Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dhindsa, Feldman and Hannon.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2021 to be submitted and signed.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2021 were submitted and signed. 

Report of the Business Intelligence Manager

The scrutiny report received a report of the Business Intelligence Manager setting out the council’s performance indicators at the end of quarter 2. The Group Head of Transformation introduced the report highlighting the key areas for the committee to note. These included housing benefit processing times, households in temporary accommodation, waste and recycling performance, street cleansing indicators, completion of performance reviews and leisure centres. The Head of Revenues and Benefits would be asked to attend the committee meeting when the quarter 3 indicators were being discussed.

During the course of the discussions, the following points were raised, requesting additional information where relevant:

·                    Residents in West Watford had reported concerns around street cleanliness, officers undertook to report back about how the indicators were calculated.

·                    The committee would be informed whether there was a target for how long households were in temporary accommodation.

·                    The recent rough sleeper count had been a low number and would be reported in the Q3 report. Anyone found rough sleeping was offered accommodation and support.

·                    The number of green flags was well-received by residents.

·                    The IT helpdesk team had performed very well.

RESOLVED –

that Overview and Scrutiny Committee notes:

1.                  the key performance indicator results for Quarter 2 2021/22, appended at Appendix A to the report.

2.                  that the KPIs will continue to be reviewed as part of the Business Intelligence Strategy, and Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be kept up to date with any changes to the KPIs, or the process for collecting, analysing or presenting KPI data.

The following scrutiny committees and task groups have met since the last meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·        Finance Scrutiny Committee (22 November 2021)

·        Scrutiny task group – Sustainable Transport Strategy

It was noted that Finance Scrutiny Committee had met on 22 November 2021; minutes were available on the council’s website.

The Sustainable Transport Strategy Task Group had met four times and the review work has been completed. The report would come to the next meeting of the committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the latest edition of the Executive Decision Progress Report and consider whether any further information is required.

The scrutiny committee was invited to review the current Executive Decision Progress Report for 2021-22 and consider whether any further information was required.

RESOLVED –

that the 2021/22 Executive Decision Progress report be noted.

Councillor Grimston, the Council’s appointed representative to the County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee to provide an update.

The council’s representative on the Health Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Grimston, advised that the last meeting had been cancelled.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

Report of the Senior Democratic Services Officer

The scrutiny committee received the report of the Senior Democratic Services Officer outlining a proposal for a new task group for the committee’s agreement.

The Group Head of Transformation introduced the report. The task group had been proposed by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability. Questions for consideration were set out in the scope minor amendments to which would be made in consultation with the Chair. A number of members had indicated their interest in participating in the task group. There was a maximum of five members on task groups so there was an over-subscription of one member. There were no other nominations for Chair.

RESOLVED –

1.                  that a scrutiny task group be established to review electric vehicles.

2.                  that the membership of the task group be as follows:

·                    Councillor Simon Feldman (Chair)

·                    Councillor Mark Hofman

·                    Councillor Glen Saffery

·                    Councillor Jessica Stiff

·                    Councillor Dennis Watling

The scrutiny committee is asked to review the current version of the work programme and consider any additional areas councillors wish to scrutinise.

Members were invited to review Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for 2021/22 and suggest any additional items for review. 

RESOLVED –

that the 2021/22 work programme be noted.

·               Thursday  23 December 6pm (only for any call-in)

·               Thursday 3 February 7pm

The committee agreed that the meeting on Thursday 3 February 2022 be rescheduled to Monday 31 January 2022. The meeting on 3 February would be retained for call-in only.

RESOLVED –

that the meeting dates be updated.