Agenda item

Reporting Person: Frank Jeffrey, Head of Democratic Services.

The Committee received a report which explored the provisions of the statutory guidance on overview and scrutiny published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in 2019.  The report reviewed the Council’s arrangements in light of the guidance and identified a wide range of recommendations for the Committee as a means of strengthening the Council’s overview and scrutiny work. 

The recommendations had been developed within the context of recent developments at Woking Borough Council which impacted on the way in which the scrutiny responsibility of the Authority was taken forward.  These included the changes arising from the recommendations put forward by Dr Gifty Edila.  The guidance was also to be seen in the context of the Council’s own arrangements which include a number of cross party oversight panels.

Councillor Azad welcomed the very positive report and affirmed the Executive’s supportive position in terms of scrutiny and its willingness to work positively with the Committee.

Included within the recommendations was the proposal for the establishment of a protocol between the Committee and the Executive, a document which, if supported by the Committee, would be prepared in consultation with the respective Chairmen over the coming months. 

Noting the occasional delay between the publication of the ‘Green Book’ and a meeting of the Committee, the report proposed that a new approach should be adopted whereby the Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be encouraged, where possible, to raise any questions or areas of concern arising from the ‘Green Book’ with the Chairman of the Committee in advance of the meeting of the Committee.  A report summarising the points raised and responses given would subsequently be presented to the Committee.

It was noted that, subject to the decisions of the Committee, the Work Programme would be updated to take account of the proposals which would need to be brought back for consideration by the Members of the Committee.

The report was welcomed by the Committee and it was

RESOLVED

That  (i)    a formal opportunity for discussion between the Chairman of the Committee and the Leader of the Council be established;

          (ii)   a draft Executive / Overview and Scrutiny Committee protocol be drawn up for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and recommendation onto the Executive, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Leader of the Council;

          (iii)  a report be brought to a future meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee proposing the adoption of management arrangements for the release of, reporting on and audit of, the Scrutiny budget, the proposals to be drafted in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee;

          (iv) a communications plan be established on the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which would promote the work of the Committee within the resources available;

          (v)   the Scrutiny Tool Kit be updated to include, amongst other points, reference to the new Officer support arrangements, the budget available for Scrutiny work and the guidance available, notably that issued by the Local Government Association, the MHCLG, South East Employers and the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny;

          (vi) the Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, where possible, raise any questions or areas of concern arising from the ‘Green Book’ with the Chairman of the Committee in advance of the meeting of the Committee;

          (vii) a report summarising the points raised on the ‘Green Book’ and responses given be presented to the subsequent meeting of the Committee;

          (viii) the guide to scrutiny of risk and commercialisation published by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny, be brought to a future meeting of the Committee for consideration;

          (ix) before agreeing a topic for scrutiny review, a scrutiny review topic form to be completed by the Member/Officer proposing the review, for agreement at the next available Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

          (x)   any consideration of topics for scrutiny to highlight the benefits of the work for residents and take into account the Work Programme in assessing the resources necessary, and the work of each Scrutiny Review Task Group be informed by the practices and approaches endorsed by the Scrutiny Tool Kit.