Members are asked to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.

Members are reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they are subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.

Members were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests in connection with any items on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they were.

Members were reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they were subject to a party whip in connection with any items to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.

No such declarations were made.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 30 May 2012.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Programme Board held on 30 May 2012 be amended as follows:

That the following sentence be added to the last paragraph of the preamble:-

“to enable Members to be involved in the improvement of the Forward Plan and structure”.

The Special meeting of the Scrutiny Programme Board has been arranged to consider the work programmes of the five Overview and Scrutiny Committees in accordance with minute 4 (30/5/12):

·  Council Excellence

·  Children and Young People

·  Economy and Regeneration

·  Health and Well Being

·  Sustainable Communities

The minutes of the five themed Overview and Scrutiny Committees, in relation to their work programmes, are attached together with the work programmes that are available.

The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon the work programmes of each of the five themed Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Members discussed the work programmes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees, made suggestions regarding the review of each Committee and expressed concerns regarding duplication of work.  Members commented upon the work carried out at some of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees which had been well received.

Members also discussed the Council’s Forward Plan to ensure that they were involved in its improvement and that it was effective.

Resolved -

(1)  That:

1. Every Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairperson shall meet, as soon as possible, with the other two party spokespersons of their Committee and:

2. The Improvement Board be reminded and asked to note that:

3. Relevant Council Officers involved in overview and scrutiny work shall review all the work programmes of Overview and Scrutiny Committees and identify any areas of duplication (or potential duplication) whether in relation to the work that is planned (or already being undertaken) or in relation to the resources being expended (or likely to be expended) in undertaking the work programmes.

The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management (or his nominee) shall present the findings of the review to the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(2)  That training be delivered to Members from the Centre of Public Scrutiny.

This matter was accepted by the Chair as a matter of other business.  

The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported upon a request received from the Corporate Policy Manager to hold a series of scrutiny workshops to review background information and options and to invite additional stakeholders and experts as appropriate.

Resolved - That the request that Council officers work with scrutiny chairs and members to deliver these workshops as part of individual work programmes be agreed.

A member of the public attended the meeting and expressed concern regarding the decision to move the Vascular Services from Arrowe Park Hospital to the Countess of Chester.

Resolved -

That the Leader be requested to write to the Secretary of State for Health regarding the decision to move the Vascular Services from Arrowe Park Hospital to the Countess of Chester.