Issue - meetings

To consider a report on proposed Procedural Rules for the operation of the Joint Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee considered a report setting out draft Procedural Rules for consideration.

The Procedural Rules covered various matters including membership and co-option, arrangements for Secretarial and Proper Officer support, quorum, Work Programme and urgent business.  The Rules proposed that the Chair and Vice Chair should be appointed annually and the authority that did not hold either of these positions should nominate a Spokesperson. 

During discussion of the item Members discussed the importance of ensuring that the Committee received regular updates outlining the impact of any proposals on service users, carers and staff.  The Committee also requested an update on the impact of the Talking Therapies programme which the Committee had received an earlier briefing on.  The Committee also felt that consideration should be given to changing the name of the Committee so that it was clearly understood what the Committee was scrutinising.

RESOLVED:  That

(a) the Procedural Rules as submitted be approved and adopted subject to a minor amendment under the heading of Work Programme to clarify that the Work Programme is a rolling programme;

(b) the Procedural Rules, as amended, be submitted to the three constituent Councils;

(c) consideration be given at the next meeting to amending the name of the Committee to reflect more clearly the role of the Committee; and

(d) an update report be submitted to the next meeting on the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies scheme.