Agenda item

Work Programmes of Overview and Scrutiny Committees

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.

Minutes:

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:

 

  1. Review the work programme of their Overview and Scrutiny Committee (whether planned or being undertaken) for this Municipal Year, and prioritise the work (with assistance of relevant Council officers) consistently with the Council’s Corporate Plan approved by Council on 16 July 2012;

 

  1. Consider the work programmes of all other Overview and Scrutiny Committees and identify (with assistance from relevant Council officers) areas of work that involve (or may involve) cross-cutting issues and/or clear synergies (whether in law, fact or issue) with areas of work falling within their own Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme.

 

  1. The Acting Director of Law, HR and Asset Management (or his nominee) shall report the outcome the meeting(s) referred to above to the Scrutiny Programme Board at its next meeting.

 

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

 

  1. the Scrutiny Programme Board offers its assistance with regards to taking forward any improvement action, initiative or area of work that the Improvement Board considers appropriate; and

 

  1. the Scrutiny Programme Board is, as part of its work programme, reviewing the Council’s Forward Plan (which includes its structure and any work undertaken to date) to it to ensure the Plan is effective in delivering its objectives and purpose.

 

  1. 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.

Supporting documents: