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OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY FUNCTION REVIEW - MEMBER DEVELOPMENT

Meeting: 27/01/2022 - Council (Item 95)

95 OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY FUNCTION REVIEW - MEMBER DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS pdf icon PDF 180 KB

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation & Resources, as contained on pages 857 to 868 of the Book of Reports, which set out the recommendations of the Member Development Commission, following a review of Scrutiny Arrangements of West Lancashire Borough Council, and to authorise next steps.

 

A Motion, circulated prior to the meeting, was moved and seconded.

 

A vote was taken, the Motion was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:   A.   That the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Review undertaken by the Member Development Commission on behalf of the Council, previously adopted and implemented set out in paragraph 6 of the report, and the recommendations set out in paragraph 7.2.C, be noted.

 

B.   That the Council continue with 2 scrutiny committees (Corporate & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee).

 

C.   That, subject to approval of the financial implications set out in paragraph 10 of the report, the Corporate & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee establish Task and Finish Groups to undertake in depth scrutiny work, rather than the work being undertaken by the main Committee, as follows:

            (a) Membership:

·    6 Members (3 Lab, 2 Con, 1 OWL), subject to change each year to reflect political makeup and inclusion of Independent councillor(s) as appropriate

·    Additional Members (To be appointed by the Task & Finish Group/Committee if required)

·    Co-optees: If required

           

(Members volunteer to be a member of the group, and selection is made on the members particular interest and expertise in the area being scrutinised. Members not to be restricted to Scrutiny Members, but open to all. Cabinet Members by invitation only.)

 

(b) Meetings

·    to be held ad hoc, dependent on the nature of the topic, eg if there is a set deadline for a review to take place and conclude in order to make a decision, the group will meet several times within a short timeframe.

·    To be held virtually

(c) Remit:

·    Initial meeting will set out the Terms of Reference, membership, timeframe, etc via a project plan proforma

·    Final reports of the Task & Finish Group to be submitted to Corporate & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee for approval prior to consideration by Cabinet / Council.

·

D.   That subject to budget approval, a permanent allocation of 10 hours per week at Grade SO1 at 10 hours per week be assigned to facilitate this work, either as a standalone Member Services Officer role or a more substantive role combined with other duties.

 

E.   That the Members Update to remain in its current format.

 

F.    That the Legal & Democratic Services Manager be authorised to make any necessary amendments to the Constitution.

 

 

 


Meeting: 13/01/2022 - Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 74)

74 OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY FUNCTION REVIEW - MEMBER DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS pdf icon PDF 180 KB

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources as contained on pages 1387 to 1398 of the Book of Reports, which was to consider recommendations of the Member Development Commission, following a review of Scrutiny Arrangements of West Lancashire Borough Council, and to authorise next steps. 

 

The report had previously been considered by Corporate & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 9 December 2021.

 

The Chairman gave an overview of the details contained within the report.

 

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

 

·         Structure of Task & Finish Groups - Membership/Chairing of Groups/ Terms of Reference / Reporting arrangement

·         Resources allocated

·         Welcome of Task and Finish Groups – Involvement at all levels

 

The Democratic Services Manager Informed Members that the report would be presented to Extraordinary Council on 27 January 2022 in order to give extra capacity to the February Council Agenda.

 

RESOLVED: That the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Review undertaken by the Member Development Commission on behalf of the Council, previously adopted and implemented set out in paragraph 6 of the report, be noted, and the following recommendations of the Member Development Commission set out in paragraph 7.2 C be endorsed, as follows:

 

"(i)       That the Council continue with 2 scrutiny committees (Corporate & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

 

(ii)       That Corporate & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee establish Task and finish Groups to undertake in depth scrutiny work rather than that work being undertaken by the main Committee.

 

(iii)      That a permanent role of Member Services Officer at Grade SO1 at 10 hours per week be created to facilitate this work.

 

(iv)      That the Members Update to remain in its current format."

 


Meeting: 09/12/2021 - Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 42)

42 OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY FUNCTION REVIEW - MEMBER DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS pdf icon PDF 180 KB

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources as contained on pages 197 to 204 of the Book of Reports, which was to consider the recommendations of the Member Development Commission, following a review of Scrutiny arrangements at  West Lancashire Borough Council.

 

The Democratic Services Manager outlined the report and explained that the Member Development Commission (MDC) compared the Overview & Scrutiny structures of other similar Local Authorities via a questionnaire sent to 28 other Local Authorities.

 

She also gave a summary of the previously adopted recommendations of the MDC, including Pre-Decision Scrutiny at Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the submission of Questions in advance of meetings.

 

Comments and Questions were raised in respect of:

·         The structure of Task and Finish Groups

·         Member's time and involvement.  

·         Opportunity for members of Public to participate at these.

 

A Motion, circulated prior to the meeting, was moved and seconded.

 

A vote was taken the Motion was CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:   That the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Review undertaken by the Member Development Commission on behalf of the Council, previously adopted and implemented set out in paragraph 6 below, be noted, and the recommendations set out in paragraph 7.2 C. (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) be endorsed, subject to the following agreed comments being recommended to Council:

 

A.   That recommendation (iii) be amended to read:

"(iii)   That a permanent allocation of 10 hours per week at Grade SO1 at 10 hours per week be assigned to facilitate this work, either as a standalone Member Services Officer role or a more substantive role combined with other duties.

 

B.   That the Task and Finish Groups be established in accordance with paragraph 8 of the report, subject to the approval of the financial implications set out at paragraph 10 of the report and the Membership details being amended a paragraph 8.1 (a) to read:

"(a)   Membership:

·         6 Members (3 Lab, 2 Con, 1 OWL) ), subject to change each year to reflect political makeup and inclusion of Independent councillor(s) as appropriate

·         Additional Members (To be appointed by the Task & Finish Group/Committee if required)

·         Co-optees: If required

           

(Members volunteer to be a member of the group, and selection is made on the members particular interest and expertise in the area being scrutinised. Members not to be restricted to Scrutiny Members, but open to all. Cabinet Members by invitation only.)