Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of this agenda.

The following declaration of interest was made, in accordance with the code of conduct –

The Cooperative Scrutiny Board will be asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2013.

Agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2013 are confirmed as a correct record subject to the following amendment ‘Councillor Philippa Davey - Regional Support Official, University and College Union’.

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

The Chair informed the Board that there had been the following urgent decisions –

The Board noted the urgent decisions.

The Cooperative Scrutiny Board will be asked to consider and approve the work programmes for each panel and receive a progress update from each Chair.

The work programme for the Co-operative Scrutiny Board was submitted and agreed.

The Cooperative Scrutiny Board will monitor the progress of its previous decisions.

The Board considered its schedule of decisions and noted the latest position.

The Board agreed that minute 77 (budget scrutiny) had been completed and therefore could be shaded as such.

To receive new items from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions and Private Business with a view to identifying items for scrutiny.

The Board considered the following executive key decisions in the Forward Plan which were scheduled to be discussed at the Cabinet meeting on 14 January 2014 –

Concerns were raised relating information, specifically regarding the Park and Ride Bus Service Review report and the Forward Plan, being circulated at short notice. This situation did not afford councillors the opportunity to fully read the information and as such unable to make informed decisions.

A discussion took place relating to the specific reasons as to why the reports and information were provided as ‘to follow items’.  Whilst every effort was made to circulate information in a timely manner, there were occasions when this was not always possible to achieve.

The Board had previously raised concerns relating to the difficulty of undertaking pre-decision scrutiny due to the publication of the Forward Plan of Key Decisions and Private Business 28 days prior to the Cabinet meeting.

The Board agreed that a formal request is made to Cabinet to re-adopt a four month forward plan of key decisions and private business, in order to facilitate effective pre decision scrutiny

The Cooperative Scrutiny Board will consider the Fees, Charges and Concessions policy.

The Assistant Director for Finance, Efficiencies, Technology and Assets provided an overview of the Fees, Charges and Concessions Policy –

The Board noted the report.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for Finance, Efficiencies, Technology and Assets for providing this overview.

The Cabinet Member for Cooperatives and Community Development will provide an overview of his portfolio.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Community Development, who provided an overview of the current areas of work, which included the following key areas –

The Cooperative Scrutiny Board will be advised of any executive decisions that have been called in.

There were no call-ins to consider.

To receive and consider recommendations from Panels, Cabinet and Council.

There were no recommendations to consider.

The Cooperative Scrutiny Board will be asked to consider cooperative review(s) (if any) and approve the following cooperative review reports –

·         Narrowing the Gap in Schools

·         Park and Ride Bus Service Review (to follow)

·         Council Tax (Attachment of Earnings) (to follow)

The Board agreed to recommend to Cabinet the recommendations as outlined in the following reports –

Following a lengthy discussion relating to recommendation one contained in the Park and Ride Bus Service Review (the feasibility of charging for parking at all three Park and Ride sites is investigated with the intention of covering the operating costs of the site) a vote was recorded.

Vote: seven councillors in favour of recommendation one and three against (Councillors Mrs Beer, Darcy and Sam Leaves).

The Board agreed to recommend to Cabinet the recommendations as outlined in the Park and Ride Bus Service Review.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it/they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Agreed that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Cooperative Scrutiny Board will be advised of an urgent Cabinet decision on Future Accommodation Requirements which was deemed urgent with the agreement of the Chair.

The Board noted the urgent Cabinet decision relating to the future accommodation requirements.