19 March 2026
NEW FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
Resources and Transformation Overview and Scrutiny Panel
Minutes of a meeting of the Resources and Transformation Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday, 19 March 2026
* Cllr Alan O'Sullivan (Chairman)
* Cllr John Sleep (Vice-Chairman)
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Councillors: |
Councillors:
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* Alan Alvey Jack Davies Jacqui England Barry Rickman
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* Alex Wade * Christine Ward * Phil Woods
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*Present
In attendance:
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Substitute: |
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Alvin Reid
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Councillors: |
Councillors:
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Steve Davies
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Jeremy Heron
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Officers Attending:
Ingrid Archer, Alan Bethune, Matt Clarke, Rebecca Drummond, Matt Wisdom, Saqib Yasin and Lee Ellis
Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllrs J Davies, England and Rickman. Cllr Reid was in attendance as a nominated substitute for Cllr Rickman.
Cllr Cleary, Leader of the Council also sent her apologies.
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Minutes |
RESOLVED:
The minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2026 were confirmed as a correct record.
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Declarations of Interest |
There were no Declarations of Interest.
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Public Participation |
There was no public participation.
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Corporate Plan: Key Performance Data for Quarter 3 2025-2026 |
An overview was provided by the Performance and Insight Manager on the Corporate Plan: Key Performance Data for Quarter 3 2025-2026.
The Chairman raised concern regarding the duplication of HR information reported at both the Resources and Transformation Overview and Scrutiny Panel and the HR Committee. Officers would ensure members received a reminder through their sharepoint site when a workforce metrics report was presented to the HR committee.
A Panel member supported the HR performance data being reported to the Resources and Transformation Overview and Scrutiny Panel due to the impact on employees of local government reorganisation, in particular, tracking reasons for leaving. It was confirmed that local government reorganisation had been added to leaving questionnaires as a reason for leaving the Council.
A Panel member raised a question on KPI No 45 – Benefit realisation from ICT investment and KPI No 47 – Percentage of annual ICT work programme delivered on time and on budget, regarding how targets were measured and whether they should be revised. In response, an explanation was provided on how KPI No 45 was measured, and it was confirmed that all targets were considered as part of the annual target refresh. It was confirmed that in relation to KPI No 47, as projects develop, the updated baseline position would be presented to their respective board for approval. This measure tracks progress against the latest approved baseline position.
RESOLVED:
That the Resources and Transformation Overview and Scrutiny Panel considered and reviewed the Q3 2025 2026 dashboard.
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Programme Update on Local Government Reorganisation |
A Programme Update on Local Government Reorganisation was provided by the Assistant Director – Transformation.
The Chairman thanked the Assistant Director – Transformation for a comprehensive overview on the programme update and suggested that a simplified version be communicated to the public.
A Panel member raised concern regarding the budget for increased officer work due to local government reorganisation and the impact on day-to-day activities. It was confirmed that the Council had agreed in December 2025 that there would be an additional amount of funding for the local government reorganisation reserve to support and undertake initial work on the project and also to support corporate resources over the following two years. The Council was conscious of the resource implications of local government reorganisation and that it was a significant amount of work on top of the work that had already been undertaken. It was confirmed that work had been undertaken on revisiting the Corporate Plan priorities to enable the support of business as usual and local government reorganisation.
A Panel member asked what the role of KPMG was and their cost during local government reorganisation. It was confirmed that KPMG had been commissioned by thirteen of the fifteen authorities and that the KPMG costs were shared. A summary of the governance between the Council and KPMG along with the cost of KPMG to the Council would be circulated, separately, to members.
RESOLVED:
That the Resources and Transformation Overview and Scrutiny Panel noted the report.
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Transformation Programme Update |
An update was provided on the Transformation Programme by the Transformation and Improvement Manager.
A Panel member asked whether the service level agreements and pricing models relating to the Grounds Maintenance Team included Town and Parish Council’s or voluntary groups. It was confirmed that a fundamental review had been undertaken to ensure the Council operated in the best way, was covering costs and was modernising. Further information on Town and Parish Council’s and voluntary groups would be circulated, separately, to the Panel.
Clarification was requested in relation to consideration of projects and procurement work in light of LGR. It was confirmed that officers considered systems used by neighbouring authorities as part of LGR. Neighbouring and comparable authorities’ systems had always been considered and learnt from. Projects would continue to be reviewed in order to ensure the best needs of the council were met.
RESOLVED:
That the Resources and Transformation Overview and Scrutiny Panel noted the report.
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Portfolio Holder's Update |
An update was provided on the Transformation Programme by the Transformation and Improvement Manager.
A Panel member asked whether the service level agreements and pricing models relating to the Grounds Maintenance Team included Town and Parish Council’s or voluntary groups. It was confirmed that a fundamental review had been undertaken to ensure the Council operated in the best way, was covering costs and was modernising. Further information on Town and Parish Council’s and voluntary groups would be circulated, separately, to the Panel.
Clarification was requested in relation to consideration of projects and procurement work in light of LGR. It was confirmed that officers considered systems used by neighbouring authorities as part of LGR. Neighbouring and comparable authorities’ systems had always been considered and learnt from. Projects would continue to be reviewed in order to ensure the best needs of the council were met.
RESOLVED:
That the Resources and Transformation Overview and Scrutiny Panel noted the report.
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Work Programme |
RESOLVED:
That the Work Programme be approved.
The Chairman reminded the Resources and Transformation Overview and Scrutiny Panel members that they were able to suggest agenda items for the Work Programme.
CHAIRMAN