Issue - meetings

To receive a briefing note from the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance (copy enclosed).

The Committee received a briefing note from the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance on the role and responsibilities of the Committee as part of the Council’s new committee structure.  Circulated alongside the note was a copy of the most recent Government guidance for scrutiny committees.  It was noted that in a structure as operated at Maldon, although there was no requirement for a scrutiny committee, where one was established regard should be had to the guidance.

The Committee agreed that a separate and more focused session on this would be welcomed as further training for Members.  The Committee noted in particular that part of the guidance dealing with the planning of scrutiny work and the various options for how to undertake scrutiny.  The guidance advocated that scrutiny committees should not be used simply to receive information and that watching brief items could be dealt with by a panel of members of the Committee.

The Committee was particularly interested in what the guidance said about contracts and contractors and the suggested good practice that a clause be put in contracts seeking compliance with any subsequent scrutiny of performance.

RESOLVED that the Performance, Audit and Governance Committee be recommended to consider checking whether the above guidance in relation to contracts and contractors is being followed and, if not, to implement it.