Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Working Group, (copy enclosed).                                                                                               

TheCommittee considered thereport ofthe Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Working Group providing the basis of the annual report to the Council on the activities of the Committee over the past year.

Members were reminded that in accordance with its Terms of Reference this Committee was required to report to the Council annually and in May 2021 it was agreed that this should be received at the Statutory Annual meeting of the Council.  The report provided detail of the scrutiny items and requests dealt with by the Committee over the last year and provided an update on each.

The Chairman referred to a request from Councillor Miss S White regarding the self-build register.  She advised that Councillor Miss White had followed up on this item and it therefore needed to be added back for review.  In response to a question, the Programmes, Performance and Governance Manager advised that it should be taken back to the next meeting of the Working Group for a more thorough review and then come back to Committee, in line with agree processes.  This was noted.

In response to a question regarding an update on enforcement staff, the Programmes, Performance and Governance Manager advised that she would obtain an update and circulate this to Members outside of the meeting.

The Chairman then put the recommendation set out in the report which was duly agreed.

RESOLVED that the Committee endorses the proposed annual report for 2021 / 22 for submission to the Council.

To consider the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Working Group, (copy enclosed).                                                                                               

TheCommittee considered thereport ofthe Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Working Group that updatedthe Committee on recentWorking Group meetings andrecommended courses ofaction on recentMember requestsfor scrutiny items.

TheChairman introduced thereport and tookthe Committeethrough thedetail. Sheadvised that the O&S Working Group hadmet on two occasions last year, in November andDecember 2021, and consideredfive Member suggestionforms.

Section 3.3 ofthe reportprovided a high-level summary ofthe five items together with suggestions from theO&S Working Group.  Two items in particular,Parks TeamCulture and PlanningEnforcement were recommendedfor watching brief reviewas work was alreadyunderway to addressissues.  Members were encouragedto feedbackon the informationthey would like tosee by way ofassurance onthese areas.  The Committee agreed that in respect of parks team culture qualitative data aroundsatisfaction, and information about what forums are given forstaff feedback, would be helpful.

It was further noted that,under the Learning from a RecentTribunal item, (attached atAppendix B,pages 16/17) the learningoutcomes from therecent review led byHuman Resourceshad beenendorsed by Corporate Leadership Team and afull response hadbeen provided tothe O&S Working Group,therefore, nofurther scrutiny was required.  There were no additional items recommended for inclusion on the Committee Workplan.

TheChairman put the duly seconded recommendations to the Committee,and they wereagreed byassent.

RESOLVED

(i)               That the Committee reviewed the detailedforms attachedas Appendix B and isassured thatthe Working Group processis happeningeffectively;

(ii)              That the Committeeapproved the recommended courses ofaction suggestedby theWorking Group asset out in section 3.3 of the report.