Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Borough Solicitor.

The Committee considered a report of the Borough Solicitor containing a draft protocol setting out the arrangements between the Committee and the Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) and outlining further consideration regarding co-option onto the Committee.

The Committee was advised that the view of the Scrutiny Chairmen’s Group was that co-option should not take place onto Scrutiny Committees (apart from where required by statute) but rather to allow co-option onto Task/Finish Groups or for specific scrutiny reviews.  Members of the Committee also raised concerns about making the Committee too large and also noted the wide remit of the Committee about which Members were still learning.

The Committee considered the draft protocol which would help govern the working arrangements between it and the PCT.  The protocol set out the respective roles and responsibilities and how the relationship between the Committee and the PCT would work in practice.  The Protocol reflected the current legal framework for the conduct of health scrutiny and would be updated when new guidance from the Department of Health became available.  

RESOLVED:  That

(a) no action be taken on co-option onto the Committee and the position be reviewed in twelve months time; and

(b) the draft Protocol be approved and adopted subject to one amendment to paragraph 8.7 under the heading Level Three to include “ Local Ward Councillors concerned would be informed of the proposals by the Secretary” and forwarded to the PCT for approval by the PCT Board.