Issue - meetings

The Scrutiny Manager gave an oral report to the Panel about the Council’s scrutiny function.

The Panel noted that a proposed new scrutiny structure had been agreed in principle.  The elements requiring change would be considered by the Constitution Working Party prior to submission at the Council’s Annual General Meeting.  The key features of the new constitutional structure included requirements:

·                     to have 6 Members per select committee, apart from the Children and Young People Select Committee, which would have 8 members plus five independent education representatives;

·                     to have 5 meetings per select committee within a municipal year;

·                     to propose to the full Overview and Scrutiny Committee to set up time-limited Task and Finish groups, with a view to carry out in-depth scrutiny into topical issues.

Specific to the work of the select committees, the Panel noted that arrangements were underway to conclude the final cycle of meetings and in-depth reviews.  However, time would be required to analyse the volume of evidence to support recommendations in regard to the equalities review.  This the work would continue on equalities issues, with a view to submit the final report to the first meeting of the Safer and Stronger Communities Select Committee in the next municipal year.

The Panel also received clarification that task and finish groups to be set up would gather input on cross-cutting issues about the Council’s services.  Thus, the groups’ work would be independent from those undertaken by select committees.

On behalf of the Panel, the Chair thanked the Scrutiny Manager for her contribution.

The Scrutiny Manager gave an oral report to the Panel on matters relating to the Overview and Select Committees work for 2019-2020.

The Panel noted that those Select Committees currently undertaking in-depth reviews were either finishing the analysis of the evidence they had collated, or had concluded and made recommendations to Mayor and Cabinet.  The Scrutiny Manager stated that the final cycle of Select Committee meetings in this municipal year would take place in March 2020. 

In light of progress reported by the Scrutiny Manager, the Panel noted the following updates:

·                     Housing Select Committee.  Residents’ engagement review had concluded and the final report and recommendations were submitted to Mayor and Cabinet.  A copy of the report was also sent to all scrutiny members.

·                     Sustainable Development Select Committee.   Review into parks’ management would conclude in March 2020 when the final report with recommendations would be considered. Recommendations would likely focus on the upcoming insourcing of the service.

·                     Children and Young People Select Committee.  Review into children living in temporary out-of-borough accommodation would conclude in March 2020, and recommendations would be considered for implementation.

·                     Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee: Equalities review had involved the collation of a significant amount of evidence, most recently via a trip to Glasgow City Council. Further work would be required to allow the evidence to be analysed thoroughly.  Therefore, the final report with recommendations would be submitted for consideration at the first meeting in the next municipal year.

·                     Public Accounts Select Committee.  A number of recommendations relating to the ongoing review into corporate culture change and commercialisation had been made, but work would continue into the municipal year.

·                     Healthier Communities Select Committee: A review into charging migrants for treatment at Lewisham Hospital was ongoing, and a response from the Mayor and Cabinet was pending.  Councillor John Muldoon, the Chair of the Committee added that a request had also been made for Members to receive briefing on contraception shortages in the borough.

On behalf of the Panel, the Chair, Councillor Bill Brown, thanked Members and officers for progress in relation to work undertaken by the various select committees.