Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Buckley and G Smith.

To confirm the minutes of the Scrutiny Board held on 25 February 2014.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Board held on 25 February 2014 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.

There were no declarations of interests from any of the members present.

The Chairmen reminded the Board:

i)             it was the responsibility of the Scrutiny Leads to organise any standing deputies;

ii)            Scrutiny training had been scheduled for 15 July 2014 and all members were encouraged to attend; and

iii)           of the conduct expected at meetings when scrutinising future topics.

The Board received a report inviting it to agree the scrutiny leads and board members, the membership of the five Scrutiny and Policy Development Panels and the Panels terms of reference. 

RESOLVED that:

(1)          The scrutiny leads and board members as set out in Appendix A be approved;

(2)          Scrutiny and Policy Development Panels and their terms of reference as set out in Appendix A be approved;

(3)          The Scrutiny Panel membership as set out in Appendix A be approved; and

(4)          Councillor Faith Ponsonby be co-opted onto the Scrutiny Board as a non-voting member.

The Board considered a report from the Governance and Logistics Panel providing an update on the Panel’s findings in connection with its review of the costs and benefits of the democratic process.

The Board advised that the word ‘found’ in recommendation 2.4 be changed to ‘sought’.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet:

(1)          Closer scrutiny of Mayoral engagements take place to ensure cost-efficiency to the Council and to maximise value to the organisation concerned;

(2)          The Economic Development Team, in conjunction with the relevant Cabinet lead, be encouraged to liaise more closely with the Mayor’s support team to identify suitable events at an early stage;

(3)          Closer liaison between the Mayor and the Cabinet/Joint Management Team to ensure that no opportunity for maximising the role of the Mayor to promote/raise the profile of the Borough was missed; and

(4)          Alternatives to using porta cabins as polling stations be sought in order to minimise costs.

The Board was given an opportunity to review progress to date with regard to the various scrutiny and policy reviews currently being undertaken by the Panels and to identify potential new matters for scrutiny.

RESOLVED that

(1)          A scrutiny of Grass Cutting by the Environment and Neighbourhood Quality Panel be included on the Work Programme;

(2)          A scrutiny of Outside Appointments by the Governance and Logistics Panel be included on the Work Programme; and

(3)          A scrutiny of Tourism within the Borough by the Economy and Communities Panel be included on the Work Programme.