To consider and determine referral from Cabinet and the Policy and Performance Coordinating Committee reference ‘Review of Scrutiny Arrangements.

Minutes of the Policy and Performance – Coordinating Committee (Wednesday, 15 June 2016).

Proposed amendments to Cabinet Minute – Review of Scrutiny Arrangements

The matter requiring approval was in relation to the Review of Scrutiny Arrangements and the recommendations from Cabinet of 6 June, 2016 (minute 8 refers). This matter had also been considered by the Policy and Performance – Coordinating Committee at its meeting held on 15 June, 2016 (minute 4 refers).

Changes to the Scrutiny function required a change to the Council’s Constitution and Calendar of Meetings. Appointments to the new Committees were required and consequently, required the approval of Council.

Appended to the report were:

Appendix 1  - Transfer of Scrutiny Work Programme Items

Appendix 2  - Appointments and Revised Calendar of Meetings

  Appendix 3  - Revised Article 6 and Table 2 - Responsibility for Functions of  the Constitution

Appendix 4  - Revised Part 4a - Standing Order 35

Appendix 5  - Revised Part 4d Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules

Councillor Ann McLachlan formally presented the recommendation to Council, seconded by Councillor Phil Davies.

That the proposed changes to the Council’s scrutiny arrangements set out in the Cabinet report and its appendices be approved (as appended to these minutes).

Two amendments which had been circulated in advance of the meeting were submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(1) and (9), as follows:

Amendment (1)

Proposed by Councillor Jeff Green

Seconded by Councillor Lesley Rennie

(1)  Council is concerned that, since the meeting of the Coordinating Committee held on 15th June 2016, information subsequently provided on how the Review of Scrutiny Arrangements was undertaken is scant, however what has been relayed to Members clearly shows the process and methodology used is seriously flawed.

(2)  Council is troubled about the lack of thought that has been given to protect the democratic process in the apparent haste to drive these proposals through and the lack of consultation or expert help that has been sought to draw up these proposals. This is a retrograde step and a feature of an inward looking Council.

(3)  Council notes that the Leader of the Council and his Cabinet have not implemented the recommendations from the LGA Peer review undertaken in November 2015 namely that:  “the role of scrutiny may be enhanced in the longer term by offering opposition members a leadership role on the Policy & Performance Committees.” 

(4)  Council therefore recommends a pause to this process to enable Cabinet to  commission an independent, expert view from the Centre for Public Scrutiny via the Local Government Association on the ‘Review of Scrutiny Arrangements’ tabled at Cabinet at its meeting held on 6th June 2016.

Prior to the vote on the amendment Jeff Green and five Conservative Members rose to request a ‘card vote’.

A ‘card vote’ was then taken and the Council divided as follows:

For the motion (23) Councillors T Anderson, B Berry, C Blakeley, E Boult, A Brighouse, D Burgess-Joyce, C Carubia, P Cleary, Mrs W Clements, D Elderton, G Ellis, P Gilchrist, J Green, A Hodson, K Hodson, S Kelly, I Lewis, D Mitchell, L Rennie, L Rowlands, A Sykes, G Watt and S Williams.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20

Report of the Strategic Director – Transformation and Resources

The Team Leader – Performance and Scrutiny introduced his report which informed that the Cabinet at its meeting held on 6 June 2016 had considered a report setting out proposed new arrangements for the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny function.  The proposals sought to amend the Council’s overview and scrutiny arrangements in order to better align them with and support and challenge the effective delivery of the Wirral Plan. The Cabinet had been informed that this would ensure that the scrutiny function added value in support of better outcomes for Wirral residents. The Cabinet Report and its five appendices were appended to the report. 

The Cabinet had noted that the proposed changes would involve replacing the four Policy and Performance Committees with three Overview and Scrutiny Committees based around the Wirral Plan themes of People, Business and Environment.  If implemented it would mean that this Committee would no longer exist.

The Committee was informed that the subsequent resolution of the Cabinet supported the proposals referring the report for consideration to this Committee in advance of it being referred to the Council for approval.  Subject to approval, consideration would need to be given to how existing items in the scrutiny work programme would be transferred and a proposal for this was included as Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report.  The changes would also require a number of amendments to the Council’s Constitution and the required revisions were included in Appendix 2 – 5 of the Cabinet report.

The proposals approved by the Cabinet were as follows:

  ‘RESOLVED: That

(1)  the proposed changes to the Council’s scrutiny arrangements set out in the report and its appendices be approved;

(2)  the proposed changes detailed in the report and its appendices be referred for consideration to the Policy and Performance Co-ordinating Committee for consideration at its meeting scheduled for 15 June 2016; and

(3)  the proposed changes to the Council’s scrutiny arrangements detailed in the report (including Appendices) and the views of the Co-ordinating Committee as confirmed at its meeting on 15 June be referred to an extraordinary meeting of Council to be held on 27 June 2016 for consideration and approval.’

Councillor M McLaughlin informed the Committee that she intended to take questions and comments on whether it was considered the right approach to match the proposed new Overview and Scrutiny Committees to the themes of the Wirral Plan.  Members proceeded to provide their opinions on and debate what was being proposed to improve the Council’s scrutiny function.  Points put forward included the following:

·  This was a positive step as scrutiny would be more focussed around the Wirral Plan.  Pre-scrutiny was welcomed but the arrangements for it must be right.  It was considered that the direction the Council was going in with scrutiny would work if there was cross party co-operation.

·  How the Council’s performance would be monitored was queried.  A new performance management framework had been developed around the Wirral Plan and its twenty Pledges and these reports would come through scrutiny.  Training  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4