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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Town Hall, Queen's Square, Priory Meadow, Hastings TN34 1QR
Contact: Michael Courts on 01424 451764 Email: mcourts@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
The following Councillors declared an interest in the minutes:
Councillor
Minute Number
Interest
Pragnell
3
Personal – he is employed by the Department for Works and Pensions
Additional documents:
Minutes:
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2015 and the Joint Budget Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 29 January 2015 be approved as a correct record
Corporate Plan Part III - Year End Performance Information and Target Setting 2015/16 PDF 109 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Director of Corporate Services and Governance presented the report which outlined year-end performance against the targets and milestones set out in part II of the corporate plan for 2014/15, the report also set put actions that would be taken in 2015/16 to address any areas of shortfall. The committee’s views were sought on the proposed performance indicators for 2015/16.
The Assistant Director for Finance provided an update on the customer first and efficiency service reviews for revenues and benefits. The revenues review had been completed and the recommendations implemented. The benefits review, which was being undertaken by Shelter, had begun in January 2015. The complexity of the review and unforeseen staff absence at Shelter had created delays in the original timescale and it was now anticipated that Shelter would present their recommendations in September 2015.
The Assistant Director for Finance advised that the expenses audit, which was due to be completed as part of the annual audit plan, had been substituted for a more comprehensive review as part of the council’s wider transparency agenda.
Discussion took place regarding the implementation of the Hastings and St Leonards Anti-Poverty Strategy Action Plan. The Deputy Leader of the Council and Housing, Communications and Equalities Portfolio Holder advised that the revised draft action plan was due to be submitted to the Local Strategic Partnership at its July meeting, presentations would also be given at the meeting on efforts to tackle family poverty and health inequalities. The Director of Corporate Services and Governance added that the council aimed to consider how all of its activities and decisions could help address anti-poverty issues.
The committee welcomed the update that the council had received an unqualified audit opinion for the annual statement of accounts.
Members commented that a high standard of presentation on the council’s industrial estates was key to maintaining high levels of occupancy in the units. The Assistant Director for Finance replied that the council was responsible for maintaining the car parks and grass verges on its industrial estates, however, the highways were largely the responsibility of East Sussex County Council. He added that members could highlight any areas where they felt presentation could be improved on the industrial estates to him by email.
The committee considered the impact of the rollout of the Universal Credit scheme in Hastings. The Assistant Director for Finance advised that Universal Credit had been introduced for single people living in Hastings and Rother on 20 April 2015. To date, the impact of the scheme had been limited as the Department for Work and Pensions intended to introduce the changes incrementally. One housing benefit and council tax claimant living in Hastings had transferred to Universal Credit and a further ten housing benefit claims had been closed. Members noted that housing benefit payments were now made directly to claimants, except in exceptional circumstances, and considered the safeguards in place to protect vulnerable residents. The committee discussed how the introduction of Universal Credit might impact the council’s grant settlement. The Assistant ... view the full minutes text for item 3.
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