Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ayres, Morley and Rose.

To approve the minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 16 June 2022.

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The Chair proposed an amendment to the minutes for item CP10 Review of New Waste Collection Contract Performance – Stage 2 in that the resolution wording should be changed from ‘received’ to ‘receive’.

RESOLVED: The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record subject to the above amendment.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on any item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There was none.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposed to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was none.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

Councillor de Whalley.

There was none.

There was none.

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The Monitoring Officer presented the report which considered options for the call-in of Officer Delegated Decisions.  She explained that the Chair of Corporate Performance Panel had asked for a paper reviewing the current arrangements and in conducting the review the Monitoring Officer had felt that Officer Delegated Decisions should be subject to call-in and the report set out proposed changes to Standing Orders for Members consideration.  She explained that the provision of call-in of Officer Delegated Decisions was a locally determined issue. 

If the Corporate Performance Panel were supportive of the proposals to amend Standing Orders they would presented to Full Council for approval in due course.

The Chair thanked the Monitoring Officer for her report and invited questions and comments from Members.  Members of the Panel indicated their support for the proposals.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet be recommended to recommend onto Full Council changes to Standing Orders as set out below to make Officer Delegated Decisions subject to call-in.

12 The calling-in of Cabinet recommendations and executive decisions

12.1 Any Cabinet decision or Cabinet recommendation to the Council, delegated Cabinet Member’s decision or officer delegated decision, may be presented for call-in to the Corporate Performance Panel

…

12.8 Upon conclusion of the debate the Corporate Performance Panel will decide upon one of the following two courses of action:

(a) support the Cabinet/Cabinet Member’s/officer’s recommendation(s) or decision(s). In this case the recommendation(s) or decision(s) will, respectively, be free to pass to Council as they originally stood, or, be available for immediate implementation; or,

(b) uphold the call-in.

12.9 If the Panel upholds the call-in it may then take one of three courses of action:

(a) report to Council, Cabinet or the relevant Cabinet Member or officer requesting that the Cabinet/Cabinet Member’s/officer amend or substitute the recommendation(s) or decision(s); or,

(b) if the issue is considered urgent or straightforward, formulate a counter-recommendation or amendment; or,

(c) investigate the matter further at another meeting within thirty working days (beginning with the day after the issue of the notification of the call-in) and then follow the same process as set out above (12.8-12.10)

12.10 The Cabinet/Cabinet Member/officer may amend, substitute or withdraw any

recommendation or decision in respect of any matter that has been called-in under

paragraph 12.3 of this Standing Order.

…..

12.12 No decision of the Cabinet/Cabinet Member/officer that is called in under paragraph 12.3 of this Standing Order shall be acted upon (even if it is amended, substituted or withdrawn) until the call-in is either ended by the Corporate Performance Panel or approved by the Council.

….

12.14 If the Corporate Performance Panel:-

(a) does not end a call-in within 30 days from the date of the decision which has been called in (and the recommendation or decision remains in dispute); or

(b) refers a call-in directly to Council under paragraph 12, the Council shall determine

whether to approve the recommendation or decision that has been called-in or  ...  view the full minutes text for item CP29

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The Chair proposed that this item be deferred to a future meeting of the Panel as he had been made aware that this paper had been presented to the Town Deal Board in advance of the Corporate Performance Panel and he wanted to investigate the circumstances of this.

RESOLVED: The item be deferred and brought back to Panel at a future date.

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The Corporate Performance Manager presented the report which contained information on the corporate performance monitoring undertaken for Q1 2022/2023.

The Chair thanked the Corporate Performance Manager for the report and invited questions and comments from Members, as summarised below.

Councillor Squire referred to section 3.8 and asked if the reduction in recycling had resulted in an increase in residual waste.  The Corporate Performance Manager agreed to find out and report back to the Panel.

Councillor Humphrey referred to section 2.4 relating to the percentage of rent arrears and commented that the 25% target was not very ambitious.  The Assistant Director, Property and Projects provided the Panel with the reasoning behind this target explaining that rent payments had been impacted by the pandemic, temporary legislation as a result of pandemic, and the economy.  He explained that work was now being carried out to recover rent arrears by working with the commercial businesses, implementing payment plans, ongoing negotiations and discussions.

The Panel discussed this performance indicator and it was proposed that more detail be brought to the Panel at a future date setting out the processes, policies and reasoning on what was being done to tackle commercial rent arrears.  The Monitoring Officer advised that the Panel could not consider the detail of individual cases and ongoing negotiations but could look at the theory and procedures in places to deal with commercial rent arrears.

Councillor Hipperson asked if indicators were benchmarked against other Local Authorities.  The Corporate Performance Manager explained that previously there was a national suite of Performance Indicators, so benchmarking could be carried out, but the national system, which was provided by the Audit Commission was no longer available.

Due to technical issues the continuation of the remainder of this item was deferred until later on in the meeting.

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The Corporate Performance Manager explained that he would look at what benchmarking was available and could bring back information to a future Panel meeting.

Councillor Nockolds referred to section 4.4 which related to Council Tax support and asked if this had a knock on effect with people going into arrears.  The Corporate Performance Managed explained that this target was now improving and hopefully in the next round of reporting it should be showing as green.

