The Chair introduced his report that informed that the Children and Families Overview & Scrutiny Committee, in cooperation with the other three Overview & Scrutiny Committees, was responsible for proposing and delivering an annual scrutiny work programme. The report further informed that the work programme should align with the corporate priorities of the Council, in particular the delivery of the Wirral Plan pledges which were within the remit of the Committee.

The Chair’s report provided an update regarding progress made since the last Committee meeting held on 14 November 2017. The current work programme was made up of a combination of scrutiny reviews, workshops, standing items and requested officer reports. The update report provided the committee with an opportunity to plan and regularly review its work across the municipal year. The current work programme for the Committee was attached as an appendix to the report.

The Chair highlighted the forthcoming Member Workshops and Training Sessions, and that at a meeting of the Chairs of the four Overview & Scrutiny Committees, it was agreed to undertake further scrutiny of Universal Credit in February 2018 when the implications of implementing Universal Credit may be better known and the relevant data could be made available to Members. Although not formally part of this Committee’s work programme, it was anticipated that members of all four scrutiny committees will be invited to participate in the workshops. The Chair asked if Members could agree in principal, and that if possible Member please indicate their availability to take part in this work.

The following Members indicated that they would be keen to be involved in the next reality check visit which would focus on the Performance Dashboard:

• Councillor Alan Brighouse (LD)
• Councillor Moira McLaughlin (L)
• Councillor Chris Meaden (L)
• Councillor Cherry Povall (C)
• Councillor Jean Stapleton (L)
• Councillor Adam Sykes (C)

A Member requested that  future dates for the Reality Check Visits be factored into the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s work programme diary for the forthcoming Municipal Year (2018/19).

Resolved – that the updated Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2017/18 be approved.