Agenda item

Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Work Programme Update

Minutes:

The Chair introduced his report that set out the process of developing and managing the scrutiny work programme for the municipal year. The report informed that the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in cooperation with the other three Overview and Scrutiny Committees, was responsible for the proposing and delivery of an annual scrutiny work programme.

 

The Chair informed that it was anticipated that the work programme would be delivered through a combination of:

 

  • Scrutiny reviews undertaken by task and finish groups
  • Evidence days and workshops
  • Committee reports provided by officers
  • Standing committee agenda items, for example, performance monitoring and financial monitoring
  • Spotlight sessions 
  • Standing panels (where deemed necessary) 

 

He explained that some of the selected topics may cut across the Wirral Plan themes and it was anticipated that some of the scrutiny topics may be of interest to members of more than one committee. In these circumstances, opportunities for members of more than one committee to work jointly on an item of scrutiny work would be explored.  Regular work programme update reports will provide the committee with an opportunity to plan and regularly review its work across the Municipal Year.

 

The Chair’s report included a summary of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme Items, namely:

 

Modern Slavery Scrutiny Review - a scoping meeting for the scrutiny review of the implications of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 had been held on 27th March and the Panel had formulated and agreed the scope of the review - attached as an appendix to the report. Members noted that although a number of contacts had been made with leading regional organisations in this field and evidence sessions had been scheduled for April and May, the election period and changes to Committee membership had delayed further progress with the review. The remaining panel members, Cllrs Carubia, Muspratt and Pilgrim confirmed their wishes to continue their involvement with the review and informed that they were preparing to conduct the first evidence session in the coming weeks. Cllr Usher was nominated as a fourth member, and it was agreed that the membership of the Task and Finish Group be confirmed accordingly.

 

Flood Risk Standing Panel - at a meeting of the Wirral Flood and Water Management Partnership (WFWMP) in May 2017, it was agreed that the WFWMP would provide an appropriate forum for the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee to carry out its statutory scrutiny of flood and water management arrangements. It was further agreed that the three elected representatives on the WFWMP should be members of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The WFWMP Terms of Reference were being revised to reflect the strengthened scrutiny role. These were to be agreed at the next WFWMP meeting and presented to the following meeting of Committee for approval. Members were requested to nominate three cross-party Members of the Wirral Flood and Water Management Partnership. Membership nominations were agreed as follows: Cllrs Cllr P. Stuart (Labour), Cllr B. Berry (Conservative) and Cllr C. Carubia (Liberal Democrat).

 

Development of the Scrutiny Work Programme - in consideration of how best to further develop the work programme for the 2017/18 municipal year, The Chair informed that it was proposed that a dedicated work programme planning session, open to all Members of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, be arranged prior to the next Committee meeting in September. Members unable to attend were invited to suggest possible topics for inclusion in the Work Programme.

 

Resolved – That

 

(1)  the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for 2017/18 be approved;

 

(2)  membership of the Task and Finish Group for the Modern Slavery Act scrutiny review be confirmed as:

 

Cllr C. Muspratt (Labour)

Cllr T. Pilgrim (Labour)

Cllr T. Usher (Labour)

Cllr C. Carubia (Liberal Democrat);

 

(3)  membership of the cross-party Wirral Flood and Water Management Partnership be confirmed as:

 

Cllr P. Stuart (Labour)

Cllr B. Berry (Conservative)

Cllr C. Carubia (Liberal Democrat); and

 

(4)  a Work Programme Planning Session, open to all Members of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee be convened - to allow further detailed consideration of the Work Programme in advance of the next scheduled Committee meeting in September.

 

Supporting documents: