PAPER B

Committee:     LIAISON COMMITTEE

Date :              20 MARCH 2002

Title :              STUDY OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE PROCESS

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT

PURPOSE

Members will be aware that the District Auditor has undertaken an independent study of the Council’s Select Committee processes. His report was published last month and subsequently copied to all Members and Strategic Directors. The District Auditor has made 14 recommendations. This report invites the Liaison Committee to initiate a process for formalising a response to the District Auditor.

BACKGROUND

1.        The District Auditor’s Study of the Select Committee process is attached to this report as appendix 1.

2.        The Council is asked to comment on each recommendation. In this regard views of the Liaison Committee would be welcomed.

3.        All Members of the Council have been sent a copy of the District Auditor’s report and comments have been received from some Members. In order to obtain a wider range of Member views about Select Committee Support arrangements and other issues raised by the District Auditor, a short questionnaire has been drafted. A copy of the draft questionnaire is attached as appendix 2. It is recommended that Members be invited to complete the questionnaire anonymously, but a two colour approach be used to separate responses from Executive Members and responses from Select Committee Members to help analysis.

4.        A draft action plan can then be completed from the information gathered. The Executive will be invited to adopt the action plan.

5.        Questionnaire responses may also provide information for the awayday/Select Committee workshops planned for after the Council’s annual meeting.

OPTIONS

1.        Does the Liaison Committee wish to formulate responses to all or any of the District Auditor’s recommendations?

2.        Is the draft questionnaire a reasonable approach; and would the Liaison Committee propose any changes?

3.        Should individual Select Committees comment on or contribute to the District Auditor’s report before it is submitted to the Executive?

BACKGROUND PAPERS

None.

Contact Point: Rob Owen, ☎ 823801

ROB OWEN

Select Committee Support