The Committee considered a report from the Scrutiny Officer which explained the process of developing and managing a scrutiny work programme for the current municipal year. The report also updated the Committee on the current status of scrutiny reviews and workshops on a variety of topics.

With regard to the review of scrutiny arrangements, the Chair referred to a meeting of Scrutiny Committee chairs which would be taking place on 17 July, 2019. The Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee would be referring a report on the matter to Council and it was suggested that the Chair and Party spokespersons from this Committee refer their comments to the Standards and Constitutional Oversight Committee.

With regard to the Camper Vans Scrutiny Review, Councillor Steve Foulkes agreed that the Labour Group would supply a name to replace Councillor Pat Hackett who was part of the original Task and Finish review.

The Chair referred to the need for a Task and Finish review into road safety issues and it was agreed that this be added to the Committee’s work programme.

It was then moved by Councillor Steve Williams and seconded by Councillor Tony Cox, that –

“This Committee writes to the Mayor and asks that Notices of Motion submitted for debate at Council are not sent to this Committee.

For the last few years the Committee’s work plan has been at capacity, with items often being carried over to the next municipal year, and some never being debated.

The Committee regularly holds extra meetings and workshops and, in addition, five extra meetings were announced yesterday regarding the Local Plan.”

Some Members expressed the view that it was not the business of this Committee to interfere in constitutional arrangements.

Following advice from the Committee’s legal representative, that the referral of Notices of Motion to Overview and Scrutiny Committees was at the discretion of the Mayor and the motion before the Committee was to ask the Mayor to not exercise that discretion, the motion was put and it was –

Resolved (7:3) (Two abstentions) -

This Committee writes to the Mayor and asks that Notices of Motion submitted for debate at Council are not sent to this Committee.

For the last few years the Committee’s work plan has been at capacity, with items often being carried over to the next municipal year, and some never being debated.

The Committee regularly holds extra meetings and workshops and, in addition, five extra meetings were announced yesterday regarding the Local Plan.