Agenda item

Agenda item

Scrutiny Work Programme and Issues Arising From Scrutiny Groups and Panels

A report of the Head of Strategic Support to assist the Board in determining the Scrutiny Work Programme and setting out Cabinet’s responses to recommendations made by the Board at its last meeting.

Minutes:

Considered a report of the Head of Strategic Support to enable the Board to agree the Scrutiny Work Programme, including considering requests from other scrutiny bodies and updates on the delivery of the Work Programme, identify Key Decisions on which scrutiny could be undertaken, to consider whether scrutiny of any procurement activity should be programmed, and setting out Cabinet’s responses to recommendations made by the Board at its last meeting (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

The Chief Executive assisted with consideration of the report.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.      that the deletions made from its work programme by the Policy Scrutiny Group at its meeting on 13th November 2018 (Minute 28.2) and the reason for that, as detailed on the third page of the report, be noted;

 

2.      that the Cabinet’s response to the recommendations of the Five Year Housing Supply Scrutiny Panel as agreed by the Scrutiny Management Board at its meeting on 24th October 2018, as detailed on the fifth and sixth page of the report, be noted;

 

3.      that the Cabinet’s response to recommendations made by the Board at its meeting on 24th October 2018 in respect of the Management of Public Open Space, as detailed on the sixth and seventh page of the report, be noted;

 

4.      that forthcoming Executive Key Decisions or decisions to be taken in private by the Executive, set out in Appendix 1 to the report, and scheduled scrutiny of those matters, be noted, and that further items be scheduled for scrutiny as follows:

 

(i)            Strategic and Private Sector Housing Fees and Charges Policy – Policy Scrutiny Group, 5th February 2019;

(ii)          Lightbulb Service Implementation Update – Overview Scrutiny Group, 11th February 2019;

(iii)         Council Tax Amendment to Empty Homes Premium and Exemptions – remove from Overview Scrutiny Group, 11th February 2019;

(iv)         Capital Strategy – Overview Scrutiny Group, 11th February 2019;

(v)          Revenues and Benefits Future Service Delivery Options – Scrutiny Management Board, 6th March 2019;

(vi)         Local Development Scheme – Overview Scrutiny Group, 11th March 2019;

(vii)        Business Plan 2019/20 – Scrutiny Management Board, 6th March 2019;      

 

5.      that the Annual Procurement Plan (and Quarterly Updates), set out in Appendix 2 to the report, be noted;

 

6.      that the Scrutiny Work Programme, set out in Appendix 3 to the report, be noted and updated in accordance with the decisions taken above and at this meeting;

 

7.      that a briefing note be submitted to the next meeting of the Board (6th March 2019) setting out the actions the Council is taking and plans to take to meet affordable housing needs in the Borough.

 

Reasons

 

1.         To ensure that the Board was aware of the deletions made by the Group.

 

2.      To ensure that the Board was informed of the outcome of scrutiny panel recommendations.  The Board did not indicate at this meeting when it wished to receive an update on implementation of the Cabinet decisions.  Usual practice was for an update report to be submitted to the Board six months after the decisions had been taken, to ensure implementation was monitored as part of the process of ensuring the effectiveness of the scrutiny function.

 

3.      To ensure that the Board was informed of the outcome of the recommendations. The Board did not indicate at this meeting how it considered scrutiny might monitor the issue in future, as suggested by the Cabinet.  

 

4.      To ensure timely and effective scrutiny.  The Board noted that, in respect of the items scheduled for Policy Scrutiny Group and Scrutiny Management Board, the Cabinet reports would need to follow the agendas for those meetings.  Pre-decision scrutiny of the item removed from the Overview Scrutiny Group’s work programme was not necessary, in particular because the Cabinet decision was reserved to Council.

 

5.      The Board had decided to consider the Annual Procurement Plan and Quarterly Updates (submitted to Cabinet) to ensure that timely and effective scrutiny of any procurement activity was programmed or to ensure that the Cabinet was informed of any views of the Board on procurement matters.

 

6.      To ensure that the information contained within the Work Programme was up to date.

 

7.      The Chair and Vice-chair of Policy Scrutiny Group had raised the issue of whether all actions and initiatives which the Council could take or promote to help meet affordable housing needs in the Borough were being pursued.  A briefing note would inform the Board of the current position and assist it in deciding whether more detailed scrutiny of the matter would be useful and add value, perhaps via a scrutiny panel.

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