paper D

JOINT REPORT OF THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT AND THE DEMOCRATIC SERVICES MANAGER

This report details the proposals to improve the level of support and scrutiny for the Select Committee function in the future.

The District Auditor completed a study of the Council’s Select Committee process and published a report in February 2002 incorporating 14 recommendations. The outcome of the report was that the Council should produce an action plan prioritising the recommendations.

A detailed report on all 14 recommendations will be considered by the Executive on 5 June 2002. This report is to agree with the Liaison Committee how recommendation 12 of the District Auditor (“That the Council look again at the arrangements for Select Committee Support and how it should relate with Committee Services in the future.”) should be implemented.

These new arrangements are contained within the Improvement Plan and the proposals are as follows.

(i)	Additional support will be provided by the transfer of staff from Committee Services in order to assist with the operation, management and scrutiny of the Select Committee process. This will include 2 full time Committee Administrators, one of a senior level, who will be used to co-ordinate all Select Committee meetings together with all relevant task groups. A full time Administrative Assistant will be used during the interim on a shared basis (between Select Committee Support and Committee Services).

	These arrangements will also enable Select Committee Support to undertake any necessary research on behalf of Members, update workplans and identify Best Value and Policy issues requiring input and co-ordination through the Select Committee process.

(ii)	With Members’ support, it would be advantageous to combine these staff resources, together with the 4 members of the Best Value team into office accommodation close to the Members Suite and meeting rooms.


(iii)	In association with this proposal, Committee Services wish to assist the introduction of public speaking at the Development Control Committee. As a consequence, it is likely that a member of the Committee Services team will be relocated to Seaclose, whilst retaining the responsibility of the Committee Services function for Development Control.

(iv)	Finally, these proposals should be the subject of continuous monitoring with a full review at the end of the year.

To obtain support from the Liaison Committee for these new working arrangements.

Report of the Head of Select Committee Support for Liaison Committee meeting 20 March 2002