councillor Keith Scarff declared a local non-pecuniary interest in his capacity as Mayor of Stowmarket.

 

117.

JOS/21/19 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 22 NOVEMBER 2021 pdf icon PDF 157 KB

Minutes to follow.

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED: -

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 22 of November 2021 be confirmed as a true record.

Recorded Vote
TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
To vote to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2021 Ad-Hoc Carried
  • View Recorded Vote for this item
    		•

    118.

    TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL'S PETITION SCHEME

    Minutes:

    None received.

    119.

    QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC

    To consider questions from and provide answers to members of the public on any matter in relation to which the Committee has powers or duties and of which due notice has been given in accordance with the Committee and Sub-Committee Procedures Rules.

    Minutes:

    None received.

     

    120.

    QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS

    To consider questions from and provide answers to Councillors on any matter in relation to which the Committee has powers or duties and of which due notice has been given in accordance with the Committee and Sub-Committee Procedure Rules.

    Minutes:

    None received.

     

    121.

    FORTHCOMING DECISIONS LIST

    To review the Council’s Forthcoming Decisions List and identify any items to be brought before the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

     

    Please note the most up to date version can be found via the Website:

     

    Forthcoming Decisions List » Babergh Mid Suffolk

    Minutes:

    The Forthcoming Decisions List was noted.

    122.

    JOS/21/20 REVIEW OF LOCAL CITIZENS ADVICE pdf icon PDF 293 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

     

    122.1  The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Sudbury) and The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Mid Suffolk) presented to the Committee outlining how the Local Citizens Advice (LCA) had adapted their services over the Covid-19 Pandemic.

     

    122.2  Councillor Keith Scarff questioned the relationship between the LCA and the foodbanks and how the holistic approach of the LCA factored in. The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Sudbury) responded that when the LCA made foodbank referrals they reviewed the individual’s wider situation to determine what may be causing the issue. The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Mid Suffolk) replied that details of individuals from the foodbanks could be passed to the LCA, so that they could follow up with the individual and do a review.

     

    122.3  Councillor Keith Scarff queried the household support fund and how it was allocated. The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Mid Suffolk) replied that during the pandemic emergency funding had been made available and the LCA had used this to help aid families. However, all funding from central Government had a timescale.

     

    122.4 Councillor Keith Scarff queried whether Mid Suffolk District Council were doing anything about the timescales placed on funding. Councillor Julie Flatman responded that she would take this up with the Leader of the Council.

     

    122.5 Councillor Melanie Barrett queried whether Sudbury LCA received any funding from Essex, as it was on the Essex Suffolk boarder and served Essex clients. The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Sudbury) responded that the Sudbury LCA did not receive funding from Essex, however, the LCA was available to anyone and the LCAs saw people outside of their district area.

     

    122.6 Councillor Melanie Barrett queried what other services the LCA provided to food bank referrals. The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Sudbury) responded that the LCA provided budgeting advice and benefit checks to those referred by foodbanks.

     

    122.7 Councillor John Field questioned how referrals between the LCA, and foodbanks dealt with potential data protection issues. The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Mid Suffolk) replied that the LCA had a data sharing agreement with the foodbanks and received consent from the people using the LCA.

     

    122.8 Councillor James Caston queried how regularly resource sharing had occurred. The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Sudbury) responded that resource sharing was a rare occurrence, however, due to staff leaving during the pandemic Sudbury LCA had outsourced debt supervision to Ipswich LCA.

     

    122.9 Councillor Mary McLaren queried how residents from rural areas accessed LCA services. The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Sudbury) responded that LCA services had been in place in GP surgeries across the District before the pandemic, however the current way for greater access had been through digital access and email advice.

     

    122.10    Councillor Melanie Barrett queried the maximum wait times for contact in relation to phone calls and emails. The Chief Officer of Citizens Advice (Sudbury) responded that people had been called back and responded to on the same day, however, if an appointment was needed it was usually scheduled in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122.
    Recorded Vote
    TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
    To vote on the recommendations as read by the Governance Officer Resolution

    1.1 To thank the LCA Chief officers and their respective staff for the work that they have carried out in the last year. Particularly during the pandemic.

     

    1.2 The Committee are reassured that both LCAs are operating effectively and efficiently and responded well to all questioning from Members.

     

    1.3 That the Councils take a single view of debt and implement an integrated system for dealing with housing rent, and council tax debt.

     

    1.4 That contact be made to foodbanks with a request that their clients are referred to the LCA for advice on nutrition and budgeting and cookery skills classes.

     

    1.5 Remote virtual operation capability for LCA and other bodies should be provided on an accelerated programme as a matter of urgency defining locations, IT equipment and applications, training and connectivity.

     

    1.6 That Cabinets be asked to consider the previous resolution of Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the 3 year rolling funding arrangements review be subject to indexation on an annual review basis.

     

    1.7 That the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee review the Local Citizens Advice in December 2022

     

    		 Carried
    Mid Suffolk Cabinet to confirm that funding previously allocated to Thetford and Diss LCA be al Mid Suffolk CA Resolution

    Mid Suffolk Cabinet to confirm that funding previously allocated to Thetford and Diss LCA be allocated to Mid Suffolk LCA

    		 Carried
    Recommendation to Babergh Cabinet that extra funding be provided to Sudbury Citizens Advice to enable greater provision for debt advice across the whole district Resolution

    Recommendation to Babergh Cabinet that extra funding be provided to Sudbury Citizens Advice to enable greater provision for debt advice across the whole district.

     

    		 Carried
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    		•

    123.

    JOS/21/22 BABERGH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PLAN pdf icon PDF 138 KB

    To agree the Work Plan

    Minutes:

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    That with the following amendment the Babergh Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan be noted and updated:

     

    Information Bulletin on the cost of maintenance of tenanted properties.

    124.

    JOS/21/23 MID SUFFOLK OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PLAN pdf icon PDF 134 KB

    To agree the Work Plan

    Minutes:

    It was RESOLVED: -

     

    That with the following amendment the Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan be noted and updated

     

    Information Bulletin on the cost of maintenance of tenanted properties.