Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE SCRUTINY OFFICER

This report highlights items scheduled in the work programme of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2025-26 civic year. It also includes items that have not yet been assigned to a specific meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

(1)         That the Committee prioritises topics for inclusion in the Work Programme attached as Appendix A and, where appropriate, determines 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, suggests a list of items to be considered at its meetings in the coming civic year.

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 26 minutes 48 seconds

The Scrutiny Officer presented the report entitled ‘Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025-26’ and advised that:

·                Items on Digital Transformation, the Local Plan Review and an Enterprise Portfolio Update were scheduled for the next Committee meeting on 3 February.

·                An item had been submitted through the Work Programme submission form on the inability to challenge the 1874 Road Naming Statute. 

·                The consultation on S106 contributions had finished and the next meeting of the S106 Task and Finish Group was scheduled for 29 January 2026 to finalise findings and recommendations. The final report would be presented at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 24 March.

·                One referral on the Decisions and Monitoring Tracker had been presented to Cabinet on 19 November 2025 and been marked as completed.

Councillor Jon Clayden proposed and Councillor Ralph Muncer seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED:

(1)       that the Committee prioritises topics for inclusion in the Work Programme attached as Appendix A and, where appropriate, determines 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, suggests a list of items to be considered at its meetings in the coming civic year.

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.