Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S Broadhurst, M Davies and Mrs B Howell

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda

A number of Councillors who were existing County and Borough Councillors declared a personal interest in the business of the meeting en bloc. In accordance with the Code of Conduct they remained in the meeting during consideration of the relevant items.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research it would be helpful if questions were submitted at least one working day before the meeting.

None

Members agreed that this issue should be deleted from future Scrutiny Committee agendas, as public speaking was not relevant to this Committee.

RESOLVED

That the Governance and Constitution Committee be requested to give consideration to the removal of Public Speaking/Open Session from the Rules of Procedure for the Scrutiny Committee

 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2008.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record subject to Councillor P Edwards being included in the list of apologies.

To note details of action taken by the Chairman in respect of :

Urgent Decision under Standing Order No 25 : Appointment of  Strategic Director – Places

Informal Briefing to Members of the Cabinet

The Chairman reported that he had undertaken the following action since the last meeting of the Committee:

Urgent Decision under Standing Order No 25 – Appointment of Strategic Director, Places Informal Briefing to Members of the Cabinet.

RESOLVED

That the action taken by the Chairman in respect of the matter set out above be noted.

The Committee at its meeting on 10 October 2008 extended an open invitation for the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive to attend the Committee.

It was noted that the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive were not available to attend this meeting.

It was agreed that this invitation should be a standard item on the Scrutiny Committee agenda and that the Leader of Council should be requested to address a future meeting of the Committee to express his views on the scrutiny process and how he would envisage scrutiny working post-vesting day.

RESOLVED

That an open invitation to the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive be included on all future Scrutiny Committee agendas

The Chairman on the Committee’s behalf has invited Councillor Frank Keegan- Portfolio Holder for Resources to address the meeting on current financial issues.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources did not attend the meeting

To receive feedback on the informal scoping exercise earlier in the day on a review of Facilities for Young People.

The Scrutiny Committee had completed a scoping exercise earlier in the day on a review of Facilities for Young People, which would be completed by March 2009. Members agreed that although the exercise went well, the training that had been received so far did not assist in the review.

RESOLVED

That the feedback on the scoping exercise be noted.

To consider the drafting and Consultees to be involved in the drafting of an Annual Work Programme effective from 1 April 2009. 

Consideration was given to the Committee’s work programme. It was agreed that at the next meeting of the Committee, Members receive a report on the reviews/issues that would be referred to the Scrutiny Committee and a report on the reviews that had already been undertaken by the Borough Councils and County Councils.

Members also agreed that the forward Plan should be considered at all future meetings of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the work programme be approved subject to the comments highlighted above.

To receive an update on Module 3 of the Cheshire and Warrington Improvement Partnership Member development – Overview and Scrutiny programme to be held at Warrington Town Hall on Friday 16 January 2009.

Members completed a feedback questionnaire on a training session relating to Module 3 – Having an Influence, Work Planning and Prioritisation, which was held at Warrington Town Hall on Friday 16 January 2009.

Following detailed discussion on the session, Members agreed that the following specific issues should be raised:

1. That the knowledge and expertise of the IDeA facilitator was good, however this did not come across during the training session
2. That the agenda for the session was not followed
3. That the location was poor
4. That members received too much background information and there was insufficient emphasis on the outcome of a review
5. That there was insufficient practical training such as workshops and case studies

RESOLVED

That the feedback form be approved and submitted to the IDeA

To consider any further training and development issues for the Scrutiny Committee and its members.                            

Consideration was given to the further training and development issue required by the Scrutiny Committee. It was agreed that:

1. J Lamb and H Boots be requested to facilitate a review session to enable any outstanding questions to be answered.
2. Training be received on the functions of the Borough and County Councils.
3. Additional practical training be received on how to conduct a review, with a focus on outcomes.

RESOLVED

1. That J Lamb and H Boots be requested to lead a future training session to answer any outstanding questions and help to review progress to date.
2. That the Committee receive training in respect of the functions of the Borough and County Councils and how to conduct a Scrutiny review.

To consider the drafting of an Annual Scrutiny Report for the Shadow Council year 2008/09.

Consideration was given to the Annual Report for 2008/09. It was agreed that the Chairman would draft the report and submit it to the next meeting of the Committee for consideration

RESOLVED

That the Committee give consideration to the draft Annual report at its meeting scheduled to be held on 18 February 2009.