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OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE |
18 JULY 2023 |
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Appointment of a Working Group - Water Management Cycle |
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Will this be a Key Decision? |
Not Applicable |
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Urgency |
Not Applicable |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Overview and Scrutiny Committee |
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Lead Director |
Angela Woodhouse, Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Oliviya Parfitt, Principal 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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To appoint the Water Management Cycle Working Group and enable the second phase review into the topic to commence.
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Purpose of Report
Decision
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This report makes the following recommendation to the Committee: |
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1. That the group’s membership be appointed in accordance with either options 3.1 or 3.2 of the report. |
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Appointment of a Working Group - Water Management Cycle |
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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 · Accepting the recommendations could materially improve the Council’s ability to achieve all corporate priorities, due to the Committee’s role in reviewing and recommending actions arising from its work programme topics. |
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 The report recommendations could support the achievement of all the Council’s cross-cutting objectives due to the Committee’s role in reviewing and recommending actions arising from reviewing the topic. |
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 |
The proposals set out in the recommendation are all within already approved budgetary headings and so need no new funding for implementation.
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Head of Finance |
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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 A1 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 Committees to review and scrutinise executive decision made, or action taken – LGA 2000, Section 9F.
The Committee will be exercising these powers in creating a working group to carry out the review into the Water Management Cycle. |
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. |
Information Governance Officer |
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Equalities |
The recommendations do not propose a change in service therefore will not require an equalities impact assessment. |
Equalities and Communities Officer |
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Public Health
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We recognise that the recommendations could have a positive impact on population health or that of individuals. |
Housing and Inclusion Team Leader |
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Crime and Disorder |
There are no implications to Crime and Disorder
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Director of Strategy, Insight & Governance |
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Procurement |
No impacts identified.
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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 aligns with the following actions of the Biodiversity and Climate Change action Plan: Action 5.3, Conduct Borough Climate Impact Assessment to priorities and strengthen power and water supply and other critical infrastructure ensuring more resilience communities. Action 6.4, Enhance and expand wetland coverage across the Borough to support nutrient neutrality, flood prevention and enhance biodiversity. Action 6.5, Implement a Nature Recovery Strategy, linking habitat restoration and creation to improve flood protection and water quality. Action 6.6, Work with local farms and landowners to deliver landscape scale biodiversity initiatives Nature Recovery Strategy – including reconnection of habitats, floodplain restoration, reduced chemical inputs and reintroduction of lost native species. |
Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager |
2. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
2.1 At its meeting on the 20 June 2023, the Committee agreed to add a second phase review of the ‘Water Management Cycle’ to its 2023-24 Work Programme. An excerpt from the Minutes is included below.
The Committee wished to conduct the second phase review in the same way as the first; via a working group (the group), with nominations to be open to all Members of the Council.
Excerpt of Minute 16. Work Programming Report 2023-24 (20 June 2023)
In considering the topics for the 2023/24 work programme, the Committee supported conducting the second phase review into the Water Management Cycle; the majority of the work had been completed, and recent water supply issues had highlighted the need to continue the review.
2.2 In response, the Chairman of the Committee contacted group leaders to ask for nominations of Non-Executive Members and a Substitute Member from their respective groups. A membership of up to 7 was felt suitable, to maintain the flexibility and effectiveness provided through working groups. Working groups are not subject to the political balance rules of the Local Government and Housing Act (1989).
2.3 An update will be given at the meeting as to which Members have been put forward by Group Leaders. The final decision on the group’s membership rests solely with the Committee.
2.4 A review via working group will require both flexibility from the group’s members on its meeting dates and/or times and recognition of the additional work required. This review will need to take place in accordance with the three-to-four-month timescale allocated, to prevent slippage to the Committee’s overall work programme.
3. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
3.1 Option 1 – Appoint the group in accordance with Group Leaders’ wishes.
3.2 Option 2 – Appoint the group from the Committee’s existing membership and/or any other Members nominated.
4. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 There is no preferred option from an officer perspective. However, the Committee is advised to appoint a group of up to 7 members, to ensure its functional and conducts meaningful scrutiny and prevent scheduling conflicts.
5. RISK
5.1 The risks associated with this proposal have been briefly outlined in point 2.4 of this report, and there are no other risks associated with the proposal at this time.
6. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
6.1 The matter was previously considered by the Committee at its 20 June 2023 meeting, and as part of the first phase review in April 2023.
7. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
7.1 The group will be contacted to determine its meeting arrangements and progress the review.
7.2 The group’s minutes will be reported to this Committee, to provide an update on the review’s progression in accordance with the Council’s Constitution (Part A2, Provision 6, Rule 6.7.3).
7.3 Once the group has completed its review, its formal report will be presented to the Committee for consideration and approval.
8. REPORT APPENDICES
None.
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
Agenda and Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting held on 20 June 2023:
Your Councillors - Maidstone Borough Council
Maidstone Borough Council Constitution (2023):
(Public Pack)Agenda Document for Maidstone Borough Council Constitution, 19/04/2023 09:00