Agenda item

To consider the 2017/18 Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme and an additional Scrutiny request from Councillor Gary Cowan.

The Committee considered a report, set out on Agenda pages 23 to 29, which provided an update on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2017/18. The report stated that the work programme, which was appended to the report, had been approved by the Committee at its meeting on 28 March 2017.

The Committee discussed the current operation of Overview and Scrutiny and ways in which the process could be improved. The Chairman confirmed the view that Overview and Scrutiny should focus more on pre-decision scrutiny and policy development. The aim was to work with the Executive to ensure that decisions were more robust as a result of detailed examination and challenge in the period before final decisions were taken. Members supported this aim and felt that Overview and Scrutiny should be seen to be more independent and should be more vigorous in holding the Executive to account.

In order to develop this new way of working Members agreed that Executive Members should be invited to attend the Committee to set out their policy programme over the year ahead and agree a list of issues to be considered by Overview and Scrutiny. The Executive Member for Adults/Health and Wellbeing and the Executive Member for Children’s Services would be invited to attend the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

In relation to the specific Committee work programmes Councillor Pauline Helliar-Symons reported that a number of additional items had been agreed for inclusion in the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme, viz:

·         Progress on the Ofsted action plan

·         Review of the May 2017 Ofsted inspection findings and action plan;

·         Secondary School place planning;

·         Early Years Strategy;

·         Sufficiency Strategy for children in care and care leavers;

·         Refresh of the Children and Young People’s Plan;

·         Special Needs and Disability Strategy;

·         Safeguarding Children Board annual report;

·         School improvement – narrowing the gap in attainment.

The Chairman confirmed that the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme was not set in stone and would be amended, as necessary, during the year. He also confirmed that Members were able to request items for inclusion in the work programme at any time.

At the March 2017 meeting the Committee had considered a number of Scrutiny requests from Members and residents, including a request from Councillor Gary Cowan about improving the existing protocols for communication between Members, Officers and residents. The Committee agreed to defer the request and to invite Councillor Cowan to attend tonight’s meeting in order to develop a greater understanding of the issues involved. Councillor Cowan addressed the meeting and gave examples of poor communication which impacted on residents’ lives, caused additional work for Members and damaged the Council’s reputation.

Members supported the principles underpinning the scrutiny request and felt that it should be linked to the 21^st Century Council change programme. The outcome should be greater clarity on the roles of Members and Officers and the way they interact with residents. Existing protocols should be refreshed to reflect the 21^st Century Council programme to ensure that residents knew what to expect when they contacted the Council and to improve the flow of communication with Ward Members.

RESOLVED That:

1)      the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2017/18, as amended, be noted;

2)      Councillor Gary Cowan’s scrutiny request on improving  communications between Members, Officers and residents be included in the Overview and Scrutiny work programme;

3)      Heather Thwaites (21^st Century Council Programme Director) and Councillor Pauline Jorgensen (Deputy Executive Member for Communications) be invited to attend the July meeting of the Committee to discuss how the programme will deliver improved communications between Members, Officers and residents;

4)      Councillor Cowan also be invited to attend the July meeting to discuss the scrutiny request;

5)      the issue of improving Member/Officer/resident communications also be referred to the 21^st Century Council Member/Officer steering group;

6)      Andy Couldrick (Chief Executive) be invited to the July meeting (or to a special meeting) to give an overview on progress relating to the 21^st Century Council change programme;

7)      each of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees consider the impact of the 21^st Century Council programme on their remit;

8)      the Management Committee’s work programme include an overview of the 21^st Century Council change programme;

9)      Executive Members be invited to attend the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee to discuss priorities for the year ahead and agree a timeline for issues to be scrutinised by the Committees.