Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document
Meeting of the Executive held on 30/09/2003
COMMENTS FROM THE CORPORATE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE – 30TH SEPTEMBER 2003
COMMENTS FROM THE CORPORATE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
23RD SEPTEMBER 2003
To be read in conjunction with the Agenda Items specified. In addition to the observations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee there are also appropriate recommendations for the Executive which were not originally set out in the agenda reports:-
6.
FINANCIAL STRATEGY
(Appendix B)
The Committee wished to pass the following observations to the Executive, that:-
1. the following textual changes be recommended:-
a. the third bulletin under budget setting for the General Fund Revenue Budget (page 24 of the Executive agenda refers) be amended to read optimise income instead of maximise income; and
b. Pension Fund be added as a bullet point to the list of key strategy issues for the General Fund (page 26 of the Executive agenda refers);
2. it would be helpful for the graph showing key cost increases compared with the increase in council tax to be circulated to all members of the Council and that the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee was considered to be the appropriate Committee to look at financial issues surrounding environmental services in the future;
3. the situation with regard to compensatory grants be clarified as part of the review due to take place in the 2004/05 budget process;
4. a report setting out the government direction in terms of the consultation process regarding council tax should be considered by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its November meeting;
5. the Committee wished to reinforce the point that the situation regarding negative subsidy and pooling of surpluses, along with the funding of the supporting people regime, should be monitored and that it was desirable for representations on these matters to be made at this stage; and
6. the Executive be requested to take the housing benefits item on board and publicity be arranged in the appropriate mediums in the autumn to pass the message to those who may be eligible that there is council tax benefit available.
Recommendation
That the Financial Strategy be recommended to the Council for adoption.
7.
CAR PARKING TARIFFS REVIEW
(Appendix C)
The report on the review of car parking tariffs was referred by the Executive, at its meeting on 1st September, to both the Environment and Leisure and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committees.
The Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed the following:-
1. to support the Executive view that Car Parking charges should be increased from November 2003; and
2. to recommend that when making the decision on the size of any increase, the Executive should note:
a. the current high level of usage, particularly at the prime sites;
b. that some increase in rates could be made without leading to large reductions in usage
but that
c. an increase in rates may assist in making some reduction in traffic congestion at peak periods.
The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed to ask the Executive to examine all aspects of the financial pressures on the Council and all possible solutions, to include car parking tariffs.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Executive
1. notes the comments made by the Environment and Leisure and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committees set out above; and
2. gives further consideration to the review of car parking tariffs.
8.
SALE OF SMALL AREAS OF LAND
(Appendix D)
The Committee endorsed the proposed way forward with regard to the sale of small areas of land, as set out in the report.
Recommendation
It is recommended that:-
1. Waverley will not normally sell off plots of land in response to requests made by prospective purchasers, or seek to find buyers for such plots;
2. in exceptional circumstances, where disposal may be considered, it must be evident that any disposal of Waverley land will be in Waverley's long-term interests, in order to take account of potentially different circumstances in the future. Preference should be given to licence/lease arrangements which temporarily allow a different use for the land without losing Waverley long term control; and
3. this interim policy be reviewed in September 2004.
9.
FINDINGS OF THE SERVICE REVIEW OF PERSONNEL SERVICES – 2002-2003
(Appendix E)
The Committee agreed to endorse the proposed Improvement Plan for Personnel Services.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Improvement Plan for Personnel Services be adopted.
Comms/exec/2003-04/290
