Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2021

(Note: If any Member wishes to propose an amendment to the minutes they should submit this in writing to committeeservices@horsham.gov.uk at least 24 hours before the meeting.  Where applicable, the audio recording of the meeting will be checked to ensure the accuracy of the proposed amendment.)

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Committee

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Committee or the Chief Executive

The Chairman announced that the Director of Community Services would bring a matter of special urgency to the meeting of Cabinet to be held on 22 July. This item would be regarding the collection of business waste from West Sussex schools and due to the short timescale would not be considered by Overview and Scrutiny first.

To interview Councillor Paul Clarke - Leader of the Council and ex-Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets

Councillor Clarke was invited to the meeting of the Committee to present and answer questions based on the Report on the Council’s Finance and Performance in 2020/21 that had been presented at the previous meeting of Overview and Scrutiny.

Councillor Clarke clarified various points in the report for Members.

At the request of the Committee, Councillor Clarke provided a breakdown of grants that could be used to counter the impacts to services caused by the pandemic.

Members raised concerns that due to the uncertainties present in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy, HDC may not be able to achieve all the carbon neutral aims within the targeted time frame. Councillor Clarke stated that the Council would be pragmatic and practical in order to achieve these aims when considering HDC’s future financial position and that many other Local Authorities would be in similar positions.

Members requested that a financial comparison between HDC and other local authorities be circulated.

The Chairman thanked the Councillor Clarke for attending the meeting and answering the Committee’s questions

Items not on the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as urgent because of the special circumstances

There was no urgent business.