Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, MEMBER AND SCRUTINY MANAGER

To consider the issues that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee plans to review at future meetings and the activities of its sub-groups.

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the Committee prioritised topics for inclusion in the work programme attached as Appendix A and, where appropriate, determined the high-level form and timing of scrutiny input.

(2)   That the Committee, having considered the most recent iteration of the Forward Plan, as attached at Appendix B, suggested a list of items to be considered at its meetings in the coming civic year.

(3)   That the Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan as attached at Appendix C was considered.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   To allow the Committee to set a work programme which provides focused Member oversight, encourages open debate and seeks to achieve service improvement through effective policy development and meaningful policy and service change.

(2)   The need to observe Constitutional requirements and monitor the Forward Plan for appropriate items to scrutinise remains a key aspect of work programming.

Audio recording – 3 hours 6 minutes 57 seconds

The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Manager presented the report entitled ‘Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme’ and drew attention to the following:

·       The most recent version of the Forward Plan uploaded on 5 January was still the most recent version ahead of Cabinet meeting in February.

·       The Forward Plan would next be updated on 16 February ahead of the Cabinet meeting in March.

·       Members should advise the Committee, Member and Scrutiny Manager, or email the Scrutiny inbox details of any items for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

·       The report on the Harkness Court Project Call to Account would be presented at the March meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       The draft Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report would also be presented at the March meeting and would then be referred to Council.

·       There were no further updates for the Committee regarding the Local Government Association (LGA) peer review.

·       The Scrutiny Officer interviews would take place on 31 January. There had been 9 applications, with 4 people shortlisted for interview.

·       Audio visual equipment was being installed in rooms 2 and 3 to enable the recording and broadcasting of meetings held in those rooms.

In response to a question from Councillor Ralph Muncer, the Committee, Member and Scrutiny Manager advised that rooms 2 and 3 would not solely be used for scrutiny meetings but could be used for any smaller committees and also Task and Finish groups to enable meetings to be held in a less formal environment to the chamber.

Councillor Adam Compton proposed and Councillor Val Bryant seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the Committee prioritised topics for inclusion in the work programme attached as Appendix A and, where appropriate, determined the high-level form and timing of scrutiny input.

(2)   That the Committee, having considered the most recent iteration of the Forward Plan, as attached at Appendix B, suggested a list of items to be considered at its meetings in the coming civic year.

(3)   That the Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan as attached at Appendix C was considered.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   To allow the Committee to set a work programme which provides focused Member oversight, encourages open debate and seeks to achieve service improvement through effective policy development and meaningful policy and service change.

(2)   The need to observe Constitutional requirements and monitor the Forward Plan for appropriate items to scrutinise remains a key aspect of work programming.