Agenda item

·       Consultancy and Agency Use

·       Crime and Disorder

·       Consultancy and Agency Use

Cabinet AGREED to have regard to Scrutiny Committee’s feedback

·       Crime and Disorder Annual Update

Cabinet AGREED to have regard to Scrutiny Committee’s feedback

·       Consultancy and Agency Use

In accordance with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, this item had been referred from Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Robert Child, introduced the report to the Committee, the purpose of which was to advise Cabinet that the Scrutiny Committee had considered a report on 25 July 2022, regarding consultancy and agency use, providing a comprehensive overview of the Council’s approach to resource management including recruitment, retentions, vacancy management and the use of consultancy and agency spend in support of the Council’s corporate objectives.

Councillor Child highlighted comments from the Scrutiny Committee, including queries and concerns raised and answered during the Committee meeting.

Councillor Child added that vacancy costs over the 3 years averaged at approximately £450k and the professional consultancy spend was a similar figure so on average the Council had spent approximately £900k over the last 3 years.

.

The Leader, Councillor Joe Orson, thanked Scrutiny Committee for their hard work and diligence on preparing the reports and thanked the Chief Executive and officers who provided the information to the Scrutiny committee.

Councillor Orson highlighted whether the council needed additional inhouse capacity as opposed to consultants. He advised that as Melton Borough Council is the 4^th smallest council in the country and that the Council’s spending power is 42% smaller than it was in 2010, this does make it difficult to employ experts on a full-time contract and that consultants will continue to be used. However, as there is strength building up in the team this would go towards reducing costs in the future.

Cabinet AGREED to have regard to Scrutiny Committee’s feedback.

·       Crime and Disorder Annual update.

In accordance with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, this item had been referred from Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Robert Child, introduced the report to the Committee the purpose of which was to advise Cabinet that the Scrutiny Committee had considered a report presented to them on 27 September 2022, on Crime and Disorder which provided an update on a range of thematic areas including: Partnership Working and Collaboration; CCTV; Engaging with communities and young people; Antisocial behaviour management in housing services and Domestic Abuse.

Cllr Child highlighted comments from the Scrutiny Committee, including queries and concerns raised and answered during the Committee meeting.

Councillor Child advised that Scrutiny are due to hold a Crime and Disorder Workshop on Thursday 20 October 2022, which is being attended by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Portfolio Holder for People and Communities, Councillor Malise Graham, thanked Councillor Child for the positive meeting held on 27 September 2022 and highlighted the importance of reporting any form of antisocial behaviour as the police can only act on reported incidents. It was noted that the Police and Crime Commissioner had stated that by knowing about anti-social behaviour the Police can get the appropriate funding to deal with it.

The Leader thanked Councillor Child and the Scrutiny committee for their work and advised he is looking forward to feedback from the Scrutiny workshop with the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Cabinet AGREED to have regard to Scrutiny Committee’s feedback