Agenda and minutes

76.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2023.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct

77.1     There were none.

Notification of any items which the Lead Member considers urgent and proposes to take at the appropriate part of the agenda.

78.1     There were none.

79.1     Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

80.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer together with exempt information contained in a later agenda item.

DECISIONS

80.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Note the strategic review and consultation activity which has led to identifying a Microsoft Teams based telephony as the preferred solution.

2) Note the shared outcomes that this change has with other programmes of work including the opportunity to enhance digital skills, reduce carbon impact and aid building rationalisation.

3) Approve the initiation of procurement activity and delegation of the subsequent contract award to the Chief Operating Officer.

REASONS

80.3     There are a multitude of drivers including contract end dates, ageing hardware and change of working patterns that have resulted in the need for the Council to review options for a replacement telephony service.

To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting for the remaining agenda item on the grounds that if the public and press were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as specified in paragraph 1 and 3 of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), namely information relating to any individual and information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

81.1     It was RESOLVED to exclude the public and press for the remaining agenda items on the grounds that if the public and press were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as specified in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), namely information relating to any individual and information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

82.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer which provided exempt information in support of an earlier item on the agenda.

DECISIONS

82.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to note the exempt information set out in the report in support of an earlier agenda item.

REASONS

82.3     The report contained exempt information in relation to an earlier item on the agenda.

Report by the Chief Operating Officer

83.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

DECISIONS

83.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

1) Authorise the writing-off of eight debts amounting to £120,843.43 in the Council’s 2022/2023 accounts;

2) Note that provision is made for bad and doubtful debts; and

3) Note the positive steps being put in place to make improvements going forward.

REASONS

83.3     There is no prospect of recovering the five outstanding debts.