Contact your Parish Council
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OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE |
13 APRIL 2023 |
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Water Management Cycle Working Group Review - Covering Report |
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Will this be a Key Decision?
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No
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Urgency |
Not Applicable |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Any agreed actions arising from the review will be presented to the relevant Decision Maker post May 2023. |
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Lead Director |
Angela Woodhouse, Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Oliviya Parfitt, Democratic Services Officer |
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Classification |
Public
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Wards affected |
All. |
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Executive Summary |
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A report supplemented by the draft Working Group report to conclude the first stage of the ‘Water Management Cycle’ review. Once agreed, the report will be presented to the relevant decision makers from April 2023.
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Purpose of Report
Decision
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This report makes the following recommendations to the Committee: That |
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1. The Committee consider the working group report attached at Appendix 1 and agree any amendments they wish to make to the report; and
2. The draft working group report attached at Appendix 1 to the report, amended by the Committee as appropriate, be agreed and submitted to the relevant decision makers.
3. Delegated authority be given to the Democratic Services Officer to amend the report following any changes to Lead Member portfolios post May 2023, if required.
4. To add to the Work Programme for 2023/24 a second-phase review to review the remaining considerations, as outlined in point 2.3 of the report |
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Water Management Cycle Working Group Review - Covering Report |
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1. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS
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Issue |
Implications |
Sign-off |
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Impact on Corporate Priorities |
The four Strategic Plan objectives are:
· Embracing Growth and Enabling Infrastructure · Safe, Clean and Green · Homes and Communities · A Thriving Place
We do not expect the recommendations will by themselves materially affect achievement of corporate priorities at this stage.
Any actions agreed by the Committee as part of their review will be considered by the relevant Officers and Decision makers. This will take place via the presentation of the Committee’s formal report and Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan (SCRAIP) post May 2023, if the report at appendix 1 is agreed. |
Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance |
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Cross Cutting Objectives |
The four cross-cutting objectives are:
· Heritage is Respected · Health Inequalities are Addressed and Reduced · Deprivation and Social Mobility is Improved · Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability is respected
Any actions agreed by the Committee as part of their review will be considered by the relevant Officers and Decision makers. This will take place via the presentation of the Committee’s formal report and Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan (SCRAIP) post May 2023, if the report at appendix 1 is agreed. |
Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance |
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Risk Management |
See Section 5 of the report.
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Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance |
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Financial |
Any recommendations agreed by the Committee as part of their review will be considered by the relevant Officers and Decision makers.
This will include a consideration of the budgetary implications and will take place via the presentation of the Committee’s formal report and Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan (SCRAIP), post May 2023, if the report at appendix 1 is agreed.
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Section 151 Officer & Finance Team |
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Staffing |
We will deliver the recommendations with our current staffing. |
Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance |
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Legal |
In accordance with Part 1A of the Local Government Act 2000 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011) the Council is operating under Executive Arrangements. These arrangements must include provision for the appointment of one or more Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review and scrutinise the Executive Decisions made, or other actions taken relating to the exercise of Executive functions. – LGA 2000, Section 9F. Any actions agreed by the Committee as part of their review will be considered by the relevant Officers and Decision makers. This will take place via the presentation of the Committee’s formal report and Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan (SCRAIP), post May 2023, if the report at appendix 1 is agreed. |
Interim Team Leader (Contentious and Corporate Governance) |
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Information Governance |
The recommendations do not impact personal information (as defined in UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018) the Council processes.
Any actions agreed by the Committee as part of their review will be considered by the relevant Officers and Decision makers. This will take place via the presentation of the Committee’s formal report and Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan (SCRAIP), post May 2023, if the report at appendix 1 is agreed. |
Information Governance Team |
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Equalities |
The recommendations do not propose a change in service therefore will not require an equalities impact assessment. |
Equalities & Communities Officer |
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Public Health
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We recognise that this report recommendations will not negatively impact on population health or that of individuals.
Any actions agreed by the Committee as part of their review will be considered by the relevant Officers and Decision makers. This will take place via the presentation of the Committee’s formal report and Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan (SCRAIP), post May 2023, if the report at appendix 1 is agreed. |
Democratic Services Officer |
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Crime and Disorder |
No impacts identified.
