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.

                                                                                                          10.55 a.m.

A copy of a report by the Scrutiny Coordinator seeking the Committee to review its draft Forward Work Programme (FWP) and providing an update on relevant issues had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.  The Cabinet’s FWP had been included as Appendix 3 and a table summarising recent Committee resolutions and advising Members on progress with their implementation had been included as Appendix 4 to the report.

A Proposal Form, Appendix 2, which related to Deeside College/Coleg Llysfasi’s role in delivering education within Denbighshire and in partnership with the Council had been submitted for consideration by the Committee.  Members agreed that this item be included in the Committee’s forward work programme for the July, 2013.  However, Members requested that the College Principal be informed of the Scrutiny process and be requested to provide the following information:-

·                    Student numbers, achievements, progress levels and scholarships.

·                    Finance and resource details.

·                     Promotion and development of the Welsh language.

·                     Transport related issues.

·                     Details of future proposals and partnership working.

The Scrutiny Coordinator explained that a response was awaited regarding a request made to the Health Board for a report on Prosthetics, the provision and maintenance of artificial limbs to adults and children (including information on access to the service, any delays encountered or limitations applied and complaints procedures) to be considered at the next scheduled meeting with Health representatives on 10 June 2013.

The Committee considered its draft Forward Work Programme for future meetings, as detailed in Appendix 1, and the following amendments and additions were agreed:-

- The report on Local Primary Mental Health Support Services, originally scheduled for the current meeting, be rescheduled for the Committee’s meeting with representatives of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) in June, 2013.  In response to concerns expressed by Members regarding the future of the Health Board Chief Executive, and any possible implications on the County Council and the future of Glan Clwyd Hospital, it was confirmed that any issues or concerns could be raised at the Scrutiny Committee meeting with the BCUHB in June.

- Members agreed that the item on Regional Collaboration on Economic Development be deferred until September, 2013, when it was anticipated more detailed information would be available.

- Following a decision by the Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs Group (SCVCG), on the 7^th March, 2013, it was agreed that the business item in respect of Heritage and Arts Assets would be transferred form the Communities Scrutiny Committee to the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme for consideration in December, 2013.

- The Committee agreed that, if Cabinet agreed to move to the development of a Final Business Case (FBC) for the Regional Passenger Transport Collaboration Project, the FBC be included in the Forward Work Programme for November, 2013.

A list of all scrutiny representatives on the Service Challenge Groups had been included as Appendix 5 to the report.  When the appointments had been made ‘Customers’ had been included in the Education Services’ Service Challenge Group and Councillor B. Blakeley appointed as its representative.  However, ‘Customers’ now formed part of one of the Council’s seven Corporate Priorities for the period 2012/17, therefore for the purpose of the Service Challenge process ‘Customers’ had been separated from the Education Services.  The Committee agreed that Councillor B. Blakeley be nominated to serve as its representative on the ‘Customers’ Service Challenge Group.  It was also agreed that Councillor P. Penlington be invited to serve on the Service Challenge Group for the Strategic Human Resources (HR) Service when he takes up his position on the Committee in the near future.

RESOLVED – that,

(a)  subject to the above, the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee approves the Future Work Programme as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, and

(b)  nominates Councillor B. Blakeley to serve on the Service Challenge Group for the Customers Service, and invites Councillor P. Penlington to serve as the Committee’s representative on the Service Challenge Group for Strategic Human Resources in due course.