To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committeemeeting held on 22 October 2024.

Minutes of the meeting held 22 October were approved as an accuraterecord of the meeting.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972. To agree any relevant briefing notes submitted to the Committee.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no declarations of interest.

Introductions

The Leader presented the report and explained the importance of good scrutiny and good governance for Thurrock. He explained that Cabinet Members had reviewed the proposals numerous times and thanked the Portfolio Holders and Officers for their hard work in reshaping the Council. He thanked the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of all three Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committees for their work and enhanced role within the Council. The Leader explained that Thurrock Council remained in debt and needed to present a balanced budget, which involved taking difficult decisions. He summarised and stated that the Council’s core principles were to put residents first, protect front-line services, reduce the adverse impacts for residents, and reduce waste and bureaucracy within the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Muldowney, explained that the Council remained in financial difficulty and needed innovative leadership to ensure stability. She reminded Members that scrutiny should be apolitical but should ask tough questions, so every decision was fair and sustainable. She encouraged Portfolio Holders and O&S Members to engage with the scrutiny process.

The Managing Director Commissioner reminded all Members of the nature of the intervention and to consider that when discussing the budget proposals presented. He stated that the three reasons Thurrock Council were in intervention were due to leadership, governance, and financial stability, and these should remain at the forefront of the organisation. He stated that the Council should prioritise the interests of residents and ensure that public monies were well spent through the use of good checks and balances. He outlined that lots of progress had been made on the Council’s finances since the start of the intervention, but there was still a long way to go and continued years of savings ahead. The Chief Finance Officer added the Council had an £18.2m savings target in 2025/26. The draft budget and three-year MTFS report would be presented to Cabinet in December 2024 and this report would recommend that it be referred to the Corporate O&S Committee in January 2025.

Adults Savings Proposals

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing introduced the savings proposals.

The following Members spoke on this item: Councillors Speight, Coxshall, Halden, Maney, Johnson, D Arnold, and Abbas, and asked the following questions on the Adults Savings Proposals:

·       Members questioned the validity of the O&S budget process, as papers were received seven days before the meeting and some Members felt this was not long enough to review and scrutinise the documents.

·       Members felt that the budget setting process should be reviewed, and lessons learnt be taken forward for next year’s budget meeting.

·       Members questioned AHS07 and asked how the savings total had been reached.

o   The savings figure for AHS07 represented a number of savings opportunities in different areas. The team had identified individuals earlier on in the care process to increase preventative measures taken and provide earlier advice, which could help residents retain their independence for longer. If residents could receive support and advice outside of the costed care  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Corporate O&S Members noted and agreed the work programme.