Agenda item

To consider the draft Committee’s work programme. The work programme enables forward planning of items to be considered to take place.

Members considered the draft Committee’s work programme. The work programme enabled forward planning of items to be considered to take place. In addition, the Forward Plan was attached to assist members in considering items for pre-decision scrutiny.

Statutory Scrutiny

Officers confirmed that there were two statutory items to be considered by the Committee annually – those on health and crime and disorder.   These would be highlighted on the work programme in the future.

Budget setting scrutiny

The Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services)   briefed Members on proposals for budget setting scrutiny which were agreed by the Constitution Review Group the previous week. Previously budget proposals would go to ROSC and then Special Cabinet in late January before draft proposals were then considered by Full Council.        It was proposed that a Task and Finish Panel (T&P) be set up in September 2020 to look at 2021 – 2024 Corporate Plan and budget proposals. Findings would be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 13 January 2021 in time for comments and recommendations to be considered by Special Cabinet in late January 2021.

Members queried what would happen to the quarterly finance reports that were previously presented at Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee (ROSC).  Officers clarified that all reports that had previously gone to the three scrutiny committees for noting (including ROSC) would go on the Member Information Hub on MS teams. Members could contact Officers at any time with regards to these matters which were more operational than strategic.

Reviewing implementations from scrutiny

Members were keen that implementations from recommendations from scrutiny were reviewed as a point of practice.  Officers confirmed that this would be the case as feedback from scrutiny reviews would be a standard item on the OSC agenda.  The agenda template for future OSC meetings would be circulated to Members prior to the next meeting in September.

Forward Plan

Officers highlighted that the Forward Plan would be attached to the OSC agenda for each meeting for constant consideration by members in terms of pre-decision scrutiny.

Suggestions for scrutiny

Council Taxi Support Scheme

Members suggested considering the Council Tax Support Scheme which was due to go to Cabinet in November 2020.  The Chair and Vice-Chairs agreed that they would discuss this outside of the meeting with the Corporate Director Resources, Environment and Cultural Services).

Housing Maintenance

Members enquired as to the follow up of the motion passed at Council on Housing Maintenance.  The Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) confirmed that they had provided performance data and there was an opportunity for questioning at the Cabinet Housing Panel (CHP) which was the appropriate forum for the issue.

Equalities

Equalities had been a suggested item on the work programme. Members agreed that this was of particular public interest. The Corporate Director (Housing and Communities) clarified that the Council had a statutory responsibility to publish information annually on compliance with equalities.  This information however would go on the Member Information Hub.  Members could then choose a particular area or substantive issue that they wished to scrutinise and could invite an Officer to present a report to the committee and decide whether to set up a Scrutiny Task and Finish Panel or hold a single scrutiny event.

It was noted that the development of the Member Information Hub on MS Teams was a work in progress and further information would be placed on the hub in due course.  

AGREED:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee agree that a Scrutiny Task and Finish Panel (T&P) be set up in September to look at Budget Setting and the Corporate Priorities.