Issue - meetings

The Head of Overview and Scrutiny introduced the report to the Panel, advising that next cycle of scrutiny meetings to commence in January 2022 would be considering budget cuts proposals.  The Panel also noted that the next meeting of the full Overview and Scrutiny Committee would take place on 30 November 2021 to consider the climate emergency and the Future Lewisham theme, “A Greener Future”.  It was stated that an update on the implementation of the recommendations on improving the resident experience would also be provided at the November meeting.  The Head of Overview and Scrutiny concluded by providing an overview of the work of the Council’s task and finish groups to the Panel.  It was noted that that the programme of task and finish groups were all progressing well, and a large number of evidence and engagement sessions had taken place.

The Panel also noted comments from Councillor Muldoon that an all-Members’ briefing should he held early in 2022 to consider the Health Bill that was currently going through Parliament.  Councillor Muldoon also informed that spaces were still available for Members’ registration to attend the annual conference organised by the Centre of Governance and Scrutiny on 1 December 202. He also reported that at the last meeting of the London Scrutiny Network, amongst other issues, resident engagement by housing providers was discussed.

Commenting on the date for the conference, Councillor Ingleby pointed out that it should be noted that the Public Accounts Select Committee would be meeting on 1 December 2021 to consider the Council’s Capital Programme initiatives.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The meeting closed at 8.19pm.

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Chair

The Head of Overview and Scrutiny presented the report. She said made the following points:

·         The first round of Select Committee meetings was currently taking place.

·         The Select Committees were agreeing their annual work programmes at these meetings and these will be presented to Business Panel on 20 July 2021 for approval.

·         Three task and finish groups (TFG) had been established to look at topical issues of interest or concern. They were being run as collaborative projects with a shared space on MS Teams and using an agile project management framework to ensure they were effective and timely. The first public meetings would be held shortly.

·         It was envisaged that the TFGs would complete their work within 6-9 months, but no later than the end of February 2022.

·         The Head of Overview and Scrutiny had met with the new Head of Communications recently to discuss communications support to scrutiny. It had been agreed that the residents’ e-newsletter each week would include a brief overview of upcoming scrutiny meetings.

·         Officers had also agreed that there would be a press release to announce the launch of the task and finish groups.

·         In addition, once the new communications team was in place, each scrutiny committee would have an allocated officer who would support the ongoing promotion of meetings and other scrutiny work via social media and other appropriate channels.

REOLVED that the report be noted.

Select Committee Chairs then provided updates on the work being carried out by each of their Committees.

Healthier Communities Select Committee – Councillor Muldoon said that this Committee met on 21 June 2021. There was a comprehensive update on the covid recovery from some of the key stakeholder in Lewisham including the Chief Executive of the Lewisham and Greenwich trust and a presentation from the Chair of the local medical Committee Dr Simon Parton.

Councillor Muldoon said that the government were progressing swiftly with a health and care bill. He expected it to take away some health scrutiny powers. He expected to have more information as this Bill progressed and before it was passed in the summer. 

Councillor Muldoon said that members re-iterated the value of scrutiny to look at the Birmingham and Lewisham African & Caribbean Health Inequalities Review. He said that members agreed that it was crucial that there was scrutiny from a scrutiny committer.

Public Accounts Committee – Councillor Codd said that the first meeting would be held on 7 July 2021. The main item to be considered was medium term financial strategy.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.