Minutes:
The Committee considered the following items of work to be added to the Programme of Work:
Due Diligence
Capita – Following comments relating to Capita’s track record and capability, Councillor V Bell requested that a report was provided to the Committee to identify what due diligence went into the Council’s decision to partner with Capita.
The Director for Strategy, Performance and Governance advised that this would be more suited to review as part of the Monitoring of the Organisational Change Programme.
Monoworld – Concerns were raised by Councillor V Bell that partnering with a company who had previously been fined for illegal exporting of waste and numerous health and safety issues would reflect badly on the Council.
Councillor V Bell proposed that this item be added to the Programme of Work, this was duly seconded. Upon a vote being taken this was agreed. A report would be brought to a future committee outlining all waste destinations.
It was also confirmed that Councillor V Bell be the Member Sponsor for this item.
Council’s Accounts
Councillor K W Jarvis said that the Council’s accounts were still unpublished and suggested that a review be undertaken.
The Chairman reminded Councillor K W Jarvis that as the accounts were in the process of being prepared this was a pre-emptive request. The Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance confirmed that the overarching audit report was already being prepared by the external auditors, for consideration at Performance, Governance and Audit Committee.
Councillor K W Jarvis proposed that an independent review around the Resources Directorate processes. This was duly seconded.
Both Directors expressed concern that this represented duplication of work given that the external auditors report, in the process of completion, would be considered at the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee. On that basis Councillor K V Jarvis withdrew his proposal.
Councillor R H Siddall, referring to the aforementioned concerns, proposed that this item be added to the Programme of Work following completion of the Council’s accounts and production of the internal report, to identify where delays occurred and any additional issues. This was duly seconded and agreed by the Committee.
Overview of Corporate Leadership Team and Leader of the Council Decision Making
Councillor R H Siddall proposed that, in relation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committees Terms of Reference, 2, the Programme of Work include the above item. This would afford the Committee an opportunity to review and question decisions e.g. around new council offices etc. and potential items emanating from the new committee structure that may have fiscal impacts going forward. This was not seconded.
Following a lengthy discussion, Councillor R H Siddall suggested that a working group be formed consisting of Councillors R H Siddall, V Bell and M S Heard. The brief for this group would be to determine the relevant issues within this item of scrutiny for consideration by Committee.
Member Training
Councillor R H Siddall requested that, in accordance with procedures, all Members be trained appropriately on the Overview and Scrutiny related matters to ensure Members can bring a valuable contribution to the committee.
RESOLVED
(i) that the following items be added to the Programme of Work:
· Due Diligence;
·
Council’s Accounts
(ii)
That a working group be set up to review
the decisions made by the determine issues within Overview
of Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) and Leader of the Council, Decision
Making with a view to
identifying items of scrutiny to be added to the Programme of
Work.[1]