To receive declarations of Interest from any members.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any items of Chair’s Urgent Business.

There were no items of Chair’s urgent business.

Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities) provided an introduction to the Corporate Plan with further assistance from Ross Jago (Head of Governance, Performance and Risk) and David Northey (Service Director for Finance/ S151 Officer).

Contributions were received from Councillors Stephens, Murphy, Freeman and Reilly.

Topics of discussion included:

a)     The dates and Key Performances Indicators (KPI) relevant within the report and the efficacy of these KPIs being utilised within the stated framework timeframes;

b)    The ability for the incumbent administration to achieve the aim to deliver 5,000 new homes in Plymouth within the subsequent five years;

c)     Plymouth City Council Low Carbon Infrastructure investment figures;

d)    The composition and inclusion of selected indicators which established the rhetoric and decision for expanded development of homes within the city centre;

e)     The reasons for the reduction of the  average time for a section 42 safeguarding inquiry from 109 to 84.8 days;

Ross Jago (Head of Governance, Performance and Risk) introduced the Strategic Risk Register with assistance from David Northey (Service Director for Finance/ S151 Officer):

Contributions were received from Councillor Freeman and Finn.

f)      The inclusion of the Care at Home team industrial action on the Strategic Risk Register;

g)     The difference between the Strategic Risk Register and Operation Risk Registers;

h)    The risk involved with the disparity between expenditure and resources and external auditing provision;

David Northey (Service Director for Finance/ S151 Officer) introduced the Month Eight Financial Position. Further assistance was provided by Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities).

Contributions were received from Councillors Murphy and Finn.

Topics of discussion included:

i)      The Children’s Brokerage Team and their progress within the Children’s Directorate;

j)      The Definitions of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ facility management,  expenditure pressures and practicalities involved in the continuance and augmentation of these services;

k)     The timeliness of the dissemination of data.

The Committee agreed to note the reports.

The Committee agreed to defer the Motion on Notice for discussion at the upcoming Budget Scrutiny sessions scheduled for 27 and 28 January 2025.  

The motion was introduced by Councillor Lugger with further assistance provided by Karime Hassan (Interim Strategic Director for Growth) and David Draffan (Service Director, Economic Development).

Contributions were received from Councillors Ricketts.

The Committee agreed to note that the recommendations contained within the  motion on notice had been completed through the Economic Development team’s own procedures.

Ross Jago (Head of Governance, Performance and Risk) introduced the item however no further updates were offered due to review of the paper taking place during the course of the recent Extraordinary General Meeting which took place on 09 January 2025.

The item was introduced by Councillor Stephens.

Contributions were received from Councillor Murphy, Reilly, Ricketts and Finn.

Topics of enquiry indicated for incorporated into the upcoming Budget Scrutiny discussions included:

a)     Staff retention and recruitment, especially in respect to Children’s services;

b)    Temporary accommodation and homelessness;

c)     The employment of agency staff;

d)    An analysis of costs and potential reductions in costs for Children’s Services, such as unregistered placements amongst other factors;

e)     Strategic view of overspend areas from three areas of risk, Children’s Services, Homelessness and Adult Social Care and the manner in which the Council was attempting alleviation of pressure in these areas;

f)      Continuing healthcare impacts and the burden of the process on the Council, although it was noted that this conversation may be limited due to the external nature of the National Health Service.

g)     Wages, salaries and value for money.  

To receive updates from individual Chairs of their respective Scrutiny Committees and associated work programmes.

The following updates were provided for the respective Scrutiny Panels:

Councillor Reilly (Chair of Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Panel) provided the following update:

a)     Members of Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Panel had been invited to MASH;

b)    A select committee would be convened in respect to Children and Family Services in order to facilitate discussion around items which fall beyond the scope of the Scrutiny Panel’s terms of reference, in particular self-harm, suicide, female violence and well-being.

Councillor Murphy (Chair of Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Panel) provided the following updates:

c)     Hesitation was expressed at the format and proposed inclusion of young people at the previously mentioned select committee.

It was requested that the Working From Home item on the programme be initiated at the next meeting.