Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual

Contact: Neil Carr  Democratic & Electoral Services Specialist

Note: Virtual meeting 

Items
No. Item

62.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

63.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 431 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 November 2020.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 25 November 2020 were confirmed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman at a later date.

64.

Declaration of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

65.

Public Question Time

To answer any public questions. A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice. The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of this Committee.

 

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Committee or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

66.

Member Question Time

To answer any Member questions.

Minutes:

There were no Member questions.

67.

WBC Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic pdf icon PDF 125 KB

To note the Committee’s final report to the Executive on the Council’s response to the pandemic and to consider any issues arising for inclusion in the 2021/22 Overview and Scrutiny Work Programmes.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 15 to 46, which referred to the Committee’s report: WBC Response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The Committee had agreed the 10 recommendations in the report on the pandemic at its meeting on 25 November 2020. The final report brought together the results of a number of Scrutiny reviews undertaken by the four Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

 

The report would be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 25 February 2021. The Executive would also consider a report setting out the officer response to the recommendations in the O&S report.

 

The Committee was requested to consider the process for developing the O&S report on the pandemic and any learning points. It was also asked to consider any ongoing issues for inclusion in the 2021/22 Overview and Scrutiny Work Programmes (considered later on the Agenda).

 

In the ensuing discussion, the following points were raised:

 

The recommendations in the report did not include reference to the importance of building on the improved levels of partnership working arising out of the pandemic. It was confirmed that the Committee’s report had been submitted and could not be amended. However, it was possible to ask the Executive to consider further points alongside the recommendations in the report.

 

A number of positive operational issues had arisen during the pandemic, including the move to home working, positive support to care homes and rough sleepers and new methods of service delivery. It was suggested that this point also be referred to the Executive for consideration.

 

Could the report to the Executive include an update on the latest developments relating to the Council’s response to the pandemic?

 

Could the report to the Executive be re-titled: WBC “initial” response to the pandemic?

 

It was suggested that two items be considered for inclusion in the 2021/22 Work Programme:

 

·           Opportunities arising out of the “green recovery” from the pandemic;

 

·           The impact of the pandemic on the Council’s structures and ways of working – the new normal.

 

The report on the pandemic highlighted the impact on female employment. It was suggested that the impact of the current lockdown on nurseries be highlighted in that Early Years settings were funded based on the number of children actually attending rather than the number of children registered. It was suggested that this issue be raised at the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was proposed by Sarah Kerr and seconded by Guy Grandison that:

·           the Executive ensures that the improved partnership working between the Council and external organisations not only continues, but is further developed.

·           the Executive ensures that the lessons learnt from operationally managing the pandemic are not only continued, but are further developed and supported.

On being put to the vote, the proposal was approved.

RESOLVED That:

1)     the final version of the O&S report on the WBC response to the pandemic be noted;

 

2)     in addition to the recommendations in the report, the Chairman write to the Leader of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

68.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Programmes for 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 276 KB

To agree the process for developing the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programmes for 2021/22.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 47 to 54, which set out proposals to develop the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programmes for 2021/22.

 

The report stated that effective work programming was a Member-led process aimed at shortlisting and prioritising issues of community concern together with issues arising out of the Council Vision and Corporate Delivery Plan and major policy or service changes. It aimed to:

 

·           reflect local needs and concerns;

·           prioritise topics for scrutiny which had the most impact or benefit;

·           involve local residents and stakeholders;

·           be flexible enough to respond to new or urgent issues.

 

The report stated that, in order to generate ideas and involvement from local residents, community groups and stakeholders, the Council’s website and social media would be used to publicise the development of the Work Programmes. In considering potential issues for review, Members would take into account the previously agreed selection criteria:

 

·           Whether the issue was of local, and preferably current, concern;

·           Whether undertaking the review can be linked to the Council’s Vision, priorities and underpinning principles or would help achieve these;

·           Whether the topic was already being reviewed elsewhere within the Council (e.g. as part of the Continuous Improvement Programme);

·           Was the topic one that was capable of being influenced by one of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees;

·           Was the topic of manageable scope – not too wide-ranging and yet of sufficient size to warrant a Scrutiny review;

·           Whether sufficient resources were available to support the Scrutiny review;

·           If a review was warranted, should it have a high, medium or low priority?

 

The report suggested that potential items for inclusion in the 2021/22 Work Programmes be submitted to the Committee’s meeting in March 2021 for consideration and prioritisation.

 

In the ensuing discussion, Members raised the following points:

 

Once the Overview and Scrutiny Committees have made recommendations, what is the process for reporting back on implementation and progress?

 

How does the Committee carry out “horizon scanning” to identify potential items for future Scrutiny? It was suggested that a report on this issue be considered at the next meeting.

 

It was suggested that an in-depth review be carried out into the Council’s engagement with the community and voluntary sectors, including the development of the co-produced anti-poverty strategy.

 

Members suggested potential items for inclusion in the 2021/22 Work Programme, as follows:

 

·           Scrutiny of the Council’s Standards Committee;

·           Improving communications with residents and community groups;

·           Changes to the Council’s systems and working environment;

·           Changes to the Planning system.

 

RESOLVED That:

 

1)     Members submit ideas for inclusion in the 2021/22 Work Programmes to Democratic Services;

 

2)     the process for public consultation on the 2021/22 Work Programmes, set out in the report, be approved;

 

3)     the final 2021/22 Work Programmes be agreed at the meeting of the Committee in March 2021;

 

4)     each Overview and Scrutiny Committee carry out one or more detailed Scrutiny reviews during 2021/22;

 

5)     that a report be submitted to the next meeting with suggestions to improve horizon scanning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

69.

Consideration of the current Executive and IEMD Forward Programmes pdf icon PDF 323 KB

To consider the current published version of the Executive and Individual Executive Member Decision Forward Programmes.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a copy of the Executive Forward Programme and Individual Executive Member Decision Forward Programme, as set out on Agenda pages 55 to 62.

 

RESOLVED: That the Forward Programmes be noted.

 

70.

Committee Work Programmes pdf icon PDF 406 KB

To discuss the work programme of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and Overview and Scrutiny Committees for the remainder of the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

Minutes:

The Committee considered its forward Work Programme for 2020/21 and that of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees, as set out on Agenda pages 63 to 72.

 

Alison Swaddle reported that the Climate Emergency Task and Finish Group would be meeting on 27 January 2021. It was suggested that relevant Members be invited to join the Task and Finish Group.

 

Sarah Kerr, Paul Fishwick, Rachelle Shepherd-Dubey and Jim Frewin referred to the emerging WBC Equality Plan and expressed concern that the plan would not be subject to Scrutiny until after its approval by the Executive.

 

RESOLVED: That the forward Work Programmes for 2020/21 be noted.