Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Committee considered a report of the Democratic Services Manager relating to the appointment of a designated Scrutiny Officer in accordance with section 31 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

Section 31 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 required that all authorities in England with the exception of district councils in two tier areas to designate a Scrutiny Officer. The functions of this role were to:

• Promote the role of the authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee or Committees.
• Support the authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee or Committees and the Members of those committees’
• Provide support and guidance to:

·        Members of the authority

·        Members of the executive of the authority, and officers of the authority.

11.3         A local authority could not designate any of the following under this section:

·        The head of the authority’s paid service designated under section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989;

·        The authority’s Monitoring Officer designated under section 5 of that Act;

·        The authority’s Chief Finance Officer, within the meaning of that section.

The appointment would be made by Council following a recommendation from Governance and Constitution Committee.

RESOLVED – That Governance and Constitution Committee be informed that this Committee supports the appointment of the Democratic Services Manager as the Council’s Statutory Scrutiny Officer.