Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 29 October 2018, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the proposed establishment of a new overview and scrutiny framework, based on a structure of two cross-service select committees, from the commencement of the 2019/20 municipal year.

The review of the select committee framework was initiated by the implementation of the Council’s People Strategy, which has progressed as far as the appointment of new Strategic Directors and Service Directors. The Council’s new senior management structure comprises eight new service directorates covering the operations of the authority and the Leader of the Council intends to realign the responsibilities of the Cabinet during the current municipal year to reflect the new structure. As a result, it has therefore been considered appropriate to also review the alignment of the overview and scrutiny framework.

The review of the select committee framework was considered at a joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen held on 3 September 2018. However, the Committee has deferred further consideration of this matter to its next meeting, to allow appropriate consultation on the restructure of the framework to be undertaken with all members.

The joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen considered that it was important that any future select committee framework continued reflect the management structure of the Council and cover the whole range of its business, whilst also achieving efficiencies and maintaining the effectiveness of the Council’s scrutiny activity. The option favoured by the joint meeting for the future select committee framework, was for the establishment of two new select committees:

Communities & Neighbourhoods Select Committee

·                 Housing and Property Services;

·                 Community and Partnership Services;

·                 Contract and Technical Services; and

·                 Planning Services.

Governance & Resources Select Committee

·                 Governance and Member Services;

·                 Business Support Services;

·                 Customer Services; and

·                 Commercial and Regulatory Services.

In reviewing the select committee framework, the joint meeting considered areas of concern likely to arise from a reduction in the current number of select committees, including:

(a)       the potential increase in workload for each committee;

(b)       a perceived lack of balance in the workload of each committee;

(c)       the reduction in member involvement if no increase be made in the number of members appointed to each select committee; and

(d)       the likelihood of reduced opportunities for member development in terms of chairmanship skills and experience.

The joint meeting considered that some of these concerns could be addressed through the development of achievable work programmes for each select committee and that the recommended option would provide clear scope to the scrutiny activities of each committee whilst continuing to provide for relevant scrutiny activity to also occur by way of the creation of task and finish panels (as necessary). It is intended that a Strategic Director would be designated for each proposed select committee and that management of the workload of each committee and the achievement of work programme priorities would be the responsibility of the respective chairman in liaison with the Strategic Director.

The development of focused  ...  view the full agenda text for item 1.

At its meeting on 29 October 2018, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the proposed establishment of a new overview and scrutiny framework, based on a structure of two cross-service select committees, from the commencement of the 2019/20 municipal year.

The review of the select committee framework was initiated by the implementation of the Council’s People Strategy, which has progressed as far as the appointment of new Strategic Directors and Service Directors. The Council’s new senior management structure comprises eight new service directorates covering the operations of the authority and the Leader of the Council intends to realign the responsibilities of the Cabinet during the current municipal year to reflect the new structure. As a result, it has therefore been considered appropriate to also review the alignment of the overview and scrutiny framework.

The review of the select committee framework was considered at a joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen held on 3 September 2018. However, the Committee has deferred further consideration of this matter to its next meeting, to allow appropriate consultation on the restructure of the framework to be undertaken with all members.

The joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen considered that it was important that any future select committee framework continued reflect the management structure of the Council and cover the whole range of its business, whilst also achieving efficiencies and maintaining the effectiveness of the Council’s scrutiny activity. The option favoured by the joint meeting for the future select committee framework, was for the establishment of two new select committees:

Communities & Neighbourhoods Select Committee

·                 Housing and Property Services;

·                 Community and Partnership Services;

·                 Contract and Technical Services; and

·                 Planning Services.

Governance & Resources Select Committee

·                 Governance and Member Services;

·                 Business Support Services;

·                 Customer Services; and

·                 Commercial and Regulatory Services.

In reviewing the select committee framework, the joint meeting considered areas of concern likely to arise from a reduction in the current number of select committees, including:

(a)       the potential increase in workload for each committee;

(b)       a perceived lack of balance in the workload of each committee;

(c)       the reduction in member involvement if no increase be made in the number of members appointed to each select committee; and

(d)       the likelihood of reduced opportunities for member development in terms of chairmanship skills and experience.

The joint meeting considered that some of these concerns could be addressed through the development of achievable work programmes for each select committee and that the recommended option would provide clear scope to the scrutiny activities of each committee whilst continuing to provide for relevant scrutiny activity to also occur by way of the creation of task and finish panels (as necessary). It is intended that a Strategic Director would be designated for each proposed select committee and that management of the workload of each committee and the achievement of work programme priorities would be the responsibility of the respective chairman in liaison with the Strategic Director.

The development of focused  ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.