The Panel is asked to agree the notes of the meeting held on 06 September 2023 as a true and accurate record.

The Panel is asked to consider the Work Plan and agree any amendments.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 December 2023, will consider a report from the Head of Financial Services on the Integrated Performance Report for Q2 2023/24. Anna Winship, Management Accountancy Manager has been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Panel is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Appendix 3/3A to this item includes exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. If the Panel wishes to discuss matters relating to the information set out in Appendix 3/3A to the report, it will be necessary for the Panel to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 December 2023, will consider a report from the Head of Financial Services on the Treasury Management Mid-Year Review. Bill Lewis, Financial Accounting Manager and Paul Jeffery, Treasury Manager have been invited to present the report and answer questions. The Panel is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Appendix 10 to this item includes exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. If the Panel wishes to discuss matters relating to the information set out in Appendix 10 to the report, it will be necessary for the Panel to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 13 December 2023, will consider a report on the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 - 2027/28 and 2024/25 Budget for consultation. 

The Scrutiny Committee has established a Budget Review Group to Scrutinise the 2024/25 Budget. The Panel is asked to note the Budget and agree a list of written questions to Heads of Service which will form part of the discussion for the Budget Review Group meetings.

Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services has been invited to attend for this item.

Report to follow.

Following a request by the Panel at its meeting on 06 September 2023, the Head of Financial Services has prepared a report to update the Panel on the background and implications of the series of local authority Section 114 notices which have been issued recently and how Oxford compares to those local authorities and others across the country.

The Panel is asked to note and comment on the contents of the report; and agree any recommendations.

Following a request by the Panel at its meeting on 06 September 2023, the Finance Business Partner (HRA) has submitted a report to brief the Panel on acquisition vs leasing of properties and the HRA. The Panel is asked to note and comment on the contents of the report.

The Panel agreed to have Scrutiny Performance Monitoring as a standing item on its agendas for 2023/24.

The Panel is asked to:

1.    Note and comment on the performance report for KPIs selected by the Finance and Performance Panel in the 2023/24 municipal year as at September 2023.

2.    Agree any written questions to submit for response after the meeting; and/or agree to invite relevant officers to a future meeting.

3.    Note the written responses to questions submitted after the previous Panel meeting on 06 September 2023.

The Panel is asked to note the dates and times of future meetings of the Finance and Performance Panel:

·       22 January 2024, 6pm

·       26 March 2024, 6pm

Meetings will take place remotely via Zoom.

If the Panel wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any aspects of the preceding or following agenda items it will be necessary for the Panel to pass a resolution in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 specifying the grounds on which their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act if and so long, as in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(The Access to Information Procedure Rules – Section 15 of the Council’s Constitution – sets out the conditions under which the public can be excluded from meetings of the Council).