Agenda item

To consider a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator (copy enclosed) seeking a review of the committee’s forward work programme and updating members on relevant issues.

                                                                                                   12.15 p.m.

A copy of a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator seeking the Committee to review its draft Forward Work Programme (FWP) and which provided an update on relevant issues had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

 

The Scrutiny Coordinator introduced the report and explained that Committee’s draft forward work programme, Appendix 1, had been inherited from its predecessor Committee.  Members were requested to consider whether the FWP reflected the new Committee’s wishes and priorities.  Members were informed that details of the FWP for the Communities and Performance Scrutiny Committees had been included in the information papers circulated previously.

 

A table summarising recent Committee resolutions and advising Members on progress with their implementation had been attached at Appendix 4 to the report. 

 

Under the Council’s scrutiny arrangements the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs Group (SCVCG) performed the role of a coordinating Committee.  The SCVCG had recommended that the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee, in complying with its designated function of scrutinising crime and disorder matters under the requirements of the Police and Justice Act 2006, schedule into its FWP for September 2012 an item on the Community Safety Partnership (CSP).

 

The Committee considered the draft FWP for future meetings, as detailed in Appendix 1, and reference was made to the following issues:-

 

The inclusion of the continuation of meetings with representatives of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) - In response to concerns raised by Councillor E.A. Jones with regard to the importance of the consultation process in respect of Health Authority issues, the Scrutiny Coordinator explained that the Service Reviews would be submitted to Council for consideration in July 2012. 

 

Children and Adolescent Mental Health Progress (CAMHS) – in response to a question from Councillor G.M. Kensler, the Scrutiny Coordinator explained that this item could be included on the agenda for the meeting with BCU.  The Corporate Director: Modernising and Wellbeing explained that some aspects of this matter would be included in the item pertaining to the Mental Health Measure to be considered in July, 2012.

 

Street Lighting – Members expressed the view that there were no apparent problems pertaining to street lighting and that this item be removed from the FWP.

 

The Scrutiny Coordinator responded to questions from Members regarding items included on the FWP.  The Committee agreed that the Scrutiny Coordinator be requested to arrange a Workshop to enable Committee Members to consider in detail the Committee's FWP for the 2012/13 municipal year.

 

Nominations had been sought for Committee Members to serve on the Service Challenge Groups, which would meet on a twice yearly basis.  A timetable for the meetings had been included in the information sheet circulated prior to the meeting.  The following Members were appointed to serve on the following Groups:-

 

Legal and Democratic Services: Cllr B. Blakeley

Business Planning and Performance: Cllr G.M. Kensler

Education and Cusotmers and Education Support: Cllr B. Blakeley

Communications, Marketing and Leisure: Cllr B. Blakeley

Finance and Assets: Cllr G.M. Kensler

Highways and Infrastructure: Cllr T.M. Parry

Regeneration: Cllr M. McCarroll

 

Councillor E.A. Jones was appointed to serve on the Strategic Investment Group which would meet on a monthly basis.

 

It was explained that nominations would be required from amongst the Committee's membership to serve on the following Groups:-

 

Housing and Community Development

Children and Family Services

Adult and Business Services

Environmental Services

Planning and Public Protection

Strategic Human Resources

 

Members agreed that in order to ease the workload the Scrutiny Coordinator be asked to seek expressions of interest, from Members who were unable to attend the meeting or had to leave the meeting before the item had been considered, to serve on the Groups.

 

At the request of Members from the Rhyl area, the Scrutiny Coordinator agreed to liaise with Councillor J. Thompson-Hill and the Head of Business, Planning and Performance regarding the possibility of switching any of the meetings, which did not yet have Partnerships Scrutiny Members assigned to them, to a venue in Rhyl or Prestatyn.  It was:

 

RESOLVED – that,

 

(a)   subject to the above, and to arrangements being made for a workshop to be held on the forward work plan, the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee approve its forward work programme as set out in Appendix 1 to the report; and

(b)   the above named members be appointed to serve as the Committee’s representatives on the service challenge groups and the Strategic Investment Group.

 

              

Meeting ended at 13.25 p.m.