Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and notification of substitutes (if any).

No apologies were tabled

To sign and confirm the minutes of the last meeting.

With no quorum of members in attendance from the previous meeting the Chairman signed the minutes as seen.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were tabled

To answer any written questions received from members of the public no later than 5 p.m. two clear working days prior to the meeting – for this meeting the deadline is 5 p.m. on Monday 5 June 2023.

None tabled.

(A report by James Gilbert, Assistant Director – Corporate)

The Portfolio Holder presented the report supported by the Assistant Director – Corporate.

Stating they were pleased to present the report, the Portfolio Holder advised committee that whilst Boston was a Sovereign Council with its own scrutiny committees, it was also part of the South East Lincolnshire Committee Partnership which had set up a joint scrutiny arrangement across the three Councils.

The report sought nominations to two of the joint task and finish group review panels.  Three members were sought for the Housing Strategy review and a further three members sought for the Health & Wellbeing Action Plan. The third review in respect of transport had already been started during the previous year and was drawing to a conclusion so there was no requirement for members to join that review.  The review in respect of Enviro Crime would be convened from members of the sister scrutiny committee Environment and Performance.

Providing an overview of how the task and finish review group operated, the Portfolio Holder advised that the three members from Boston would be joined by three members from South Holland and three from East Lindsey with the nine members from across the partnership completing the review group.  The group would be supported by officers who would undertake all the administration enabling members to identify what and who they would like to see, including calling witnesses to give evidence and exploring the data requested to support the review. Officers would compile the final report.

Committee questions and comment followed which included:

Seeking clarification on the role of the panel members, confirmation was provide that whilst the initial scope had been provided by the officers as a starting point – the members would drive the review and increase the scope, identify witnesses and also set their own timeline for the review.  Reassurance was further offered that whilst indicative witnesses were on the draft scope, a wide range of witnesses could be invited including residents, local community organisations’ and charitable organisations’.  The reviews would be fully inclusive to ensure all parties concerned were able to submit.

The Assistant Director – Corporate clarified that the Transport review had been active under the previous regime and was now drawing to and end and final reports would come back through the committee system.  Responding to a question seeking confirmation that the funding allocation for local transport had been £5mil with £3mil going to Call Connect and the remaining £2mil for everything else, the Assistant Director advised he did not have the information but would source and circulate after the meeting.

RESOLVED

The Councillors Paul Gleeson, Patsie Marson and Chris Mountain be appointed to the Housing Strategy review.

That Councillors Joythi Arayambath, Neil Drayton and Suzanne Welberry be appointed to the Health and Wellbeing review.

(For Members to note/discuss the Committee’s current work programme)

The Chairman noted that it was very early in the new municipal year, with a large number of new members receiving significant information within a very short time.  As such, he proposed to hold a workshop within the next two months to scope out the work moving forward to allow members to question and suggest items in line with the remit of the committee.

The Assistant Director – General Fund Assets and lead officer for the committee advised that the next scheduled meeting already had one item confirmed.