At its meeting on 14 December 2022, Cabinet considered the following reports from the Scrutiny Committee and made responses to the recommendations:

·       Thriving Communities Strategy 2023-2027

·       Grant Allocations to Community & Voluntary Organisations 2023/24

·       Authority Monitoring Report and Infrastructure Funding Statement 2021/22

·       Workplace Equalities and Action Plan

Since the last meeting of the Scrutiny Committee, the Finance and Performance Panel met on 07 December 2022.  The Panel considered reports to Cabinet on Integrated Performance Report Q2 and Treasury Management Mid-year Review for April-September 2022.  It made no recommendations to Cabinet on 14 December.

The Panel noted the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2024-25 to 2026-27 and 2023-24 Budget for Consultation which had been published on 06 December 2022 in readiness for Cabinet on 14 December.  The Panel began to prepare a list of written questions to Heads of Service which were to form part of the discussion for the Budget Review Group.

The Budget Review Group has met three times, on 04 January, 05 January, and 10 January 2023.  It will meet a fourth time on 19 January 2023 in order to agree its draft report.  This will be confirmed by the Finance and Performance Panel on 23 January 2023 and submitted to the Scrutiny Committee for its approval on 01 February 2023.

The Climate and Environment Panel will have met for the first time by the time of the Scrutiny Committee's meeting.  It will have met on 11 January 2023 for a briefing by Professor Nick Eyre, the Scientific Adviser to the Council.  An update will be provided to the Committee.

The Committee noted the following Cabinet responses to its recommendations:

·       Thriving Communities Strategy 2023-2027

·       Grant Allocations to Community & Voluntary Organisations 2023/24

·       Authority Monitoring Report and Infrastructure Funding Statement 2021/22

·       Workplace Equalities and Action Plan

The Committee noted that since the Scrutiny Committee’s previous meeting, the Finance and Performance Panel had met on 07 December 2022, The Budget Review Group met three times on 04 January 2023, 05 January 2023 and 10 January 2023, and will meet again on 19 January 2023 to agree its draft report.  The Climate and Environment Panel met on 11 January 2023 for a briefing by Professor Nick Eyre, the Scientific Adviser to the Council.