Report of Chief Executive attached.

Three questions on report by Conservative Group responded to.

Deemed motion on behalf of Administration and amendment by Conservative Group AGREED by 41 votes to 0 with 7 abstentions.

A report of the Chief Executive detailed key decisions for which an exemption from the call-in (requisition) process had been agreed, between 2 March 2023 and 9 November 2023.

Questions on behalf of the Conservative Group

1. Has there been an increase in the use of call-in exemptions, in comparison to non-covid years? If so, what is the main driver behind that rise? 
2. A large number of the 'reasons for urgency' indicate the decision had to be taken urgently. What measures are being put in place to ensure that there is a longer notice period for decisions, in order to avoid exemption and to allow pre-decision scrutiny?
3. Are the Chief Executive and Leader content that the level of exemptions is healthy?

The Leader of the Council gave the following responses to the questions:

1.             The majority of call-in exemptions related to social care matters and were for urgent decisions relating to either ensuring the continuity of provision or ensuring that Government grants could be obtained.

There had been 12 exemptions granted in 2021-22 and a total of 16 exemptions between May 2022 and November 2023 so the overall rate of exemptions granted was in line with that of previous years.

2.             The wish to minimise the number of exemptions had already been flagged up by both the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board and the Monitoring Officer. All requests for exemptions were thoroughly assessed by the Board Chairman. The Chief Executive was also in discussions with officers to seek to improve the planning of decisions.

3.       The Leader confirmed that he was not happy with the number of exemptions requested and wished to keep these to a minimum.

Deemed motion by the Administration

That the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect.

Amendment by the Conservative Group

That the following additional recommendation be added to the report:

Given the precarious financial situation of Havering Council, and following advice that a lack of scrutiny is a significant driver in local-authorities issuing S114 notices, this council will undertake to put in place robust planning procedures, in order to reduce the use of call-in exemptions. 

Following debate, the deemed motion on behalf of the Administration and the amendment by the Conservative Group were AGREED by 41 votes to 0 with 8 abstentions (see division 1) and AGREED as the substantive motion, without division.

RESOLVED:

That the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect and:

Given the precarious financial situation of Havering Council, and following advice that a lack of scrutiny is a significant driver in local-authorities issuing S114 notices, this council will undertake to put in place robust planning procedures, in order to reduce the use of call-in exemptions.