Agenda and draft minutes

To receive questions / statements from the public, if any.

None received.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11^th December 2024.

Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th December 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising

230 PETITIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

v  Delete: Cllr Cushing agreed with Cllr Penfold on the need for accurate data around the usage of the data; and

v  Delete: Cllr Cushing agreed with Cllr Penfold on the need for accurate data around the usage of the toilets.

233 FEES & CHARGES 2025/2026

v  Noted that in regard to the waste collection fees the data would be considered by the Committee on the 18th of March meeting before going to Full Council on 25^th March.

To determine any other items of business which the Chairman decides should be considered as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

None received.

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any of the following items on the agenda. The Code of Conduct for Members requires that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

None declared.

To consider any petitions received from members of the public.

None declared.

To consider any requests made by non-executive Members of the Council, submitted to the Democratic Services Manager with seven clear working days’ notice, to include an item on the agenda of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

None declared.

To consider any responses of the Council or the Cabinet to the Committee’s reports or recommendations:

None declared.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Estates & Property Services presented a report that set out (i) the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for the year 2025/26; (ii) details of the Council’s Treasury Management activities and presents a strategy for the prudent investment of the Council’s resources; and (iii) the Council’s approach to the deployment of capital resources in meeting the Council’s overall aims and objectives. 

Questions Responses and Discussion

The mains points of the discussion are outlined as follows:

The Committee noted that:

vthis item is before the committee today because it was not available for the meeting of the Governance, Risk and Audit Committee on the 3rd of December 2024.

vunder the provisions of the Local Government Act 2003, Local Authorities are required to comply with the guidance of the Prudential Code with regard to capital decisions.  It being a requirement that any proposed changes to the 2025/26 prudential indicators are approved by Full Council.  Therefore, it is recommended that Full Council should approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 to ensure that the Council is compliant with the Prudential Codes.

vin regard to any existing council debt following local government reorganisation, it will be the responsibility of the North Norfolk District Council to manage its budgets. The devolution and local government reorganisation would not change this, and any debt would be transferred to the new body following the reorganisation in Norfolk.

vfinancial scrutiny is an important element of the overall scrutiny process. If the Council’s services are to be run economically, efficiently and effectively, then North Norfolk District Council must make best use of the scarce resources allocated to it. This requires sensible financial planning, transparent processes for resource allocation, robust fiscal controls and strong budgetary and performance monitoring. In all of these areas, financial scrutiny adds value in challenging how the Council makes best use of the public money they receive.  Therefore, it is important as to how the data is presented to the Committee to be sure that councillors have the complete picture.

vNorth Norfolk District Council needs to borrow at favourable rates to fund significant capital projects whilst keeping the overall financial burden manageable by accessing low interest rates, which is crucial given the limited revenue sources and increasing demands for services.

vin regard to devolution and local government reorganisation whilst there are still a lot of unknowns about the overall future shape of local government finances it is assumed that the day-to-day impact on local residents would not increase. However, North Norfolk District Council needs to look prudently at both the immediate and longer-term future safety and prosperity of residents in Norfolk.  Therefore, it was agreed that the Leader of North Norfolk District Council should engage with other district council leaders to agree a collective approach to central government seeking its advice and guidance on the impact of devolution and local government reorganisation on the financial stability of the county of Norfolk.

The Chairman Moved and Overview and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 244.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Estates & Property Services presented a report that presented the latest iteration of the budget for 2025/26, and it will need to be updated as more information becomes available e.g. the impact of the final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26.

Questions Responses and Discussion

The mains points of the discussion are summarised as follows:

The Committee:

v Noted that the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26 announced on 18 December 2024 was a shock for the District Councils and County as they have received an inadequate settlement compared to metropolitan and unitary authorities in northern areas showing that  Norfolk is losing out on funding.

v Noted that both the Rural Services Delivery Grant and the Recovery Grant had been abolished, and this funding was repurposed.  The Council received £680,000 via a combination of both grants. A new Recovery Grant was introduced, however, rural authorities seemed to have lost out as they will receive a lower share of this.  Which seems to indicate no understanding of the needs of rural places like north Norfolk although despite such challenges, the Council has produced a balanced budget this year.

v Noted that the Budget consultation is taking place on the Council’s website currently for anyone to share their views. Consultation with Business Rates payers is also being undertaken. The results of both these consultations will be included in the report being presented to Full Council on 19^th February 2025.

v Noted that in terms of staff absences that provision is made within the budget for the management of the cost of staff absenteeism.

The Chairman Moved and Overview and Scrutiny committee RESOLVED that:

1.    Cabinet considers the list of proposed savings and agree on which ones should be taken so that a balanced budget can be recommended to full Council.

2.    an alternative option for balancing the budget should be agreed to replace savings not taken if there are any.

3.    Cabinet agree that any additional funding announced as part of the final Local Government Settlement announcement be transferred to reserves.

4.    Cabinet decides which proposed new capital bids should be recommended to full Council for inclusion in the Capital Programme.

To receive an update from the Scrutiny Officer on progress made with topics on its agreed work programme, training updates and to receive any further information which Members may have requested at a previous meeting.

The Committee received and noted the work programme and requested that an updated version should be submitted to the next meeting.

To pass the following resolution, if necessary:

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph _ of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”

The agenda circulated contained no exempt/confidential business and there was therefore no requirement to exclude the press and public to allow for its consideration.