Issue - meetings

The Council is asked to note the Scrutiny Annual Report which summarises the main outcomes of scrutiny, best practice, lessons learnt, and any development issues identified during 2021/22, in the light of a report by the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee.

114.1  The Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee moved the Scrutiny Annual Report which summarises the main outcomes of scrutiny, best practice, lessons learnt, and any development issues identified during 2021/22 (pages 69 to 78).

114.2  Resolved -

That the Scrutiny Annual Report 2021/22, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be noted.

The Committee is asked to review the Scrutiny Annual Report which summarises the main outcomes of scrutiny, best practice, lessons learnt, and any development issues identified during 2021/22.  The report also includes information in relation to the development of an Executive-Scrutiny Protocol for the Committee’s input.

9.1      The Committee scrutinised a report by the Director of Law and Assurance, copy appended to the signed minutes.

9.2      Summary of responses to Committee members’ questions and comments: -

·       Scrutiny chairmen should consider how to incorporate climate change in their committees’ work programmes

·       Committee members should challenge the Policy Alignment and Compliance section of committee reports where they consider the content to be inadequate

·       A Scrutiny Development Action Plan setting out key areas for future action is monitored by scrutiny chairmen. This is not a public document but can be made available to councillors – ACTION: Helen Kenny to circulate the Scrutiny Development Action Plan to members of the Committee

·       Committee members should consider opportunities to interact informally

·       It was agreed that the following wording in the draft Executive-Scrutiny Protocol – ‘The scrutiny process is informed and driven by the political insight of members’ – be changed to read ‘The scrutiny process is informed and driven by members’

9.3      Resolved – that the Committee: -

                     i.        Supports presenting the Scrutiny Annual Report to full Council

                    ii.        Recognises that the Council Plan underpins the work of scrutiny

                   iii.        Welcomes the ability of individual committees to work flexibly

                  iv.        Supports the development of an Executive Scrutiny protocol