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Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance |
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Procurement |
No impacts identified. |
Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance |
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Biodiversity and Climate Change |
The implications of this report on biodiversity and climate change have been considered and align with actions 5.4;5.5;6.7 and 8.5 of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan. Any actions agreed by the Committee as part of their review will be considered by the relevant Officers and Decision makers. This will take place via the presentation of the Committee’s formal report and Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan (SCRAIP), post May 2023, if the report at appendix 1 is agreed. |
Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager |
2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
2.1 A review into the ‘Water Management Cycle’ has been held by the Working Group (the Group) between November 2022 to March 2023. These meetings were attended by a variety of internal and external stakeholders, with the agenda papers and minutes for those meetings accessible through section 9 of this report.
2.2 In March 2023, the Group reviewed the list of possible actions from the review in formulating its recommendations, and this included those suggested by some of the external stakeholders. The full list of evidence can be accessed through Appendix A to this report.
2.3 The Group has expressed that whilst the review has led to actions to be put forward now, further consideration is needed on some aspects; including lobbying central government and taking forward additional schemes amongst other things. As such, the working group have requested that a second-stage review commence post May 2023, and this is reflected in recommendation 4 of this report. It would be for this Committee to decide if it wishes to progress with a second-stage review.
2.4 The Committee is asked to consider and approve the group’s draft report for submission to the relevant decision-makers. The Committee should make changes to the draft report where it feels these are necessary. The Group may put forward changes to the draft report at Appendix A, which if required, would be considered formally by the Committee at its meeting.
2.5 The relevant Lead Members for the recommendations contained within the (draft) Committee report attached at appendix 1 are the Lead Members for:
Planning and Infrastructure
Environmental Services
Corporate Services and Deputy Leader
Communities and Public Engagement
3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
3.1 Option 1 – Amend and/or Approve the (draft) group report as contained within appendix 1 to the report.
3.2 Option 2 – Do not amend and/or approve the (draft) group report as contained within appendix 1 to the report. This is not recommended, as this will prevent the Democratic Services Officer from formally submitting the group’s report (and recommendations) of the review to the relevant decision-makers. This will prevent the consideration of the group’s recommendations and prevent any subsequent actions from being taken.
4. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 Option 1 as outlined in point 3.1 of the report.
5. RISK
5.1 The risks associated with this proposal, including the risks if the Council does not act as recommended, have been considered in line with the Council’s Risk Management Framework. We are satisfied that the risks associated are within the Council’s risk appetite and will be managed as per the Policy.
6. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
6.1 The timeline of the Working Group’s undertaking of the review is as follows:
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Meeting |
Attendees |
Evidence provided |
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1 Nov 2022 |
Working Group
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None.
Meeting to organise review’s timetable. |
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5 Dec 2022 |
Working Group Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement
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Technical Briefing from the Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement on the Council’s actions so far on the topic. |
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15 Dec 2022 |
Working Group Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager Emergency Planning and Resilience Manager |
Evidence collection through Officer interviews
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22 Dec 2022 |
Working Group Director of Regeneration and Place Interim Local Plan Review Director Principal Planning Officer x2 Environmental Health Manager |
Evidence collection through Officer interviews
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27 Jan 2023 |
Working Group Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board Southeast Rivers Trust Kent County Council |
Evidence collection through interviews |
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7 Feb 2023 |
Working Group Southeast Water Southern Water |
Evidence collection through interviews |
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1 Mar 2023 |
Working Group |
Review of remaining written evidence: Southern Water wish-list Southeast Rivers Trust wish-list |
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20 Mar 2023 |
Working Group Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement |
Recommendations produced |
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28 Mar 2023 |
Working Group
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Report reviewed. |
7. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
7.1 If agreed, the report will be presented to the relevant decision makers as outlined in point 2.5 of the report.
7.2 In receiving the report, the Executive will then be presented with an Overview and Scrutiny Recommendation Action and Implementation Plan (SCRAIP) at a future meeting. This SCRAIP will contain comments from the relevant officers on any considerations and/or impacts arising from each of this Committee’s recommendations. This will ensure that the decision-makers are presented with all the relevant, appropriate, and applicable information before reaching a decision. This is standard practice and is reflective of good governance.
8. REPORT APPENDICES
· Appendix 1: (draft) Committee Report: Safety in the Town Centre Review
· Appendix 2: (draft) Minutes of the Working Group Meeting held on:
o 7 February 2023
o 1 March 2023
o 20 March 2023
o 28 March 2023
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
Agenda and Minutes for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting held on 19 July 2022: Your Councillors - Maidstone Borough Council
Agenda and Minutes for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting held on 21 February 2023: Your Councillors - Maidstone Borough Council
Working Group Information Pack.