Issue - meetings

To receive a report from Overview & Scrutiny Committee setting out the Scrutiny Annual Work Programme and workstreams identified for 2015/16.                 (Report No.54A)

Members are asked to note:

·                that the report has been referred on to Council for formal approval following consideration by Overview & Scrutiny Committee (2 June 15) & consultation with Cabinet (16 September 15).

·                Any comments made by Cabinet on 16^th September 2015 will be reported to Council as part of the Council amendment sheet tabled at the meeting.

Councillor Levy moved and Councillor Smith seconded the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (No.54A) setting out the Scrutiny Annual Work Programme and workstreams identified by Overview & Scrutiny Committee (OSC) for 2015/16.

NOTED

1.         The work programme and workstreams had been referred onto Council for formal approval following consideration by Overview & Scrutiny Committee (2 June 2015) and consultation with Cabinet on 16 September 2015.

2.         The work programme proposed by OSC included programmes for both the Standing Panels on Health & Crime as well as a list of the agreed workstreams prioritised for 2015/16 (Appendix 2) and additional list of potential workstreams identified by Members (Appendix 3).

3.      The important role of scrutiny with the context of the Council’s governance arrangements and also in relation to member development.

4.      The more outcome based, balanced and flexible approach towards scrutiny provided through the workstreams and need identified to ensure consistency in membership in order to allow members to develop their knowledge and expertise in the areas being reviewed.

5.      Cabinet, in considering and recommending the work programme and work streams to Council had noted their wide ranging and flexible nature, alongside the need:

a.      to ensure that Cabinet Members were invited to engage in reviews relating to services within their portfolio as well as with OSC on a more systematic basis outside of the formal work programme; and

b.      to ensure, subject to available resources and time, that OSC were encouraged to take as wide a view as possible in terms of scrutiny’s role around policy and service development including looking at areas of service not currently being provided and the justification for this.

6.      Despite initial concerns expressed by the Opposition Group regarding the recent changes introduced to the scrutiny function it was felt that a lot of valuable work had been undertaken on a cross party basis under the new scrutiny model.  Concerns were however recognised in relation to the need to ensure that members from both groups were encouraged to attend, participate and engage in the scrutiny process.

7.      The thanks expressed by members to the officers involved in supporting the scrutiny function for their help in delivering a comprehensive and well balanced scrutiny programme.

The recommendations in the report were then put to the vote and agreed unanimously, without further debate or a vote.

AGREED to approve adoption of the 2015/16 scrutiny work programme and workstreams for the Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

To receive a report from Overview & Scrutiny Committee setting out the Scrutiny Annual Work Programme including the potential workstreams identified for 2014/15.       (Report No.77)

Members are asked to note that the report has been referred on to Council for formal approval following consideration by Overview & Scrutiny Committee (24 July 14) & consultation with Cabinet (12 August 14).

RECEIVED the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (No.77) setting out the Scrutiny Annual Work Programme and workstreams identified by Overview & Scrutiny Committee for 2014/15.

NOTED the work programme and workstreams had been referred onto Council for formal approval following consideration by Overview & Scrutiny Committee (24 July 2014) and consultation with Cabinet on 12 August 2014.

AGREED to approve adoption of the 2014/15 scrutiny work programme and workstreams for the Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee, as detailed in Appendix 1, of the report.

To receive a report from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee setting out the annual programme for the Council’s Scrutiny Panels and Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  (Report No.58)

Members are asked to note that the report was considered and approved for recommendation onto Council by Cabinet on 18 September 2013.

Councillor Toby Simon moved and Councillor Michael Rye seconded the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (No: 58) setting out the annual programme for the Council’s Scrutiny Panels and Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

NOTED

1.            The report had been considered and approved for recommendation on to Council by Cabinet on 18 September 2013.

2.            The thanks expressed by Councillor Simon, as Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, for the work undertaken by all scrutiny members in support of the scrutiny function and for the bipartisan approach towards scrutiny, which it was felt represented a a good example of members working effectively together.

3.            The work programme would be kept under review and changes made as required throughout the year.

4.            The opportunities provided through the scrutiny system for members to examine areas of interest and make a difference through a wide range of detailed and overarching reviews.

5.            The thanks expressed on behalf of the other Scrutiny Chairs to members on their respective Panels as well as officers for their support and efforts in delivering the work programme and in terms of providing good opportunities for public engagement.

AGREED that Council formally adopt the annual Scrutiny Work Programme 2013/14, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.