Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from those Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Will Simpson.

Councillor John Taylor, as a signatory to the Call-in Notice, was precluded from being a Panel Member for this meeting

Members will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have any disclosable pecuniary interests or any other interests, which may prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items.

No Interests were declared.

Most agenda items take place in public. This only changes where there is a need to consider exempt information, as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. You will be informed at this point which items are to be recommended for exclusion and to be resolved by the Panel.

All items were considered in public session.

To consider information relating to the Cabinet Decision in relation to the Revision of Car Parking Tariffs/Charges.

RESOLVED: The decision taken in relation to car parking charges be freed for implementation. 

 In respect of the decision the Panel wish to make the following comments as learning points:

(1)   That within all future Cabinet reports the reasons for the decision, the financial implications and options considered should be included.

(2)   The Panel were satisfied with the level of financial detail provided at today’s meeting, and request that this be included in the future report to the meeting of the Cabinet Committee (Local Issues).

(3)   The Panel acknowledged the value and importance of the pre-decision scrutiny process which may have mitigated the need for a call-in. Whilst acknowledging the urgency of the decision every effort should be made in future to factor in pre-decision scrutiny into the decision making process.

The Scrutiny Panel considered the grounds of a call-in request, in respect of the final decision taken by Cabinet on 14 November 2023 to relating to the Revision of Car Parking Tariffs/Charges.

The two decision making areas which were the focus of the call-in review meeting were;

• Clarity – Issues related to clarity of aims and desired outcomes, including clarity of cost or revenue implications of the decision.

·         Options: No details of the reasons for the decision or the alternative options considered were presented as part of the Cabinet report.

At the review meeting the Scrutiny Panel considered verbal submissions from councillors who were signatories to the call in and views from ward councillors affected by the decision. The Panel also considered the response of the Cabinet Member and senior officers of from Highways and Streetscene.

The Panel considered everything that had been submitted in writing and verbally at the hearing. This included the background reports, information that had informed the Cabinet’s final decision and the responses to questions relating to cost and revenue implications of the decision and the reasons for the decision being taken. 

The Panel considered the three decision options set out on the Council’s Constitution, that were available to it:

1. To take no further action and free the decision for implementation  
2. To refer it back to Cabinet with recommendations for amendment
3. To refer it back to the next Council, if the Pane l considered that the decision was not made in accordance with the budget or policy framework.

RESOLVED: The decision taken in relation to car parking charges be freed for implementation  

In respect of the decision the Panel, wish to make the following comments as learning points:

(1)  That within all future Cabinet reports the reasons for the decision, the financial implications and options considered should be included.

(2)  The Panel were satisfied with the level of financial detail provided at today’s meeting, and request that this be included in the future report to the meeting of the Cabinet Committee (Local Issues).

(3)  The Panel acknowledged the value and importance of pre-decision scrutiny process which may have mitigated the call-in. Whilst acknowledging the urgency of the decision every effort should be made in future to factor in pre-decision scrutiny.