No apologies for absence were received – all Committee members were present.

Several queries were raised in relation to the accuracy of the minutes of the previous Corporate Projects Scrutiny Committee held on 25 September 2017.

Although it was noted within the minutes, Cllr Kendall’s name had not been listed under ‘Apologies’ section at the beginning of the minutes.

Cllr Tumbridge advised that his Motion under Minute 120 – Leisure Strategy – Phase 1 update and recommendations - had been recorded incorrectly and should have read:  ‘That the report be sent back and that a full report from officers and the LSWG with annexes be provided to be able to scrutinise the recommendations at the next meeting’.

Cllr Aspinell advised that at the first Corporate Projects Scrutiny Committee meeting he had requested via the Chair that an electronic copy of all minutes, agendas and everything to do with this Committee be provided for his use and the Chief Executive had agreed to the request at the meeting. This matter had not been included in the minutes of that meeting and no action had been taken in relation to the request.  The Chair asked that officers advise her when a suitable arrangement was in place.

Cllr Mrs Pound MOVED and Cllr Reed SECONDED that the minutes be approved subject to the amendments proposed and it was

RESOLVED accordingly.

In relation to the Minute 120, Cllr Tumbridge queried why a revised version of the original report and the annexes referred to in the resolution had not been provided in readiness for this meeting.

Officers would investigate Cllr Tumbridge’s query and subject to the response make the relevant documents available to Members.

Officers also advised that the lateness of the report was due to Members and officers waiting for the two Leisure presentations to be completed before finalising the recommendations for the Leisure Strategy Working Group. 

The report provided the 2017/18 updated draft work programme for Members’ consideration and was attached as Appendix A of the report.

Members were reminded that the workplan was a timeline of the latest and proposed working position of the working groups and not the actual timeline of the subject matter or project being reviewed.  The timelines were subject to change depending on the work and outcomes of the working groups.   

The Committee was requested to consider the draft work programme at Appendix A of the report and agree any amendments. 

Cllr Mrs Pound MOVED and Cllr Reed SECONDED the recommendation in the report.

1. Cllr Tumbridge proposed that in relation to the Leisure Strategy item 5 in the timeline be amended to reflect that, rather that agreeing that a meeting take place in December 2017, it should be arranged once the Community, Health and Housing Committee had a draft report then it could be sent to the Working Group for scrutiny.

2. Regarding the Working Group reviewing Performance and Formal Complaints, Cllr Tumbridge requested that monitoring Council service and scrutinising and monitoring senior officers’ performance and how they ran their departments be specifically considered.

The Chair agreed to these proposals.

In relation to the Working Group scrutinising the Local Development Plan there was some discussion regarding the proposed dates of the Working Group meetings in relation to the timeline for submitting the Local Development Plan. 

3. Cllr Tumbridge proposed that notes from Working Group meetings be appended to the agenda for future Corporate Project Scrutiny Committee meetings and if further discussion was appropriate at the meetings this could take place as urgent business. The Chair agreed to this proposal.

Following the discussion a vote was taken on a show of hands and it was RESOLVED that:

The Committee considers the Corporate Projects Scrutiny updated work programme 20174/18 attached at Appendix A of the report and agree the amendments proposed by Cllr Tumbridge detailed at 1, 2 and 3 above.  

Reasons for recommendations

The Constitution required that the Corporate Projects Scrutiny Committee agreed its work programme at each meeting of the Committee.   

Report to follow.

The report and recommendations of the Leisure Strategy Working Group was provided for consideration by the Corporate Projects Scrutiny Committee.

Cllr Reed advised that, as an employee of Brentwood Leisure Trust, he proposed to take no part in the discussion regarding the Leisure Strategy and left the meeting.

Cllr Mrs Pound MOVED and Cllr Tumbridge SECONDED and it was agreed that Cllr Trump  undertake the role of vice-chair in Cllr Reed’s absence.

Cllr Mrs Pound MOVED and Cllr Trump SECONDED  the recommendations in the report.

Cllr Tumbridge MOVED and Cllr Kendall SECONDED an AMENDMENT that in the Leisure Strategy Cross Party Working Group Terms of Reference (detailed in Appendix A), references to ‘Phase’ should be changed to ‘Workstream’ to give greater flexibility.

Cllr Mrs Pound ACCEPTED the AMENDMENT to the wording in Appendix A.

Following a discussion which included approval of a proposal that as part of a workstream a relevant Working Group or Committee Chair could be requested to attend a relevant Corporate Project Scrutiny Committee meeting, a vote was taken on a show of hands and it was

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

1.    To note the Leisure Strategy Working Group report and agree the recommendations contained within it.

2.    That the findings of the Leisure Strategy Working Group are submitted to the Community, Health and Housing Committee on 4 December 2017 for their consideration.

Reason for Recommendation

To ensure that options within each of those strands are fully examined, reviewed and prioritised and that the Leisure Strategy delivers Value for money, is sustainable and meets the needs of Brentwood residents.  

There were no items of urgent business.

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The meeting ended at 8.25 pm.