Agenda item

The Panel received an update report by the Head of Overview and Scrutiny who confirmed that the final arrangements for Select Committee meetings for the current administration had taken place.  It was noted that the final reports of task and finish groups had also been submitted to the Mayor and Cabinet. 

The Head of Overview and Scrutiny invited Select Committee chairs to comment on their respective committees, and also reported that the Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation attended the final meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which considered the Future Lewisham priority “An Economically Sound Future”.  The Panel noted that the Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation spoke to Members about sustainable local economic growth, and that the meeting also received an update on the residents’ experience programme, in which some scrutiny Members had participated.

Councillor John Muldoon informed the Panel about challenges in securing a quorum at the two last meetings of the Healthier Communities Select Committee.  Councillor Muldoon suggested that it was appropriate for Members to give equal importance to attendance of scrutiny meetings as those of the executive.

The Panel also noted confirmation from Councillor Ingleby that he would be circulating a report to Labour Group Members about the work of the Public Accounts Select Committee (PASC) since he became a chair in July 2021.  Councillor Ingleby stated that there had been a progression in work relating to income generation commercialisation.  Councillor Ingleby stated that it would be useful for the Council to consider the capital programme, social value, and asset optimisation during the next administration, not only for PASC, but other committees as well.

Councillor Millbank enquired about the future workings of task and finish groups, drawing attention to the fact that they were set up subject to a review.

Councillor Wise commented that the task and finish groups had completed some very interesting work in a short space of time, and that Members were kept interested.  However, those groups and select committees, while working separately but complementary to each other, had placed a lot of burden on Members.  Councillor Wise suggested that during the next administration, the chair of the Constitutional Working Party should consider a review into the number of meetings that would require Members’ attendance, commenting that she had never experienced such a high expectation during her 24 years as a councillor.

In response to concerns raised, the Assistant Chief Executive clarified that the requirement for attendance at meetings remained that members should be present physically to be part of the quorum formation.  She acknowledged that the arrangements had been challenging, but that scrutiny ought to be workable for proper oversight to take place.  Thus, there would be choices for Members to make during the next administration as to which vehicles of scrutiny to utilise.  Notwithstanding that, the Panel was advised that there was no obligation for Overview and Scrutiny to appoint task and finish groups, as such a formation was a choice.  Therefore, there would be no requirement to amend the Council’s constitution if those groups were not to continue in the next administration.

The Head of Overview and Scrutiny added that a survey would be sent to Members and officers who had taken part in task and finish groups to complete, and the findings would be used to inform scrutiny practice going forward.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.