Agenda item

To consider the implications of the Scrutiny Improvement Review, being undertaken by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny.

The Committee considered a report, set out on Agenda pages 57 to 68, which gave details of the upcoming Scrutiny Improvement Review.

The report stated that the Council underwent a Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge in 2021. As part of the peer challenge process the Council asked the LGA team to advise on how to make the Overview and Scrutiny function more meaningful and effective. The LGA team observed that Overview and Scrutiny at WBC was often the scene of lively debate and was seen as a political arena rather than creating “good policy” and positive challenge. The team suggested that all Members involved in Scrutiny should understand the terms of reference of each “Scrutiny Board” and recognise what “good scrutiny” looks like.

Following the LGA peer review, the Chief Executive commissioned the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) to carry out a Scrutiny Improvement Review (SIR). The SIR included the following elements:

·           A review of documentation and Overview and Scrutiny reports;

·           On-site interviews (scheduled for 20/21 June 2022) and observation of Overview and Scrutiny meetings;

·           A study of Scrutiny’s role and integration in the Council;

·           Joint development of an improvement action plan with follow up work as necessary.

The report gave details of the SIR process and provided guidance on what the CfGS considered that “Good” looked like in the context of Overview and Scrutiny. This included areas such as:

·           Culture – the relationships, communication and behaviours underpinning the operation of the Overview and Scrutiny process – the Council’s corporate approach, organisational commitment and the status of Scrutiny;

·           Member engagement – are Members motivated and engaged? How do they participate, take responsibility and self-manage their role?

·           Member skills and application – are skills up-to-date and can Members participate fully or are there development gaps?

·           Information – how information is prepared, shared and accessed and used to support the Scrutiny function.

·           Impact – ways to ensure that Scrutiny is effective, that it makes a positive difference in the effectiveness of the Council and to local residents;

·           Focus – how prioritisation, timeliness and relevance of the work programme and agendas lead to value-adding and productivity;

·           Structure – formats used by Scrutiny to carry out its work and how effective these formats are.

It was confirmed that a number of Overview and Scrutiny Chairmen and Committee members would be invited to hold discussions with representatives from the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny as part of their two day visit to the Council on 20/21 June 2022.

Appended to the report was the Council’s Executive-Overview and Scrutiny Protocol which had been agreed in 2019. The Protocol sought to clarify the relationship between the Executive and the Overview and Scrutiny Committees in order to ensure smooth conduct of Overview and Scrutiny business and effective two-way communication.

In the ensuing discussion, Members made the following points:

Could the Executive-Overview and Scrutiny Protocol be circulated to all Overview and Scrutiny Members for information. It was confirmed that a copy of the Protocol would be circulated as requested.

Members would welcome a regular update on changes to national legislation which may impact on the Council and provide ideas for Scrutiny topics. It was confirmed that a regular item could be included on the Committee’s work programme.

RESOLVED That:

1)     the update on the upcoming Scrutiny Improvement Review be noted;

2)     the Executive-Overview and Scrutiny Protocol be circulated to all Overview and Scrutiny Members for information.

3)     the Committee’s work programme include a regular update on changes to national legislation.