Issue - meetings

Review of the Overview and Scrutiny Function

Purpose

To present the findings of a self-assessment survey carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the transition from a structure of three overview and scrutiny committees to a single Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Recommendation

That Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves to:

1. Note the report and consider any additional improvements not mentioned in the report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the item was present the findings of a self-assessment survey carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the transition from a structure of three overview and scrutiny committees to a single Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Senior Democratic Services Officer introduced the report and explained that in November 2023, Full Council resolved to change the structure of the three overview and scrutiny committees, replacing them with a single 24 seat Committee. The report presented the results of the survey, highlightingthat the change had been considered to be successful overall, and recommended a reduction of the Committee’s size and a greater use of Task and Finish groups.

In discussion, the following points were raised;

· The reduction in the Committee’s size, as recommended to Full Council by the Constitution Working Group (CWG) was discussed. Members who were not part of the CWG wished to know more details about why a reduction had been recommended and how the Working Groups would function in practice. Members on the Committee who were also on the CWG explained that the rationale behind reducing the Committee was because meetings were often poorly attended, and the large size created difficulties finding substitute members. Members on the CWG had felt that the use of task and finish groups would enable members who were not on the Committee to input but ensure that discussion on the main Committee remained focused. In response to requests from Members to do so, the Head of Democratic and Electoral Services explained that this could be highlighted within the Full Council report.

· It was suggested that Overview and Scrutiny training be open to all members.

· It was suggested that a 16-member committee may be more mathematically simple.

· Changes to the Committee’s size were constitutional matters and therefore required a recommendation to the Council by the Constitution Working Group, whereas improvements such as training and working group formation were within the Committee’s remit.

Resolved: That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted the report and the planned improvements to the overview and scrutiny function.

Issue - meetings

Review of the Overview and Scrutiny Function

Meeting: 16/04/2025 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 124)

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