Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update on various Scrutiny matters considered at the meeting of the Governance and Constitution Committee held on 9 February 2009.

Members were advised that the Governance and Constitution Committee at its meeting held on 9 February had considered a number of Scrutiny issues as follows:

Ÿ         Public Speaking Time/Open Session - The Scrutiny Committee and the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee had both requested that Procedure Rules Nos 11 and 35 be disapplied on the grounds that Scrutiny was not a decision making body.  The Governance and Constitution Committee had resolved to defer the request to await a report of the Borough Solicitor on various procedural matters including emerging Government guidance relating to Councillor Call for Action and Petitions under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007;

Ÿ         Overview and Scrutiny Structure  - the Committee noted that the proposed scrutiny structure had been approved by Governance and Constitution Committee for recommendation to Council which listed 5 Scrutiny Committees:

Ÿ         Children and Families Scrutiny Committee;

Ÿ         Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee;

Ÿ         Environment and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee;

Ÿ         Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Committee;

Ÿ         Corporate Scrutiny Committee.

Matters to be considered further included whether it was appropriate to allow substitutions on Scrutiny Committees.

RESOLVED:  That the outcomes from the meeting of the Governance and Constitution Committee held on 9 February be noted.