Decision details

The Scrutiny and Democratic Services Team Leader reported that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee were responsible for setting their own Work Programme and were expected to review at least one major policy issue during the municipal year.  The Committee must give serious consideration to the number of issues to be reviewed during the year, to ensure that they were able to allocate resources sufficient to facilitate a thorough review of the issues selected.

An efficient and effective Overview and Scrutiny Committee work planning process ensured that the maximum value could be made of the Council’s resources and that the outcome of the work would be linked to the Council Plan priorities.  To that end, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had adopted the following agreed procedure for work programming (Minute No. 35 of 16th December, 2021 refers):-

• Annual public consultation exercise to bring forward potential items for consideration;
• Preliminary prioritisation of submissions conducted by the Chair and Vice Chair and the Council’s Senior Management Team using the agreed Work Planning Aid;
• A Work Planning Workshop involving the Committee members to allow discussion of the topics in an informal setting; and
• The proposed Work Programme to be agreed by the Committee

Submissions for topics had been invited from the public, all Borough Councillors, Senior Officers within the Council, Parish and Town Council Clerks and partner organisations via a survey link on the Council’s website.

The consultation exercise had brought forward two suggestions as follows:-

1)      The Council’s ongoing policy to prevent public access to the Town Hall; and

2)      Transparency.

Further details had been provided as an Appendix to the report.

The Council’s Senior Management Team had also considered that the following policies/strategies should pass through Scrutiny for consideration:-

1)        Equality Strategy and Action Plan;

2)        Customer Strategy and Action Plan;

3)        Growing Forward Report and Action Plan; and

4)        Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy

The Scrutiny and Democratic Services Team Leader had recommended that the following new items be included in the Work Programme for 2022/2023 in the following order of priority:-

• Review of Customer Strategy and Action Plan;
• Review of the Growing Forward Report and Action Plan;
• Review of Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy; and
• Review of Equality Strategy and Action Plan.

The Committee had been requested to note that the following items from the 2021/2022 Work Programme were still ongoing/paused and would be carried forward into 2022/2023:-

• Crellin Street (Paused)
• Flooding on Walney Promenade (Paused)
• Discretionary Housing Payments (Ongoing)
• Impact of Covid-19 Going Forward (Ongoing)

The Committee may have the capacity to undertake additional reviews throughout the year should the need arise.  Any additional items for consideration would be considered in conjunction with the Work Planning Aid agreed by the Committee at their meeting on 16th December, 2021.

It was moved by Councillor Cassidy and Seconded by Councillor McEwan that a review of the memorial benches policy be added to the work programme, this would take place six months after implementation of the policy (after 10th May).

The Scrutiny and Democratic Services Team Leader had requested the Committee to confirm the Membership of the Work Group for reviewing the Memorial Benches Policy.

It was moved by Councillor Cassidy and seconded by Councillor McEwan, and

RESOLVED: -

1.         To agree that the following new items, in priority order as listed, be included in the Work Programme for 2022/2023:--

·           Review of Customer Strategy and Action Plan;

·           Review of the Growing Forward Report and Action Plan;

·           Review of Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy; and

·           Review of Equality Strategy and Action Plan;

2.         To note that the following items from the 2021/2022 Work Programme would be carried forward into 2022/2023:-

·           Crellin Street (Paused);

·           Flooding on Walney Promenade (Paused);

·           Discretionary Housing Payments (Ongoing); and

·           Impact of Covid-19 Going Forward (Ongoing); and

3.         To agree that a review of the Memorial Benches Policy be undertaken after 10th May and the Work Group for that review would comprise of Councillors Cassidy (Lead), Gawne, McEwan and McLeavy.