To approve as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on 17 July 2024.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 17 July 2024 were approved as a correct record.

The Leader permitted a question from the non-executive member Councillor Speight. Councillor Speight queried if there was an update regarding the East Thurrock Community Association as this was discussed at the last meeting.

The Leader responded that he, the Chief Executive and the appropriate Director had looked into the situation and met with the East Thurrock Community Association. The Leader commented that he could not go into further detail at this stage.

Councillor Speight thanked the Leader for the update provided.

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.

There were no items of urgent business.

No interests were declared.

The Leader did not make a Statement.

There were no briefings on policy, budget and other issues.

There were no petitions submitted by members of the public.

There were no questions from non-executive Members. The Leader commented that he will allow questions from the Leader of the opposition and overview and scrutiny chairs where the questions are pertinent to their committees.

No matters were referred to the Cabinet for Consideration by an Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Leader stated that a list of delegated decisions taken since the last meeting was provided in the agenda.

Councillor Muldowney presented the report and introduced the Council's Risk Management Strategy for 2024-2027. Councillor Muldowney stated that the Strategy reflects their commitment to embedding risk management into all business processes, ensuring statutory obligations are met, best practice is followed, and actions from the Best Value Inspection are addressed.

Councillor Muldowney explained that while the current Strategy doesn't yet define the Risk Appetite, the plan is to do so in the 2025/26 update after further consultation.

Councillor Muldowney stated that the two key priorities for Members will be Risk Management training and the refresh of the Corporate Risk Register, which will be presented in January 2025. Risk Management is now part of all decision papers, with the goal of making risk monitoring business as usual by April 2025.

Councillor Muldowneythanked officers, who have worked exceptionally hard to ensure that every report includes a robust and detailed risk section. Councillor Muldowney noted that this has received positive feedback from Members across all political groups, and it is greatly appreciated.

Councillor Worrall commended the strategy and queried if it also included reputational risk.

Councillor Muldowney clarified that on page 38 reputational risk is included as one of the of the categories the Council will be looking at to identify risk.

Non-Executive Member Councillor Speight was permitted by the Leader to ask a question. Councillor Speight queried who the report author was and if their job title could be included on the report.

The Leader commented that the Best Value Inspection Report identified that risk management was not running well at the Council and this is a significant step on the road to becoming a normal well managed authority.

RESOLVED:

1.1          Cabinet noted the improvements proposed to the Council’s Risk Management arrangements.

1.2          Cabinet agreed the proposed Risk Management Strategy (2024 - 2027).

Reason for the decision: as outlined in the report

This decision is subject to call-in

Councillor Worrall introduced the report and stated that this was an important step towards delivering a fresh Start for Thurrock and the code is key to ensuring that the Council operates with transparency, accountability, and integrity. Whilst it is not a statutory requirement, implementing the Local Code is considered good practice and aligns with the Improvement and Recovery Plan. The Code consolidates all the Councils governance and accountability processes into a single document, setting clear standards for how the council will function moving forward.

Councillor Worrall explained that the code has been developed in line with CIPFA guidance and with input from across the organisation. Through the Annual Governance Statement, performance will be tracked against the code, making sure that any areas needing improvement are addressed with action plans. The final adoption of the Code is planned for Full Council in October.

The Leader agreed it was a significant step forward for the Authority, the document was clear and easy to read and he commented that it was a shame it wasn’t in place previously.

RESOLVED:

2.1      Cabinet approved and agreed to adopt the draft Local Code of Governance

Reason for the decision: as outlined in the report

This decision is subject to call-in

Councillor Muldowney presented the projected revenue outturn for 2024-25 at Quarter 1. Councillor Muldowney summarised that the Council faces a total net General Fund overspend of £2.1 million, with a projected service overspend of £3.1 million, despite transfers of £6.2 million from earmarked reserves.

Councillor Muldowney stated that to manage pressures associated to the homelessness crisis, the Place Directorate will be using £965,000 from the Covid Contain Outbreak Management Fund to offset a £1.9 million homelessness overspend. The Place Directorate also continues to face unprecedented costs associated to waste disposal. 

Councillor Muldowney noted that in Adult Social Care there is currently an underspend however the winter period could bring additional pressures, particularly around complex placements and hospital discharges. Children’s Services faces challenges with rising placement costs; to support this the directorate is working with ImPower to review these cases and manage these costs. Home to School Transport is being closely monitored as the new term begins. The Dedicated Schools Grant, particularly the High Needs Block, is under pressure due to increasing numbers of children with EHCPs.

Councillor Muldowney added that within Corporate Services options for the NATIS service are being reviewed and in Finance interim staff costs are being addressed with permanent recruitment underway. 

Councillor Muldowney confirmed that the £19.9 million savings target continues to be monitored. As of Quarter 1, 3% of this target is flagged as red and these areas are being actively addressed.

Councillor Muldowney thanked all those involved in preparing the report. The report is in a new format to provide greater transparency and detail and this is part of the shift in culture and better governance across the council.

There were no questions from the cabinet members. The Leader permitted a question from a non-executive member.

Councillor Speight queried if the reserves are actual money and the difference between reserves and earmarked reserves.

The Assistant Director of Financial Management and Procurement confirmed the figures in red are actual credits (actual money) sitting in reserves.

The Leader clarified that ear marked reserves are ear marked for a specific purpose, in the same was as a household puts money aside for a car or a holiday. The general reserves can be drawn on for anything.

The Leader thanked the Portfolio Holder and Directors for the work they had put into the report and stated that they have no alternative but to deliver on the budget. The Leader commented that between 2016-2022 only 1 million pounds of savings were identified and delivered and this is one of the reasons the Council is in the mess that it is in. The Leader passed on his gratitude to the Portfolio Holder and Directors for ensuring savings were delivered whilst doing as little damage to front line services as possible.

RESOLVED:

Cabinet noted the following:

2.1          The council’s service position and forecast overspend position as at quarter 1 of £3.070m.

2.2          That the service pressures highlighted, and the actions being taken to mitigate these, be noted, to resolve the overspend forecast  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.