Agenda item

Report No: OAS/SE/17/022

The Committee received Report No: OAS/SE/17/022, which updated Members on the current status of its rolling work programme of items for scrutiny during 2017-2018 (Appendix 1). 

The Committee noted the update on the current status of its forward work programme and that the Annual Report on Barley Homes Group Limited would be presented to the Committee in either November 2017 or January 2018.

Also attached at Appendices 2 and 3 to the Report were two  completed “suggestion for scrutiny” forms, submitted by:

1)   Councillors Susan Glossop and Sarah Stamp, suggesting the Committee considers inviting back the Anglia  Revenues Partnership to provide a follow-up presentation on its debt management work; and

2)   Councillors Diane Hind and Susan Glossop, relating to concerns raised by residents regarding various highways issues. 

The Committee was asked to consider each suggestion in turn as to whether they would be appropriate for scrutiny, including potential outcomes and if added to the work programme to decide on appropriate timescales for future reporting.

Anglia Revenues Partnership (Appendix 2)

This suggestion advised members that in June 2015, the Anglia Revenues Partnership (ARP) gave a presentation to the Committee on their joint debt management and recovery policy. 

It was suggested that the Committee might wish to receive a follow-up presentation from ARP to enable scrutiny members to gain a better understanding of how they carry out their debt management work and write offs.

The Committee agreed to include this item in its forward work programme for 2017.

The Chairman informed the Committee that two Member Development Sessions were scheduled for 7 September 2017 at St Edmundsbury, and 18 September 2017 at Forest Heath on “Housing Options, Homelessness and Universal Credit”.  She wished, to encourage all members to attend one of the sessions as this would be useful background research for members when posing questions to representatives of the Anglia Revenues Partnership.

It was then proposed by Councillor John Burns, seconded by Councillor Susan Glossop and with the vote being unanimous, it was

          RESOLVED:

That representatives from the Anglia Revenues Partnership be invited to its scheduled meeting on 8 November 2017, to provide a follow-up presentation to the Committee on its Debt Management work.

Suffolk County Council Highways (Appendix 3)

This suggestion set out concerns which had been raised by a number of West Suffolk residents relating to highways issues, such as potholes; lack of tree maintenance; cutting back of verges; resurfacing roads etc. 

Also attached at Appendix 3A  to the report was background information on the ongoing work being undertaken by the Suffolk County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Highways Services Contract and Highways Infrastructure Asset Management.

The Chairman and Vice-Chairman informed members that they would be observing the SCC Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 27 July 2017 to listen to the progress report on the “Highways Services Integrated Teams”.

The Chairman suggested that the Committee holds an extraordinary  meeting on 25 October 2017, and invites the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport from Suffolk County Council; and appropriate officers from Suffolk County Council and Kier Limited to listen to the Committees concerns; finds out about planned maintenance work in West Suffolk, the benefits of the new highways structure and to answer questions from the Committee.

The Committee agreed to include this item in its forward work programme for 2017.

It was then proposed by Councillor John Burns, seconded by Councillor Richard Rout and with the vote being unanimous, it was

          RESOLVED:

That the Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport; appropriate officers from Suffolk County Council and Kier Limited be invited by the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to an Extraordinary Committee meeting on 25 October 2017, to discuss various highways issues affecting residents in West Suffolk.