Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Guildhall, Bath. View directions

Contact: Michaela Gay  01225 394411

Items
No. Item

12.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

13.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Chair will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 6.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

 

14.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Minutes:

Councillor Becker sent his apologies and was substituted by Councillor Horstmann.

 

Councillor Furse sent his apologies and was substituted by Councillor Sandry.

15.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Minutes:

Councillor Goodman (Item 10) declared that he has clients that have property owned by the Council.

 

Councillor Barrett (Item 6) declared that he is an honorary member of WWISE 

16.

TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIRMAN

Minutes:

There was none.

17.

ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC OR COUNCILLORS - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS MEETING pdf icon PDF 186 KB

1.  Mr Gait will make a statement to the Panel regarding ‘The Efficient Use of Resources’. The statement is attached.

 

2.  Susan Charles (WWISE) will make a statement to the Panel regarding warm water exercise – swimming pool in Bath. The statement is attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Susan Charles – Warm Water Inclusive Swimming and Exercise (WWISE) made a statement (The statement is attached to the agenda for this meeting) regarding the plans for a warm water pool at Bath Leisure Centre and the equalities implication. She asked the Council and GLL reconsider their design.

 

Councillor Sandry asked how many people would use the service and how deep the water has to be. Susan Charles stated that it must be more than 3 feet deep so that people can swim. She explained that there is a warm water pool in Germany and 30/40 people use it at one time.

 

It was agreed that the Panel refer this statement to Councillor Martin Veal – Cabinet Member for Community Services.

 

Councillor Charles Gerrish – Cabinet Member for Efficiency and Resources explained that the leader of the Council is on holiday this week but will seek to meet with Susan Charles along with Councillor Veal.

 

Dr Gait – Chair of Somerset Care & Repair made a statement (The statement is attached to the agenda for this meeting) on the efficient use of resources and asked the Council to produce guidelines for partnership working.

 

The Chair stated that the Panel scrutinizes ongoing processes and not specific contracts. She asked that Dr Gait speak to the officer – Richard Howroyd Head of Strategic Procurement & Commissioning regarding the details of this issue. Dr Gait explained that the statement was about the efficient use of resources and not a specific case. Andrew Pate – Strategic Director for Resources explained that it is not appropriate to get engaged in a contractual issue in public forum and reiterated that Dr Gait could meet with the officer or submit a complaint to the authority. Dr Gait stated that he did not have a complaint but was asking the Council to investigate. The Panel and the Director noted this.

 

The Chair referred to a question from Nicolette Boater and noted the answers provided. The question and answer sheet is attached.

 

 

 

 

Supplementary Information

Q&A Nicolette Boater pdf icon PDF 54 KB

18.

MINUTES - 25th May 2016 pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Minutes:

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chairman.

19.

Procurement Strategy - Think Local pdf icon PDF 378 KB

The Strategic Procurement Team is supporting the Cabinet Member for Finance & Efficiency to review and update the Council’s “Think Local” Procurement Strategy. The Council will launch a revised 3 year strategy in 2017/2018 and is seeking the views of the Resources Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Richard Howroyd Head of Strategic Procurement & Commissioning gave a presentation to the Panel which covered the following (The slides for this presentation are attached to the agenda papers for this meeting):

 

·  Procurement Strategy 2013-2017

·  A success story

·  Service Plan Priorities

·  Horizon Scanning

·  Modern Slavery Act

·  Requirements

·  National Procurement Strategy

·  Spend Analysis Opportunities

·  Systems Integration

·  Portfolio Analysis – Drive for Savings and Efficiency

 

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

 

Councillor Barrett asked if there is a target percentage of local providers. The officer explained that this target has moved from 28% to 40%. He explained that there has been a positive response at roadshows. He stated that input from members is welcome.

 

Councillor Sandry asked how ‘social value’ is measured. The officer explained that it is a new initiative so guidance is not yet out, social value can be interpreted widely.

 

Following a query from Councillor Sandry, the officer explained that tenders go through the South West Portal and anything under EU thresholds goes out to tender as pre-qualification cannot now be used. The e-procurement system has just been updated.

 

Councillor Dando asked the following questions and officers provided answers as shown:

 

·  Can we have an update report that shows some examples of successes? The officer agreed that examples could be shown and gave a current example of local food for schools where he is working with local farmers and a distribution centre in Keynsham;

·  Is there a cost benefit analysis on what has been brought back into the local community? The officer noted the point but explained that it is difficult to measure data at the moment but this is being worked on.

·  Have any lessons been learned to feed into the development of the new strategy? The officer explained that there are now new contract standing orders and another lesson is that it takes time to talk to the community and to provide support to local businesses.

 

Councillor Pearce stated that the concept of ‘social value’ could conflict with other objectives and asked the officer where the line is drawn in order to get the best deal for BANES Council tax payers. The officer responded that he believes that we are getting the best deals and there are examples of contracts have got cheaper due to more efficiency and also money is being put back into the local economy. The Strategic Director added that it is a dilemma between savings and value but that generating growth in local businesses increases business rates and creates local jobs. He explained that the Cabinet can review this policy if it is not working.

20.

Use of Consultants and Agency Staff - Update on Task and Finish Group pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Officers were requested to update the Panel on the use of Consultants and Agency staff. A number of questions were asked by the Panel held on 16th March 2015 and an update was requested following the May 2015 elections.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Barrett asked for this item to be deferred until a later meeting in order that he could review the information more closely. The Strategic Director advised that there is information here to discuss today but that if the report is brought later in the year, there would be more information to report such as information on apprenticeships.  Councillor Barrett stated that he would talk to the report author.

 

It was RESOLVED that this report be deferred until a meeting of the Panel later in the year (likely November 2016).

21.

Commercial Estate pdf icon PDF 62 KB

The Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel have requested an update on the review discussions underway with BNP Paribas.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Goodman, seconded by Councillor Pearce, proposed the following motion:

‘That this item be deferred and the full report be given to the panel  and the meeting should be held in closed session if necessary with the Consultant from BNP Paribas in attendance to explain the report and answer question from the Panel ’…

There was some discussion on this motion. Councillor Pearce agreed that a full report was needed. Councillor Dando disagreed and explained that he wanted an officer summary and information on the direction of travel, not the full report. The Strategic Director stated that it is his view that there is enough information in this report today to discuss the issue but that equally officers can come back and present a fuller version in private session at a later date.

 

Panel members voted on Councillor Goodman’s motion and:

 

It was RESOLVED that this report be deferred until a meeting of the Panel later in the year (likely November 2016).

 

(Voting - 4 in favour and 3 against).

 

22.

Cabinet Member Update

The Cabinet Member will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Efficiency and Resources, Councillor Charles Gerrish updated the Panel on what he and his senior officers are currently working on:

 

·  Regarding Property, the view of the Cabinet Member is that the Council should make investments close by where possible. If there are commercial deals, to engage with BNP;

·  Adult Care Financial Review – there is a further meeting on this in September;

·  Ernst and Young – a constructive meeting, they will bring significant benefit and potential savings;

·  Council Tax Benefit – the paper is out for consultation and being reported to this Panel in September.

 

23.

Panel Workplan pdf icon PDF 108 KB

This report presents the latest workplan for the Panel. Any suggestions for further items or amendments to the current programme will be logged and scheduled in consultation with the Panel’s Chair and supporting officers.

Minutes:

The Panel noted the workplan with two additions for the November meeting deferred from this meeting:

 

·  Use of Consultants and Agency Staff

·  Commercial Estate