Agenda and minutes

The Chair to note any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence was received from Councillors Bottwood and Russell.

The public can speak on any agenda item for a maximum of three minutes per speaker per item.   Please register your intention to speak with the Democratic and Member Services Manager.  Once registered to speak, an invitation will be sent to join the Zoom video conferencing webinar for this meeting.

There were none.

The Scrutiny Panel to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2020 were signed by the Chair as an accurate record.

The Scrutiny Panel to review its draft conclusions and recommendations for inclusion in the final report of the Scrutiny Panel.  A copy of the scope of the review is also attached.

The meeting adjourned at 19:05 hours and reconvened at 19:20 hours in order that the Scrutiny Panel could consider the draft conclusions and recommendations.

The Scrutiny Panel then considered the draft conclusions and recommendations and made the following comments and made suggestions to the draft document as attached to the minutes.

The Scrutiny Panel queried whether contractors operating on behalf of the Authority were living wage employers.  It was highlighted that there is a difference between being an accredited Living Wage employer and an employer adopting a Living Wage Policy.

It was noted that the School Holiday Voucher Scheme implemented by the Government due to the Covid19 situation was not something that the Scrutiny Panel had had discussions on and should therefore be removed from the conclusions of the report. It might however be beneficial for the Panel to recommend to the Overview and Scrutiny  that food poverty is revisited.

Further recommendations were suggested for inclusion in the report of the Scrutiny Panel:

That it is recommended to the West Northamptonshire Authority that it is an accredited Living Wage employer.

That it is recommended to Cabinet and the West Northamptonshire Authority that a town wide initiative is investigated regarding the provision of free breakfasts that some schools are needing to provide free breakfasts to pupils.

That it is recommended to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the Scrutiny Panel undertakes a further mini review revisiting food poverty due to the Covid19 situation. 

That Cabinet, in working with other Organisations, designates Food Poverty Champions for the town and the Food Champions attend monthly Welfare Reform meetings.

That, in respect of the funding provided to the voluntary and community sector is considered.

AGREED: That the updated conclusions and recommendations, as appended to the minutes, would be included with the draft report of the Chair of this Scrutiny Panel.