Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 7th June, 2018 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To appoint two Vice-Chairmen of the Committee for the 2018/19 Municipal Year. A copy of the roles and responsibilities of the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen is attached.

RESOLVED: That Cllrs. Mrs D.B. Bedford and J.B. Canty be appointed as Vice-Chairmen of the Committee for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

To determine the working arrangements for the Committee, to include:

·                Meeting Agenda structure

·                “Progress” meetings – setting up a group to meet between meetings

·                Task and Finish groups

A copy of Article 6 of the Council’s Constitution setting out the roles of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and terms of reference is attached.

A presentation with also be made on how the Committee will carry out its work.

Andrew Colver, Head of Democratic and Customer Services, provided a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Committee was given an explanation of the principles behind the new structure, which had been driven by the need to streamline the structure to provide focussed outcomes, better clarity between scrutiny and policy development and an emphasis on the delivery of the Council Plan and Member priorities.

The agenda for each meeting would normally follow a standard format and consist of both regular items, such as the performance monitoring report and the Forward Plan, and other items, to include those generated for pre-decision scrutiny, by call ins and some scrutiny of outside organisations. The work plan, which would be reviewed and progressed at Progress Meetings, would also be considered at the main meeting of the Committee. Task and finish groups would be established to deliver major areas of work, membership of these would not be limited to the Committee, but would need to be politically balanced and exclude Cabinet Members. The Chairman or one of the Vice- Chairmen would be required to chair the task and finish groups. A clear purpose and process was important to make the work of the task and finish groups successful and to allow the work to be carried out in a reasonable timeframe.

The role of the Progress Group would be to consider items for the next agenda, review and progress the work plan and to ensure the task and finish groups worked effectively.

RESOLVED: That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Progress Group for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

To receive an update on Performance Monitoring.  A copy of the Report issued to the Cabinet is attached.

Jon Rundle, Strategy, Performance and Partnerships Manager attended the meeting to provide information on the Council’s Performance Monitoring Report. It was reported, that the document was complex and changeable, and included items directly linked to the Council and some that were not, such as statistics on educational performance. Historically, the Corporate Leadership Team and Cabinet had reviewed the report but it was felt that, under the new structure, the Committee could “almost” own the document and help evolve it to ensure it provided information in line with the Council’s objectives and trends on performance.  The document would also be used to help influence the work plan.

To consider items for the work plan for the year ahead.  A copy of the latest Cabinet Forward Work Programme is attached.  Information will be provided at the meeting on potential issues for scrutiny.

The Committee held a discussion around potential items for the Work Plan, a number of which were identified as follows:

(1)       Registered Providers Task and Finish Group

RESOLVED: That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Registered Providers Task and Finish Group for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

(2)       Potential issues for further discussion

·                Parking at the Aldershot Centre for Health – It was AGREED that a report on the current situation would be given at the next meeting of the Committee on 19th July, 2018.

·                Hampshire County Council Transformation 2019 – It was AGREED that the situation would be monitored and an overview of any implications for the Council be given at the meeting of the Progress Group on 19th June, 2018.

·                Environmental Nuisance – A discussion was held which considered the wider issues relating to environmental nuisance, these included fly tipping, household waste centres and recycling performance. It was felt that these issues could be picked up as part of a wider SERCO Review Group which could be picked up at the end of Quarter 2.

·                Cabinet Champions – It was agreed that this topic would be picked up at a future Progress Meeting as an area for more detailed scrutiny.

·                Property Investment/Asset Management – this issue would be picked up as part of the work of the Progress Group.