Decision details

To approve the approach and scope of the review in accordance with the motion.

Matter for Decision

Following the transfer of contracts and services from Cambridge Live to Cambridge City Council in April 2019, the Council intends to commission an independent review of the events leading up to the point at which the trust was unable to continue, in order to better understand what could have been done differently or how best to approach future arrangements. The Officer’s report set out the reasons for review and terms of reference. The review is scheduled to report to Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee in October 2019. The report and review are in response to the motion approved at Council on February 19th 2019:

“Council welcomes the emergency protection provided to the Cambridge Live programme and its customers, given the projected financial losses which jeopardised its future solvency, by returning it in-house to the council. It appreciates the cross-party work of all those involved in implementing the decision and particularly wishes to acknowledge the work of the current Cambridge Live Board.

Council recognises the substantial potential public cost of this rescue, and the role of the Council as founding sponsor and major customer. It is therefore important to understand how far the Council could have done anything differently, either in setup or relationship management, and what key learning points arise.

We therefore request officers to recommend to the June meeting of the Environment & Community Scrutiny Committee terms of reference for an independent review of these issues to report back to a subsequent scrutiny committee.”

Decision of Executive Councillor for Communities

Approved the Purpose, Scope and Method of the review, as set out in the Officer’s report.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Strategic Director.

The Strategic Director said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          The purpose of the review would be to learn from the setup of Cambridge Live and what happened afterwards. Specifically if the City Council or Cambridge Live could have done more to identify issues before Cambridge Live reported issues to the Council.

     ii.          Contacts could be invited, but not compelled, to attend the Review.

   iii.          The report would be brought back to committee in future. Some details may need to be anonymised before being published to avoid people refusing to testify. Answers needed to be open and honest whilst avoiding respondents being vilified in public.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.