Agenda item

Please see for noting a link to the schedule of future business proposed for the Council which can be viewed on the Council's web site. This on-line document is a source for Members to raise issues at Scrutiny on forthcoming Executive agenda items:-

https://exeter.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors-and-meetings/forward-plan-of-executive-decisions/

Also attached is a draft work plan of future scrutiny items.

Should Members wish to raise issues in respect of future business please notify Liz Smith in advance of the meeting.

The Chair stated that there had been one request for scrutiny under Standing Order No. 18 from Councillors Mitchell, Jobson and Moore which had followed a discussion at Chair’s Briefing and the Chair having made contact with the Chief Executive and Leader. There was also one item allocated to the committee via the Scrutiny Programme Board.

Councillor Mitchell presented the request that the Strategic Scrutiny Committee consider in conjunction with the Council Leader and the Chief Executive, an appropriate date for the committee to consider the Final Business Case regarding Exeter City Councils submission to government in respect of Local Government Reorganisation.

Councillor Mitchell explained that they understood that there was a lot of work to be done and they did not wish to hinder that but wanted to ensure that all parties remained involved and supported the case when it came to Executive and Council in a united fashion.

Councillor Moore seconded the proposal.

Members spoke in favour making the following points:

·         that the Leader and Chief Executive could expand on their work and seek the support of the committee;

·         Devon County Council and other leaders could be invited to hear the Council’s thinking;

·         this would be a formal process to reassure residents;

·         scrutiny was an important element;

·         it was unknown how many other submissions would include Exeter and whether they would have been scrutinised therefore scrutiny could strengthen the Council’s case;

·         it was important to note that scrutiny in public would show accountability and residents would be pleased that Members were talking to one another and in agreement; and

·         there was concern that the county council proposal may be successful.

Members spoke against the proposal making the following points:

·         they were not sure that value could be added or what could be achieved as they would work with their group leader; and

·         report deadlines for scrutiny could potentially hinder progress.

The Strategic Director for Place made the following points:

·         the Strategic Management Board(SMB) were committed to cross-party engagement as the full business case was developed;

·         there would be detailed discussions between SMB and each group leader forming active work to develop the final case;

·         there would be consultation and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders;

·         there would be a public consultation and engagement process;

·         there were six aspects, to which the Leader had alluded, and a number were beyond the knowledge of the Council therefore specialist consultants would be required to develop the case; and

·         that it could be helpful for scrutiny to look at the proposals of other Councils, especially those which included the city council boundaries.

The Chair invited Councillor Bialyk, the Leader, who was present, to speak on the matter. The Leader made the following points:

·         he understood that this was a major issue and he wanted to get it right;

·         there was an aspiration to be unitary;

·         there was size and geography to work through;

·         there were six areas to be covered;

·         Members would have input into the submission;

·         that he wanted to work with opposition leaders and independent Members as well as his own group;

·         much detail would come after the 28 November submission;

·         information would be shared as and when it could be and questions would be answered; and

·         he would look at the timetable with the Chief Executive and meet with Leaders before 21 November.

The Chair read the response she had received from the Chief Executive stating that due process for determining items on the scrutiny work programme be followed.

The Monitoring Officer explained that the Chief Executive was unable to attend this meeting and acknowledged that she ought to be consulted.

Councillor Atkinson proposed an amendment in the following terms:

“to defer the decision to consider the matter until the next scrutiny meeting in order to seek the views of the Chief Executive in discussion with party leaders including independents” and following a vote was NOT CARRIED.

Following a vote on the substantive proposal was NOT CARRIED.

The Chair explained that there had been an item regarding Stagecoach which had previously been allocated to Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee and following the Scrutiny Programme Board had now been allocated to this committee. The Chair stated that during discussion at Customer Focus Scrutiny Committee it had been suggested that the Portfolio Holder report on the information shared by Stagecoach and Devon County Council at Exeter Transport Member Working Group.

During discussion a Member asked that the scope of this proposal be expanded as currently it stated difficulties with the ‘P’ route. The Chair stated that this could be determined at the scoping stage.

Following a unanimous vote it was AGREED that this item be added to the work plan.

Councillor Moore raised that an item on Citywide action on Climate Change had fallen off the work plan agenda and it was agreed that Democratic Services would investigate and the Chair would work with Councillor Moore on this issue.  The Chair agreed to update the committee, via email, the outcome of discussions with officers.

Following a vote the plan, as amended, was AGREED.