Agenda item

REPORT OF THE SCRUTINY OFFICER

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 Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme be noted;

(2)       That the following be added to the list of potential Task and Finish Groups/Reviews:

·                Communication in a crisis;

·                Implementation of the new waste and recycling contract

(3)       That Councillors Kate Aspinwall, Steve Deakin-Davies, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Jean Green and Janine Paterson be requested to meet at 6.30pm on 24 July 2018 in order to draw up a draft scope for a review of the Implementation of the new waste and recycling contract;

(4)       That, in addition to the list of proposed items for consideration at the meeting due to be held on 24 July 2018, the following also be considered:

·                Whether Items due to be considered by Council could be considered by this Committee;

·                Draft scope for a review of the implementation of the new waste and recycling contract.

(5)       That the following be added to the list of Items to be scheduled for future meetings:

·                Local Plan Modifications

REASON FOR DECISION: To enable the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to plan and carry out its workload efficiently and effectively.

The Chief Executive presented the report entitled Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme and drew attention to the following:

Member Workshop on Scrutiny

The Chief Executive drew attention to Paragraph 5.2 of the report which referenced the planned workshop.

The Scrutiny Officer was in dialogue with the Office of Public Scrutiny to draw together a programme for this workshop

Part of effective scrutiny was being able to present recommendations in a way that was acceptable and achievable.

Members commented that it was important that there was dialogue between this Committee and Cabinet to find a way to ensure that the best possible outcomes were achieved from recommendations made by this Committee.

Lessons Learnt Log

Members commented that this needed updating.

Members discussed that it would be valuable for this Committee to meet with Heads of Service to see how the lessons leant log was used.

Task and Finish Groups

Several subjects were awaiting scheduling as follows:

Consultation and Engagement                       Waste Contract

Review of MOU Grants                                  Review of Hitchin Town Hall

Parking Strategy                                             Commercialisation Strategy

Effectiveness of the Community Halls Strategy

Members considered that there should be a Task and Finish Group on Communication and Communication in a Crisis and that the proposed Waste contract Task and Finish Group be retitled as Implementation of the New Waste Contract.

The Chief Executive advised that basing detail gathered for Task and Finish Group investigations around specific projects was sometimes unhelpful, rather a schematic view that was more useful.

It was important to have an overview of how events and tasks were managed and try to draw out key learning points that could be applied to a specific project or more widely.

The proposed Task and Finish Group on Consultation and Engagement was based on the Council’s Consultation Strategy and this was an area that would benefit from an overview and that Business Continuity elements should be considered at this time.

Members considered that a draft scope should be prepared for a Task and Finish Group on the Implementation of the new Waste Contract and that a small group of Members be tasked with preparing the scope outside of the meeting. It was agreed that Councillor Weeks be invited to help with this task.

Councillors Kate Aspinwall, Steve Deakin-Davies, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Jean Green and Janine Paterson volunteered to undertake this task.

Forward Plan

Members considered that the following items listed on the Forward Plan should be considered by this Committee:

Local Plan Modifications

Approach to Developer Contributions in North Hertfordshire

Corporate Enforcement Policy

Work Programme

Members commented that not all decisions appeared on the Forward Plan and that any project regarding Churchgate should be considered by this Committee.

The Chief Executive advised that any decision regarding Churchgate would be considered by full Council.

Members queried whether this Committee could consider reports due to be considered by Council.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme be noted;

(2)       That the following be added to the list of potential Task and Finish Groups/Reviews:

·                Communication and Communication in a crisis;

·                Implementation of the new waste and recycling contract;

(3)       That Councillors Kate Aspinwall, Steve Deakin-Davies, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Jean Green and Janine Paterson be requested to meet at 6.30pm on 24 July 2018 in order to draw up a draft scope for a review of the Implementation of the new waste and recycling contract and that Councillor Weeks be invited to help with this task;

(4)       That, in addition to the list of proposed items for consideration at the meeting due to be held on 24 July 2018, the following also be considered:

·                Whether Items due to be considered by Council could be considered by this Committee;

·                Draft scope for a review of the implementation of the new waste and recycling contract.

(5)       That the following be added to the list of Items to be scheduled for future meetings:

·                Local Plan Modifications

·                Approach to Developer Contributions in North Hertfordshire

·                Corporate Enforcement Policy

REASON FOR DECISION:  To enable the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to plan and carry out its workload efficiently and effectively.