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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTION Minutes: 37.1 None received. |
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DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Minutes: 38.1 Councillor Muller declared an Other Registrable Interest in respect of Item Number JOS/22/23 due to being a member of the Trustee Board at Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice. However, the item under discussion did not directly relate to the finances or wellbeing of that interest or affect the finances or wellbeing of that interest to a greater extent than the majority of inhabitants. Therefore, Councillor Muller was not prevented from participating in the debate and vote in respect of this item.
38.2 Councillor Osborne declared that he was Babergh District Council’s appointed observer for Sudbury Citizens Advice. |
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TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL'S PETITION SCHEME Minutes: 39.1 None received. |
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JOS/22/22 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 24 OCTOBER 2022 PDF 87 KB Minutes: 40.1 It was resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on the 24th October were confirmed and signed as a true record.
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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: 41.1 None received. |
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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: 42.1 None received. |
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JOS/22/23 REVIEW OF LOCAL CITIZENS ADVICE AND THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS PDF 109 KB Additional documents: Minutes: 43.1 Councillor Mary McLaren - Babergh District Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities – introduced the report to the Committee outlining before Members the role of the Communities department, the input from internal stakeholders, and thanked all Officers involved in the response to the Cost of Living Crisis.
43.2 The Interim Director for Communities presented the report to the Committee outlining before Members the progress made on the 5-Point Action Plan, including the employment of a Cost of Living Coordinator, that the 30% uplift to both Citizens Advice had been delivered, and that 66 referrals had been made and received via the Suffolk Warm Handover Scheme, the need for the 5-Point Action Plan to be iterative and flexible for the short-term future, and the future priorities to enhance community resilience.
43.3 The Chief Officers for Sudbury and Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice gave a short presentation to Members detailing the work undertaken by Citizens Advice in response to the Cost of Living Crisis, the overall increase in demand on their services, the types of short term support provided, the differences between the number of unique clients and the issues reported, increase in demand for support on benefits, tax credits, debt, utilities and food, the reduction in volunteer numbers, and the need to progress to a more integrated support system.
43.4 Councillor Welham questioned what the 30% uplift to both Citizens Advice had been spent on. The Chief Officer for Sudbury Citizens Advice responded that, for both Citizens Advice, the 30% uplift had been used to hire additional paid staff in order to meet increased demand on the service and that all spending is indexed regularly in a monitoring report.
43.5 Councillor Welham further questioned what 30% equated to for both Citizens Advice. The Chief Officers responded that for Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice this equated to £30,000 and for Sudbury Citizens Advice £20,000.
43.6 Councillor Welham queried if the amount of volunteer hours had decreased in line with the reduction in the number of volunteers. The Chief Officer for Sudbury Citizens Advice responded that both staff and volunteers are working increased hours in order to meet current demands and that overall, there has not been a decrease.
43.7 Councillor Ekpenyong questioned what the reason was for the decrease in the number of volunteers and what could be done to encourage more people to volunteer. The Chief Officer for Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice responded that there was a national reduction in the number of people volunteering due to the need to prioritise paid work and that attempts had been made to advertise volunteering for Citizens Advice.
43.8 Councillor Scarff raised whether it would be possible for a select few BMSDC Officers to also work for Citizens Advice to strengthen the integration between the two. The Chief Officer for Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice responded that integration is a top priority but that both Citizens Advice are limited financially and would not be able to fund such the concept themselves.
43.9 Councillor Muller questioned what ... view the full minutes text for item 43.
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JOS/22/24 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY AND CABINET PROTOCOL PDF 65 KB Additional documents: Minutes: 44.1 The Corporate Manager for Governance and Civic Office introduced the report to the committee outlining that the protocol had been formulated in response to the Corporate Peer Review, that the aim was to promote a culture of accountability, openness, and transparency within the Councils, and that the protocol would also be going to Cabinet and the Senior Leadership Team for approval.
44.2 Councillor Grandon questioned whether Cabinet would be informed of what is expected of them within the protocol. The Corporate Manager for Governance and Civic Office responded that the protocol would be going to Cabinet for formal approval and that the Senior Leadership Team had already endorsed the document.
44.3 Councillor Grandon further questioned whether the protocol would require Cabinet to review the recommendations made by Overview and Scrutiny. The Corporate Manager for Governance and Civic Office responded that Overview and Scrutiny’s recommendations would go to Cabinet for review and that the Chairs make frequent updates on the recommendations reached by the Committee at Full Council.
44.4 Councillor Barrett raised that the regular training offered to members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee should also include training on the call-in procedure. The Corporate Manager for Governance and Civic Office responded that training on the call-in procedure would be included and that this will also be covered extensively in the upcoming Councillor induction training programme scheduled for May 2023.
44.5 Councillor Osborne proposed the recommendation as set out in the report.
44.6 Councillor Grandon seconded the proposal.
By a unanimous vote
It was RESOLVED:
1.1 That Overview and Scrutiny approves the Scrutiny/Cabinet protocol.
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JOS/22/25 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:
Minutes: 45.1 The Forthcoming Decisions List was noted. |
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JOS/22/26 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY ACTION TRACKER PDF 137 KB Minutes: 46.1 Councillor Barrett raised that a note of clarity be added to Recommendation 1.2 for Item Ref JOS/22/8 to ensure that Cabinet looks at ways to reduce car parking demands.
46.2 Councillor Welham suggested that, in reference to Recommendations 1.3 and 1.4 for Item Ref JOS/21/25, progress on these recommendations be chased by the Lead Officer for Overview and Scrutiny and implemented by the Key Officer in time to train Councillors after the May 2023 election.
46.3 The Action Tracker was noted. |
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JOS/22/27 BABERGH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PLAN PDF 138 KB To agree the Work Plan Minutes: 47.1 Councillors from both Councils raised concerns with the number of items due to be considered at the January committee meetings.
47.2 The Lead Officer for Overview and Scrutiny responded that the work programme would be reviewed by the Chairs at the Joint Chairs Briefing on 29th November and that the final work plan would be distributed to Members ahead of the next committee.
47.3 The Babergh Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan was noted. |
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JOS/22/28 MID SUFFOLK OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PLAN PDF 137 KB To agree the Work Plan Minutes: 48.1 The Mid Suffolk Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan was noted. |