Issue - meetings

To receive the latest version of the Committee’s work programme and the Council’s Forward Plan.

92.1   The Chair, Councillor Pullen, introduced the latest version of the Council Forward Plan and invited suggestions as to any items Members wished to add to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme.

92.2    Councillor Hilton noted that the City Council had been unsuccessful in its bid for Levelling Up Fund 2 grant funding and suggested that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee request a briefing on plans to deliver the Eastgate project despite the funding rejection. The Chair expressed the view that the City Council needed to receive feedback from Central Government on the bid prior to this item being brought before the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

92.3    The Leader of the Council, Councillor Richard Cook, noted that he had been disappointed to learn that all local authorities who had made second bids for Levelling Up Funding had been automatically turned down, despite having been encouraged by Central Government to make second bids if they were entitled to. Councillor Cook advised that the City Council would receive feedback in due course and that Officers were considering options.

92.4    Councillor Hilton reiterated that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee should have a discussion around next steps and proposals to deliver a similar project, The Chair emphasised that in his view this discussion could only take place after Officers received feedback.

92.5    Councillor Gravells noted that he was pleased that a report on the Here to Help reporting facility had been added to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and invited Members to bring forward any issues of areas of interest which they would like addressed in the report. Councillor Wilson noted his interest in this item, as it was his understanding that few other Councils operated a similar Here to Help system.

92.6    Councillors Ackroyd and Conder raised concerns about the Here to Help online contact forms. Councillor Conder commented that she found the refuse form particularly difficult to use.

          RESOLVED – That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee NOTE the Work Programme.