Issue - meetings

The Monitoring Officer introduced the referral to the Scrutiny and Overview Committee of the call-in of a Cabinet decision taken on 29^th June 2020, regarding the approval of a property investment.

Councillor Heather Williams set out the reasons for the call-in of this decision, the basis of which was that the decision was an outside Article 13 decision.  Councillor Williams pointed out that the Scrutiny and Overview Committee had not initially supported the decision and considered that this decision should be taken by full Council.

The Lead Cabinet Member for Finance responded to the call-in. He emphasised that this was an Executive decision as it was within the budget approved by Council in the Commercial Investment Strategy.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that this was an Executive and not a Council decision, as it was within the budget approved by Council in the Commercial Investment Strategy.

The committee debated the call-in:

·       Committee members noted that a full presentation on the proposals had been given at the last Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting, and answers had been provided to all questions asked by the committee at that meeting.

·       Some committee members acknowledged that this was an Executive decision and not a Council decision, as it was within the policy and budget framework.

·       Some committee members considered there was no reason to refer this to full Council or back to Cabinet for consideration, as it had been through the proper process.

·       It was acknowledged by some committee members that the proposal had changed since the committee’s original consideration of it. These changes had addressed some of the committee members’ original concerns.

·       Some committee members suggested this item should be referred to full Council for a decision, as a precedent had been set with other investment proposals which had been considered by full Council.

Having considered the Cabinet decision and referral of the call-in, it was proposed that the committee did not refer the matter back to Cabinet or Council, in which case the decision could be implemented immediately. Six Scrutiny and Overview Committee members voted in favour of this proposal, two members abstained and one member voted against.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee therefore agreed not to refer the matter back to Cabinet or Council, and that the decision taken by Cabinet on 29^th June 2020 could be implemented immediately.

Cabinet:

Approved the investment detailed in the exempt report of the Head of Finance as a multi-let commercial investment in accordance with the approved Investment Strategy.

Please note that this decision has been Called-in. It will be held in abeyance and not be implemented until the Scrutiny and Overview Committee has considered this matter.

Cabinet:

Approved the investment detailed in the exempt report of the Head of Finance as a multi-let commercial investment in accordance with the approved Investment Strategy.

Councillor John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the item. Councillor Brian Milnes, the Vice Chair of Scrutiny and Overview Committee, reported on the comments made by the committee in respect of the proposed investment.  It was noted that the report had been updated to reflect some of the questions raised by the committee.

During the ensuring discussion Councillor John Williams responded to comments made by those present.

Councillor Bridget Smith concluded the discussion and thanked Officers for their continuing work within the investment projects. Cabinet, by affirmation:

Approved the investment detailed in the exempt report of the Head of Finance as a multi-let commercial investment in accordance with the approved Investment Strategy.