The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported that due to the absence of Chair and Vice-Chair, it was necessary to appoint a Chair for this meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor C Blakeley be appointed Chair for this meeting.

Members of the Committee are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests, in connection with any application on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

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 special meeting held on 18 July 2012.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the special meeting of the Scrutiny Programme Board held on 18 July 2012 be approved.

·  Council Excellence

·  Children and Young People

·  Economy and Regeneration

·  Health and Well Being

·  Sustainable Communities

The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management presented the work programmes of each of the themed Overview and Scrutiny Committees for the Boards’ information and consideration.

RESOLVED:

That the Scrutiny Work Programmes be noted.

The Scrutiny Programme Board is requested to consider whether any matters should be added to its Work Programme for the remainder of the municipal year, having regard to its terms of reference and available timescales.

The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported that the Scrutiny Programme Board was requested to consider whether any matters should be added to its Work Programme for the remainder of the Municipal Year, having regard to its terms of reference and available timescales.

Councillor S Kelly commented that the Board did resolve to review the format of the Forward Plan.

The Acting Director advised Members that changes had been introduced by the Access to Information Regulations 2012 and that the Forward Plan had been revised in order to ensure compliance.  A more detailed review was being undertaken and the Acting Director advised that this could be brought to the next meeting of the Board for comments.

The Chair requested that the Forward Plan be brought back to this Committee for consideration and to enable the Board to feed comments back to the Council Excellence Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Acting Director confirmed that he would bring the Forward Plan back to the next meeting of this Committee and would also provide some comparative data from neighbouring authorities.

Members commented upon the good work that was being done by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and believed it would be helpful to have some information on what would be coming forward.

RESOLVED:

That the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees be noted.

Minute 24 of the Economy and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee is attached for information.

The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported that the meeting of the Economy and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 5 September 2012 had advised that the potential cross-cutting theme of Child Poverty should remain within the remit of the Economy and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the theme of Child Poverty shall remain within the remit of the Economy and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Further to the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 5 November 2012, the Scrutiny Programme Board is asked to look into the issue of a cross-cutting scrutiny review in respect of the implications of the welfare reforms, particularly in relation to housing matters.

For further information the minute of the Economy and Regeneration Committee of 14 November 2012 is attached together with the report and the scope document which were discussed at the meeting.

The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported that the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 5 November 2012 had asked the Board to look into the issue of a cross-cutting scrutiny review in respect of the implications of the welfare reforms, particularly in relation to housing matters.

Members discussed the issues regarding duplication and what aspects were cross-cutting.  Members discussed the welfare reform and considered whether this should remain within the remit of the Economy and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee or whether a small Sub-Committee consisting of Members of Economy and Regeneration and Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committees should be formed.

Councillor S Kelly reported that the Economy and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee had already undertaken a large amount of work regarding this.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Welfare Reform should remain within the remit of the Economy and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(2)  That a briefing note be produced, providing key details and information in relation to welfare reforms and any cross-cutting issues to the next meeting of this Committee.

The Forward Plan for the period December 2012 to March 2013 has now been published on the Council’s intranet/website and Members are invited to review the Plan prior to the meeting in order for the Scrutiny Programme Board to consider, having regard to the work programme, whether scrutiny should take place of any items contained within the Plan and, if so, how it could be done within relevant timescales and resources.

The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management reported that the Forward Plan for the period December 2012 to March 2013 had been published on the Council’s intranet/website and Members were invited to review the Plan in order to consider whether scrutiny should take place of any items contained within the Plan.

The Acting Director advised that the Plan was to be updated in light of the changes to the Access to Information and reported that he would bring the updated version back to the next meeting of this Committee.

RESOLVED:

That an updated Forward Plan be brought back to the next meeting of this Committee, scheduled to be held on 19 February 2013.