Agenda and minutes

None.

To receive Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any matters on the agenda.

Councillor Simon Carter declared a pecuniary interest in Item 9 as a remunerated Council appointed Director of HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd.

Councillor Joel Charles declared a pecuniary interest in Item 9 as a remunerated Council appointed Director of HTS (Housing and Regeneration) Ltd. He also declared a non-pecuniary interest in the same item as a Council appointed Director of HTS Group Ltd Board.

Councillor Emma Toal declared a pecuniary interest in Item 9 as a remunerated Council appointed Director of HTS (Housing and Regeneration) Ltd.

Councillor Bob Davis declared a pecuniary interest in Item 9 as a remunerated Council appointed Director of HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd. He also declared a non-pecuniary interest in the same item as a Council appointed Director of HTS Group Ltd Board.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2020.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2020 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Committee noted that information on Permitted Development had been circulated which set out the action which had been taken following the Committee’s recommendation to Cabinet that Article 4 Directions were sought for employment sites within the town.

The note also included information on progress following the review of paddling pools. The Committee were advised that more detailed information would be circulated in the next couple of weeks once it became available.

To receive any questions from members of the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

None.

To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.

None.

To consider responses (if any) of the Cabinet to reports and recommendations from the Committee.

RESOLVED that the following responses of the Cabinet to reports of the Scrutiny Committee were noted.

The Cabinet considered the Committee’s recommendations arising from the Review of Overview and Scrutiny at its meeting on 9 July 2020 and

RESOLVED that:

A     Subject to recommendation by the Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet endorsed the Cabinet-Scrutiny Protocol (attached as Appendix A to the report), the revised Scrutiny Procedure Rules (attached as Appendix B to the report) and the revised Scrutiny Committee Terms of Reference (attached as Appendix C to the report) for adoption by Full Council.

B    Subject to recommendation by the Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet agreed that the Cabinet Overview Working Group is renamed the Cabinet Policy Development Group and the terms of reference are amended as set out in Appendix D to the report.

The Committee received a report which recommended the addition of a fast track process for reviews into the Cabinet-Scrutiny Protocol.

RESOLVED that the amended Cabinet-Scrutiny Protocol attached as Appendix A to the report be adopted.

To review the Committee’s work plan for the current year.

The Committee received a report setting out its potential work plan for 2020/21. The Committee agreed to amend the scope of the review of Housing and Accommodation Requirements for Adults with a Moderate /Severe Learning Disability and the review of Delivery of Council House Building Programme so that they were as appended to the minutes.

The Committee also agreed to the removal of the Review of Youth Club Provision and Review of Adult Social Care in Harlow from the work plan pending the reviews being submitted through the revised review submission process.

It was agreed that the scope for the potential review of Allotments would be reconsidered at the meeting in February 2021 and that the scope of the review of Domestic Abuse in Harlow During Covid-19 Lockdown would be considered work being carried out by the Community Impact Officer workstream for Covid-19 recovery.

Finally, at the meeting on 13 October 2020, the Committee would consider the scope and questions for the Review of Policing in the Town, with the Police being invited to attend a subsequent meeting.

RESOLVED that:

A     The work plan, as appended to the minutes, be agreed.

B    The scope of the review of Housing and Accommodation Requirements for Adults with a Moderate /Severe Learning Disability and the review of Delivery of Council House Building Programme so that they were as appended to the minutes.

None.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.