Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

Members received a report concerning the Sub Committee’s Terms of Reference and discussed the proposed amendments, including the following points:

·         Star Chamber interviews had begun and were identifying many cross-departmental opportunities for efficiencies.

·         There was a clear need to strengthen and support the Sub Committee’s remit and have clear direction for future work generated by the Service Based Review.

·         The remit of the Sub Committee should be widened beyond specific programmes and projects such as the Service Based Reviews, Combined Heat and Power system and PP2P, being broad enough to encompass future projects.

·         A process should be developed that brings issues to the Sub Committee for consideration, similar to that for Projects Sub Committee.

·         The existing provision to interview chief officers and scrutinise planned expenditure should be retained.

·         The trigger mechanism should be investigated in order to assess whether they are still relevant moving forwards.

RESOLVED – That:

a)    The terms of reference be amended to read:

                  i.        To consider and advise the Grand Committee on matters relating to value for money in all aspects of the City of London Corporation’s activities

                 ii.        In accordance with Standing Orders to consider, with the Resource Allocation Sub Committee the resource allocation plans for subsequent financial years prior to their approval by the Policy and Resources Committee

               iii.        To review periodically the performance of each Chief Officer in order to promote efficiency and value for money and to ensure, over a period of time, full Member level scrutiny of all expenditure planned.

               iv.        To be responsible for overseeing and monitoring the agreed programme of work arising from the Service Based Review programme and other saving and efficiency programmes ensuring the achievement of savings, and suggesting further areas for examination as appropriate.

                 v.        To review and to monitor performance against the Chamberlain’s Departmental Business Plan and related corporate initiatives in order to promote efficiency and value for money.

               vi.        To make recommendations, where necessary, to bring about improvements in performance

b)    subject to the amendments discussed, the terms of reference be recommended for approval by the Finance Committee; and

c)    a follow up report be considered at the next meeting including a methodology on how the Sub Committee would fulfil its revised terms of reference, including how issues would be submitted to the Sub Committee for consideration.