Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Scrutiny Programme Board.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council receive the Annual Scrutiny Report 2023/24.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report which provided an annual update of the scrutiny work achieved during the year 2023/24. The report had been presented to both the Strategic Scrutiny Committee and Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee and the minute extracts of those meetings were attached to the report.

Councillor M. Williams as Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Board was in attendance to present the report and made the following points:-

·         the report was a part of the work to align the Scrutiny Programme with the municipal year rather than the calendar year to avoid discrepancies;

·         there had been an improvement to the scrutiny process through cross party working, with ongoing improvements being addressed;

·         the annual report was being developed to focus on the impact of scrutiny rather than just listing items; and

·         thanks were made to the officers and Members involved with preparing the report and the suggestions made to improve it.

During the discussion, Executive Members raised the following points and questions:-

·         the collaborative cross-party nature of the scrutiny process was praised;

·         the chance for the Executive to also feedback to scrutiny was welcomed;

·         the clarity on timing issues and improvements made to the scrutiny process was welcomed; and

·         what sort of measures were considered for the impact of work, notably to leisure services?

An opposition group leader raised the following points and questions:

·         Scrutiny was an important function which provided a great opportunity for discussion and improvement;

·         continued improvement in the collaboration between Scrutiny and the Executive was welcomed; and

·         the idea of broadcasting scrutiny meetings would be a great opportunity for further discussion.

In response to questions and points raised by Members, the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Board advised:-

·         the thanks of the Executive was welcomed and further thanks were made to the Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Scrutiny for their hard work in improving scrutiny; and

·         metrics and measures were still being worked through as part of the work of the Scrutiny Programme Board, but it was a goal to reflect on the impacts of scrutiny.

The Deputy Leader & Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services and City Centre

addressed the question of filming scrutiny meetings, and advised there were ongoing efforts to integrate new AV technology and how this would be resourced by relevant teams.

The Leader moved the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Wright, voted upon, and CARRIED unanimously.

RECOMMENDED that Council receive the Annual Scrutiny Report 2023/24.