Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Strata Board.

The report of the Strata Board on the work plan was submitted.

The Teignbridge Strata Director presented the newly adopted work plan that would be monitored by the Board over the next twelve months. He reported that considerable focus had been given to delivering the first part of the implementation plan and the new virtual desk top and supporting technologies across the three Councils. The work plan would be kept under monthly review by the Board which would be reviewing wider progress against the Company’s business and organisational objectives.

The work plan also aimed to provide the delivery of relevant and timely information to the Scrutiny Committee and Executive. It was also intended to provide a framework for the management of the company’s business and service delivery objectives against the approved business plan which would revised later this year.

The Teignbridge Strata Director advised that the Scrutiny Committee had welcomed progress on the Plan but had also suggested that the availability of Board minutes would be helpful to give a full understanding of the operation of the Company and fulfil their representative roles on behalf of the public. They also had a further issue regarding Members general understanding across the three Authorities of the operation of Strata.

Members discussed the request from the Scrutiny Committee regarding the availability of the Board Minutes.

The Chair stated that some work was still to be done to increase Members awareness and understanding of Strata.

Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 17 March 2016 and its comments were reported including an additional recommendation that the Teignbridge Strata Director to report to the next Scrutiny Committee meeting on mechanisms for increasing the transparency of Board business.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)        the noted the report; and

(2)        the Teignbridge Strata Director be requested to report to the next Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee meeting on mechanisms for increasing the transparency of Board business.

To consider the report of the Strata Board.

The report of the Strata Board on the work plan was submitted.

The Democratic Services Manager/Monitoring Officer Governance and Communications presented the newly adopted work plan that would be monitored by the Board over the next twelve months. He reported that considerable focus had been given to delivering the first part of the implementation plan and the new virtual desk top and supporting technologies across the three Councils. The work plan would be kept under monthly review by the Board which would be reviewing wider progress against the Company’s business and organisational objectives.

The work plan was meant to provide the delivery of relevant and timely information to this Scrutiny Committee and the Executive. It was also intended to provide a framework for the management of the company’s business and service delivery objectives against the approved business plan.

Members welcomed progress on the Plan, highlighting the reference to additional shareholders and suggesting that the availability of Board minutes would be helpful.

The former matter had been discussed at a Board meeting as it was possible that, as the Company established itself, it might wish to expand as part of an extended partnership with other Councils. This was a matter for the future.

In respect of making the minutes of Board meetings available to Members, the Scrutiny Committee felt that a full understanding of the operation of the Company was vital if they were to fulfil their representative roles on behalf of the public. They acknowledged that some of the Board’s deliberations covered confidential commercial and staffing issues but that, without knowledge of Board business, they were not presently in a position to know what was or was not sensitive information and, critically, were unable to fully scrutinise the operation of the Company.

A further issue was that general understanding amongst all Members across the three Authorities of the operation and raison d’etre of the Company was not thought to be high, especially amongst new Councillors. Although briefings were held at the beginning of the Municipal Year, the most recent had been poorly attended.

Strata Joint Scrutiny Committee:-

(1)        noted the report; and

(2)        requested the Teignbridge Strata Director to report to the next Scrutiny Committee meeting on mechanisms for increasing the transparency of Board business.