Agenda and minutes

To receive, and confirm as being a correct record, the minutes of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee held on 25^th January 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee held on 25^th January 2023 be approved as being a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive a report summarising the key areas of work within the Safeguarding and Support Executive Portfolio over the last twelve months

The Committee considered a report summarising the Council’s work over the past twelve months which was encompassed by the Housing, Support and Safeguarding  Executive Portfolio; a portfolio which covered Community Safety, corporate safeguarding, disabled facilities grants, emergency accommodation, equalities and diversity, Family Support, Housing and Homelessness, registered social landlords and the voluntary sector and community partnerships.

It was requested that reports of Ukrainian families, accommodated through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, being told to source their own accommodation at the end of the initial six month period were passed to officers so that appropriate support could be provided.

It was confirmed that the Coronation Grants scheme was being administered by the Rotary Club of Camberley.  Processing applications was taking longer than anticipated due to the high volume of applications that had been received since the scheme opened on 1^st March 2023. 

The Committee noted the report.

To receive a report summarising the key areas of work within the Leisure, Culture and Community Executive Portfolio over the last twelve months

The Committee considered a report summarising the Council’s work over the past twelve months which was encompassed by the Leisure, Culture and Community Executive Portfolio; a portfolio which covered Camberley Theatre, Places Leisure Camberley, community events, community services, grounds maintenance, heritage services, leisure and sports facilities, the management of parks and open services and sports development.

The Committee commended the number and variety of events taking place across the Borough.  In response to a question about the possibility of holding more events in the villages it was noted that Theatre in the Park had been taken to Chobham and there were plans to grow this offer.

It was confirmed that the refurbishment of the Freemantle Road Play Area, which would be financed through a match funding agreement with the Parish Council, had been approved as part of the Capital Report to Council on 22^nd February 2023.  The refurbishment of the Whitmore Road Play area continued to be delayed due to delays in securing an agreement the transfer of the land occupied by the play area with Surrey County Council.

It was agreed that the planned work to tackle the Himalayan Balsam that was spreading along the Bourne through Chobham and the wider area would be shared.

The Committee noted the report.

To receive an update on the work of the Climate Change Working Group over the past twelve months.

The Committee received a detailed report providing an update on the work of the Climate Change Working Group over the past twelve months. 

The Committee was informed that the Working Group oversaw the delivery of the 65 agreed actions within the Climate Change Action Plan with a  view to achieving the Council’s stated aspiration of achieving net zero by 2030.  It was reported that of the 65 agreed actions within the Climate Change Action Plan, to date:

·         9 actions had been closed

·         7 actions were complete

·         23 actions were ongoing

·         12 actions had started

·         14 actions were still to be started

Key achievements over the past twelve months included the planting of 5,000 trees as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project, securing £151,000 of grant funding to install electric vehicle charging points in the Council’s car parks, completion of energy audits of Surrey Heath House and Camberley Theatre, development of a tree strategy and development of an Energy Strategy.  Looking forward work over the coming twelve months would include the development of costed decarbonisation plans for the Council’s main buildings, acceleration of the roll out of energy efficient LED lights in Council owned property, work to commence the electrification of the Council owned fleet and provision of training for staff and councilors.

It was confirmed that the Theatre’s carbon offset programme which gave audiences the opportunity to offset the carbon impact of their journey to and from the theatre by planting trees was part of a national scheme; consequently the Council had no input over where the trees were planted.

The Committee noted the report.

The Committee received a report summarising the budgetary position of the Council at the end of the third quarter (October to December 2022) of the 2022/23 financial year. 

It was reported that at the end of the third quarter (31^st December 2022) the spend on revenue budget was £10.585million with a projected year end outturn of £14.809million. 

The Committee noted the report.  

The Committee received a report summarising the position of the Capital Programme and budget at the end of the third quarter (October to December 2022) of the 2022/23 financial year.

It was reported that at the end of the third quarter the Council’s total spend and commitments against the agreed budget of £10.655million had been £1.945million.  A further £7.853million  of the Capital Budget ad been reprofiled  into later years. 

The Committee noted the report.

To receive the Committee’s draft work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year.

The Committee received its proposed work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year and the following changes were noted:

·         Update on Star Chamber budget process to be added to July 2023

·         Quarter 1 Finance Report to be moved to September 2023.