The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management provided an overview and outlined the main provisions of the following pieces of new legislation, which affected the way that scrutiny was to be approached now and in the future –

·  The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, which came into effect on 1 April 2009;

·  The Police and Justice Act 2006, which came into effect on 30 April 2009; and

·  The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, which received Royal Assent on 12 November 2009.

He commented also that the Department of Health was reviewing Health Scrutiny and he referred to a consultation paper ‘Strengthening Local Democracy’, issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government, which explored whether local government had the powers it needed to meet today's challenges, as part of the Government's drive to renew Britain's democracy and build trust in the political system at all levels.

There were wide ranging proposals set out in the consultation document which, if implemented, could have far reaching implications for the future of local government. The paper stated that some of the changes proposed could be achieved rapidly but it also set the parameters for the debate over the next five to ten years. It also recognised that proposals in the paper would impose costs on local authorities and it stated that any net additional cost (taking into account any savings made as a result of implementing proposals) to local authorities would be fully and properly funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government. Members commented upon the value of a presentation to all Members of the Council of the impact of new legislation.

Resolved –

(1)  That the progress of the legislation, that has or will affect the remit of Scrutiny, set out in the report now submitted, be noted.

(2)  That the progress of the Department of Health’s review of Health Scrutiny be noted.

(3)  That a further report be presented to a future meeting of the Board upon the detail of the Department of Communities and Local Government’s response to the consultation carried out following the publication of its consultation paper “Strengthening Local Democracy”, setting out the proposed next steps.

(4)  That a presentation to Members on the impact of new legislation be undertaken as part of the Member Development training regime.