RESOLVED: 1. The Panel reviewed the performance monitoring report.

2. The Corporate Performance Manager to respond to outstanding issues.

3.  A report be scheduled onto the Work Programme to provide information on commercial rent arrears.

A discussion to be held on the views of the Panel:

iv) Councillor S Squire proposed the following Notice of Motion (7/22), seconded by Councillor Rust.

“Menopause Workplace Pledge”

 It is estimated there are some 13 million women in the UK that are currently peri or menopausal. Menopausal women are the fastest growing demographic in the workforce and almost 8 out of 10 menopausal women are in work. This council is aware that over 50% of our workforce and 25% of our councillors are women. It recognises that peri-menopause and menopause and the wide ranging symptoms involved can be a difficult time for women, can lead to a loss of confidence which may then lead to women leaving the workforce. This council would like to demonstrate they are fully supportive of both staff and councillors experiencing menopause and wish to be a Menopause Friendly Employer. Therefore, we agree to sign the Menopause Workplace Pledge, nominate a dedicated Menopause Champion amongst the staff and to arrange regular support and advice sessions that can be accessed by both staff and councillors. Councillors Squire and Rust spoke in support of the Motion. Under standing order 14.6 Councillor Dark proposed that the Motion be referred to the Corporate Performance Panel for consideration. Council debated referring the matter to the Panel. On being put to the vote the proposal was agreed.

RESOLVED: That the Motion be referred to the Corporate Performance Panel for consideration

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The Panel considered the Notice of Motion which had been referred to the Corporate Performance Panel by Full Council.

Councillor Spikings commented that there was a disparity between Councillors and Staff and she would like to see services available to Councillors as well as staff, not just relating to the Menopause, but to all elements relating to health and support.

The Assistant Director, Central Services clarified that resources available were only available to support initiatives relating to staff.  The Monitoring Officer explained that the Council had to work within Legislation and currently there was no Legislation relating to Duty of Care for Councillors.

The Assistant Director, Central Services explained that the Motion of the wording should be amended so that it only related to staff.

Councillor Squire referred to the informal Member Support Group, which was looking into support available for Councillors and it was explained that the Monitoring Officer was investigating this issue and was in discussion with the Local Government Association.

Councillor Squire commented that something needed to change to ensure support was available for Councillors.

Councillor Humphrey acknowledged that there was a specific legal duty to care of staff and had assumed that menopause would not need separate action as it would be part of the council’s duty of care and suggested that the Panel be provided with background information on the support and initiatives that staff could currently access.

Councillor Nash commented that he was appalled with the lack of support available for Mental Health and other welfare issues for Councillors and he referred to a recent issue where he had tried to contact officers for information and support.

The Assistant Director provided information on the services available for employees relating to Menopause support which included advice, guidance, training for Managers and Menopause Awareness Day.

The Chair asked for clarification on the informal Member Support Group and the Monitoring Officer explained that each Group had nominated a Member to attend the Member Support Group, which was an informal arrangement and looked to improve support for Members.  It was explained that the Member Support Group would look into the issues raised relating to the disparity between support available for Councillors and staff.

It was proposed that consideration of the Notice of Motion be adjourned until such time that other issues had been looked into and brought back to the Panel for consideration.

Councillor Spikings commented that it was important for Councillors to be kept up to date on issues that impacted staff, for example Health and Safety concerns.

Councillor Squire referred to the Corporate Performance Monitoring and the increase in staff sickness absences.

The Assistant Director explained that issues relating to Health and Safety would be considered at the Joint Safety and Welfare Committee and sickness absences were still being impacted by the Pandemic, for example delays in treatments.

RESOLVED:  1. Consideration of the Notice of Motion be adjourned until other issues had been presented  ...  view the full minutes text for item CP32

Members are invited to submit any questions prior to the meeting.

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The Chair explained that he had asked the Leader for information on Devolution and explained to the Panel that discussions were ongoing.

The Chair would also ask the relevant Portfolio Holder for an update on the Coastal Pressures Group.

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The Chair explained that he had received a request from Councillor Ryves asking for the Panel to consider the Heritage Lottery Fund Bid for the Guildhall.  The Chair explained that this would be discussed at the next Panel sifting meeting.

Councillor Nash asked for an update on the Policy of Unreasonably Consistent Complainants and it was explained that the Informal Working Group looking at this were scheduled to meet again soon.

It was noted that the Notice of Motion on the Menopause Workplace Pledge would be scheduled onto the Work Programme to come back to Panel as per the Panel discussion.

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme was noted.

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Councillor Squire raised an issue about recommendations from a Panel which had not yet been taken forward and would raise this issue with the Chief Executive.

RESOLVED: The Cabinet Forward Decision List was noted.

To note that the date of the next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will take place on 17 October at 4.30 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the Panel was scheduled to take place on 17^th October 2022 at 4.30pm in the Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

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RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of the exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Assistant Director, Property and Projects provided the Panel with an update on the KLIC Repayment plan.

The Assistant Director, Property and Projects provided the Panel with an update on Guildhall tenancies and responded to questions from Members of the Panel and Councillor de Whalley who addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34.

The Chair was advised to direct questions relating to the Business Case to the Regeneration Team.