Issue - meetings

(Financial/Business affairs)

A representative from Red Quadrant will attend the meeting and Members of the SORP Cabinet Working Group have been invited, in order to provide guidance in relation to what was envisaged in respect of the role of the Commission, following the decision of Council to extend the terms of reference, which was recommended in the SORP report as attached for information.

A copy of SORP- Member Development Project Report, previously circulated at the meeting held on19 September 2019 is attached for Members information.

The Chairman welcomed Mr Alan Burns, representative from Red Quadrant to the meeting. 

Mr Burns provided Members with guidance in relation to what was envisaged in respect of the role of the Commission, following the decision of Council to extend the terms of reference, which was recommended in the SORP report, as contained on pages 57 to 111 of the Book of Reports.

In addition, a copy of the SORP-Member Development Project Report, previously circulated at the meeting held on 19 September 2019 was also provided for Members information, as contained at pages 209 to 242 of the Book of Reports.

The Commission raised comments and questions in respect of:-

·         Chief Operating Officer Model

·         Focus on Strategic Delivery

·         Cabinet role / CMT

·         Pre Scrutiny value

·         Training – Strategic Development and Opportunity

·         Roles of Scrutiny Committees

·         Future Boundary Review

·         Understanding of SORP

AGREED: A. That a workshop / training session be arranged to review the role of Overview & Scrutiny in West Lancashire.

B. That a workshop / training session be arranged in respect of 'Development and Strategic arrangements'.

C. That in consultation with the Chairman, future meeting dates will be confirmed following confirmation of the above workshop / training session dates.

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor.

(To follow)

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Solicitor as contained on pages 17 to 50 of the Book of Reports, which set out the decision of Council on 10 July 2019, in relation to the Sustainable Organisation Review Project (SORP) and the extended terms of reference of the Commission, tasked with identifying a way forward in order to give effect to the greater role that was envisaged for Councillors in setting the strategy and direction of the organisation.

The Commission raised comments and questions in respect of:-

·         Chief Officer / structure

·         Culture change

·         Budget / expenditure

·         Cross–Party Scrutiny / Scrutiny Training

·         Role of Members

·         Member / Officer engagement

AGREED:   A.           That, the decision of Council on 10 July 2019, to expand the terms of reference of the Commission in order to give effect to the greater role that is envisaged for Councillors, be noted.

B.           That, feedback from the organisations contacted initially to provide external advice on the project set out at Appendix 1-6 and as referred to in the report be noted.

C.           That in consultation with the Chairman, a representative from Red Quadrant be invited to a future meeting, in order to provide Members with some guidance in relation to what was envisaged in respect of the Commission's role in the process.