|
No. |
Recommendation |
Priority
|
Responsibility |
Agreed
|
Comments |
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
That the Council consider a further training programme for
Members, aimed at giving them the skills and competences required to
investigate and enquire into the work of both officers and the Executive. |
3 |
Training and Development Manager |
Yes |
75% of Member responses to the questionnaire requested
further training. The Liaison
Committee asked that appropriate distance learning packages be investigated
and that course notes should be circulated to all Members. |
March
2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
That the Council consider assigning a lead officer to each
Select Committee to assist the Members with their scrutiny work. |
1 |
The Executive |
No |
Scrutiny should be Member led. Officer support arrangements will be enhanced with new
structure. 64% of Members responding
to the questionnaire believed that Select Committees received adequate
dedicated officer support. |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
That the Council reconsiders the role of the Select
Committee with a view to increase the focus toward scrutiny of the Executive
and Policy Development. This would be
at the expense of a decrease in scrutiny of the operational detail of the
service. |
2 |
Select Committees, Head of Select Committee Support |
In part |
Select Committees should continue to maintain and manage
their own workplans and determine their own priorities and achieve balance. |
On-going |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No. |
Recommendation |
Priority
|
Responsibility |
Agreed
|
Comments |
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
Review and rationalise task groups and working parties in
line with a manageable scrutiny programme. |
3 |
Select Committees |
Yes |
Select Committee workshops in May and June to rationalise
this activity. |
June 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
That the Members of Select Committees consider the impact
of daytime meetings on their ability to:
|
1 |
Select Committees, Head of Select Committee Support |
Yes |
Select Committees agree their own start times and have
remained flexible when business requires. Only 16% of Members responding to
the questionnaire considered that start times were restrictive. |
On-going |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
That the Council verify that the planned programme of work
is achievable within the resources available. |
3 |
Select Committees, Head of Select Committee Support |
Yes |
To be addressed at May/June workshops |
June 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
That the Council consider linking the work programme
closely to the Best Value review programme.
This would ensure scrutiny of both performance and policy of all
services over a five-year period.
Outside of this structured programme other Select Committees could be
convened to scrutinise other issues or call in Executive decisions. |
3 |
Head of Paid Service |
Yes |
The five-year requirement has been removed. The restructuring will help to address
this recommendation. |
June 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No. |
Recommendation |
Priority
|
Responsibility |
Agreed
|
Comments |
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
That the Council consider further training for officers to
enable them to clearly understand the terms of reference of the Select
Committees and the concept of the scrutiny function as a whole. |
2 |
Training and Development Manager |
Yes |
The Liaison Committee considered that appropriate officer
refresher training should be provided. |
March 2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
That the Council consider a more Member-led approach to
scrutiny that would lead to information from officers and witnesses
generating recommendations and justification from Members to the Executive. |
2 |
Select Committees, Head of Select Committee Support |
Yes |
Restructuring increases the scope of Select Committees to
develop in this direction (it does already happen with some issues). |
On-going |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
That the Council consider how well matched the current
format of officers’ reports for Select Committee is with the concept of a Member
led scrutiny process. |
2 |
Liaison Committee, Head of Select Committee Support |
Yes |
It is noted that report format to Select Committees is
variable. The Liaison Committee is
the most appropriate body to review this recommendation. |
November 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
That the Council considers a process that captures the
concerns expressed by Members at Select Committee meetings and transposes
those concerns into issues for scrutiny. |
1 |
Head of Select Committee Support |
In part |
Members of Select Committees can request that any
appropriate issue be investigated.
Can be covered at Select Committee workshops. |
June 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No. |
Recommendation |
Priority
|
Responsibility |
Agreed
|
Comments |
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
That the Council look again at the arrangements for Select
Committee support and how it should relate with Committee Services in the
future. |
3 |
Head of Paid Service |
Yes |
Issue addressed by restructuring. |
June 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 |
That the Council investigate ways of incorporating
scrutiny of Policy more formally into the role of the Select Committees. |
2 |
Liaison Committee, Head of Select Committee Support |
Yes |
See comment in relation to recommendation 3. Select Committees maintain and manage
their own workplans. |
March 2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 |
That the Council pursue the attendance of the appropriate
portfolio holder(s) at all relevant scrutiny committee meetings as
good practice. |
3 |
Portfolio Holders and Select Committee Chairmen |
Yes |
This is now normal practice at Select Committee meetings. |
On-going |
|