To consider the recommendations from Joint Chairs.
Minutes:
The Committee considered the report from the Joint Chairs and Vice Chairs Steering Group.
The Head of Democratic Services advised that the report by the Wales Audit Office was awaited on scrutiny in Powys which was also looking at Public Service Board [PSB] Scrutiny. A further report would need to be considered regarding the allocation of senior salaries after the Leader had confirmed her requirements following the recent changes to the Cabinet.
The following comments on the report was made:
· It was noted that all Committee Chairs receive the same senior salary level and yet the workload can vary greatly
· All Councillors should be mandated to be a member of at least one committee
· Changes should not take place until Members had visited other councils to observe how their scrutiny works
· There should be a lead scrutiny member responsible to Council rather than dispersing the role across four chairs
The informal views of the Education Scrutiny Committee B were noted as follows:
· The current scrutiny arrangements do not work
· The membership of the Education Scrutiny Working Group and Children Scrutiny Working Group is the same
· Education and Children services and Portfolios will become more aligned in the future
· Both Education and Children scrutiny have huge workloads.
The Head of Democratic Services advised that the changes needed to be made at the Council’s Annual meeting as the Imorovement and Assurance Board was monitoring the Council on its pace of change. Once changes had been agreed a programme of development would be implemented for scrutiny committees.
Although it was recommended that nine councillors would be appointed to the proposed scrutiny committees there was always the option to co-opt additional members. In response to comments the Head of Democratic Services advised that discussions would take place with Group Leaders regarding the proposals, so that Groups could consider their allocations to the proposed scrutiny committees prior to the Annual Council meeting. It was noted that scrutiny committees should be politically balanced.
It was moved and duly seconded that as soon as possible work is undertaken to set out the responsibilities, powers and duties of the proposed scrutiny committees.
RESOLVED |
Reason for decision |
that as soon as possible work is undertaken to set out the responsibilities, powers and duties of the proposed scrutiny committees. |
To ensure that the new scrutiny structure is reflected in the Constitution - Section 7. |
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL |
Reason for recommendation |
(i) That the recommendations of the Joint Chairs and Vice-Chairs Steering Group set out in paragraph 2.5 (items (i) to (ix) [in the officer’s report) be approved. (ii) That the Constitution be amended to reflect the changes in the scrutiny committee structure. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Democratic Services Committee be given delegated authority to approve the wording of the amended Constitution. (iii) That the report to Council on the Constitutional changes should include a full list of the various options open to Council to fund the additional Senior Salary. |
To complete the review of the Scrutiny Committee structure.
|
RESOLVED |
Reason for decision |
That work be undertaken to consider changing the Constitution to require all Councillors to be appointed to at least one Committee. |
To ensure that the requested change is legal. |
County Councillors J. Jones, D Price and E Vaughan left the meeting for other Council business.
Supporting documents: