Agenda item

Overview and Scrutiny is invited to note the contents of the report and provide any feedback or comments to the Cabinet on any items they feel appropriate.

Cllr Adams introduced the report providing an overview of key items.

The climate emergency rating of green was a concern to Cllr Cushing as it appeared very high on the risk register and yet this report did not appear to reflect that risk. Cllr Adams explained the risk register was looking at a period in the past but agreed they could consider reviewing in the future. Cllr Adams went on to say that in providing vital services, such as purchasing new temporary accommodation for the homeless in the area, it had inevitably increased the council’s carbon emissions. Additionally meeting future challenges, such as the collection of food waste, and the increase in the authority’s property portfolio with such things as the new Fakenham leisure centre, also had a significant impact on carbon emissions. This meant balancing services and provision with the target of being net-zero. The Chair felt that the risk register and performance report needed to be in line with one another.

Cllr Penfold suggested, in connection with the Rural Position Statement (RPS), the Cabinet could consider including churches, as very often they provided services beyond worship, and were critical for many communities and acted like a hub. Going forward, Cllr Adams agreed, that any emerging unitary authority needed to be aware of the challenges ahead with the decline of the rural post office and the necessity for banking hubs etc. and churches had an important part to play in their communities.

When Cllr Hankins queried when they would be able to see an updated RPS, Cllr Adams explained that due to staff capacity they had not been able to analyse the data sufficiently so could not give a date as to when that would be available to view. He assured the committee they were talking about it at a corporate leadership level, and it would need to be in place before any new emerging authority was formed.

Cllr Adams welcomed the progress that was being made by local town and parish councils in developing their Neighbourhood Plans given the additional demands put on local authorities by central government who seemed to undervalue that work.

In response to a question by Cllr Cushing, the Leader was confident in reaching the Council’s target for affordable homes with there being significant demand for them on the housing list. Cllr Adams felt the Committee may wish to contemplate the suggestion made by the Chair at the possibility of looking at the net gain of affordable housing, as there was considerable loss of affordable housing, and any possibility to net that off against the new acquisitions could add clarity.

The leader updated the committee, at the request of the Chair, on developments at Benjamin Court and Bacton Energy Hub and would keep the committee updated when anything more substantial was agreed.

Cllr Adams agreed the Chair was right to highlight service reviews, as the authority went through Local Government Reform (LGR), and they had discussed the issue at Business Planning noting they would need additional staff to see them through that period of change. The rating might be under some strain as a result, but it was his intention to allow staff to be in the best position possible as they transitioned into a new authority.

In response to a query from the Chair on next year’s Action Plan, Cllr Adams, admitted everything needed an outcome eventually but the space to be able to target those would become less as they got closer to the emergence of a new authority.

The possibility of seeking heritage funding, to support the refurbishment of the auditorium of Cromer Pier was discussed, at the suggestion of Cllr Penfold, as it may be more productive than seeking National Lottery funding. The Committee agreed to allow Cllr Penfold to make some enquiries with the County Museum Service. 

Cllr Cushing said that he felt that an issue that arose during the recent meeting of the Governance, Risk & Audit Committee should be included in this year’s annual action plan. He said that recent audits by the Council’s external auditor’s (EA) had been ‘disclaimed’ or not signed off and last year the EA had blamed NNDC for not providing the required documents in a timely manner. GRAC had been very keen to ensure that this year’s audit should achieve a qualified opinion, and the Chair of the Committee was putting actions in place to monitor this. Cllr Cushing went onto say that the Council spent approximately £200k on the audit and it was crucial that the Council’s finances were closely managed ahead of LGR. He therefore suggested that the following addition should be added to the action plan – ‘that the Council should achieve a qualified audit opinion in the current financial year’.

Cllr Gray was concerned this could be seen as setting the Council up to fail and that this work sat with the Governance, Risk and Audit Committee (GRAC). Cllr Shires and the DFR confirmed that was already monitoring this progress, and that they were due to meet with the GRAC Chair shortly to discuss the matter. The DSGM advised that GRAC and Overview and Scrutiny Committee both had oversight functions and she said that she would look at the terms of reference for each committee to assess where the responsibility for any actions or recommendations should sit and then meet with the DFR to discuss the most appropriate way forward. She would update the Chair on the outcome of the above.

Cllr Bayes asked if more information in apprenticeships could be included in the Action Plan, but Cllr Adams explained NNDC was not the lead authority.

• Overview and Scrutiny noted the contents of the report and provided comments to the Cabinet on any items they felt appropriate.

RESOLVED to recommend to Cabinet:

• For Cabinet to contact local Diocese for information on what, non-faith, services and community projects they provide in the local area.

Action:

• Cllr Penfold to talk to County Museum Service for guidance in putting in an application for heritage funding and to inform strategic process.