Agenda and minutes

None.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 June 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

To elect a Chair for the 2023/24 Municipal Year

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor D R W White be the Chair of Scrutiny Management Board for the 2023/24 municipal year.

RESOLVED – that Councillor D R W White be elected as Chair of the Scrutiny Management Board for the 2023/24 municipal year.

To elect a Deputy Chair for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor M Boylan be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Management Board for the 2023/24 municipal year.

RESOLVED – that Councillor M Boylan be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Management Board for the 2023/24 municipal year.

To review and consider the Annual Scrutiny report for 2022/23.

The Senior Democracy Officer (Scrutiny) presented the draft Annual Scrutiny Report for 2022/23 to the Board. Members of the Board were asked to consider the draft report and send comments to the Scrutiny Team.

Members commented that the report clearly set out the work of scrutiny in the previous year and new Members felt that it was a particularly useful for newly elected Councillors.

The Senior Democracy Officer (Scrutiny) advised that the Annual Report would be presented to the Scrutiny Assembly in September, before being presented to Full Council in November.

Members noted the report.

To receive and consider the scrutiny work programme for 2023/24 and 2024/25.

The Senior Democracy Officer (Scrutiny) presented the draft Scrutiny Work Programme for the next two municipal years. A two-year work programme had been proposed to allow for in-depth work to be completed over multiple years. The work programme included various constitution items, such as the budget, and new and carried over suggestions following consultation with officers, Councillors, partner agencies and the public.

Members raised an additional item for the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee, in relation to finances for schools, particularly relating to children with Special Education Needs or Disabilities (SEND). Members discussed that schools reported struggling to fund additional support for these children. A Member suggested that the Committee could focus on the transition from year six to seven and the impact this may have on funding.

RESOLVED­- that the suggestions set out in the report be referred to each of the relevant Scrutiny Committees to prioritise their own work programmes, having regard to the over-arching priorities.

The Senior Democracy Officer (Scrutiny) advised that non-statutory co-opted scrutiny members were appointed on a four-year term, co-terminus with the election cycle. The last term had ended in May.

All co-opted members had been contacted to thank them for their contribution towards scrutiny over the term and to enquire if  they would be interested in continuing their role.

Two co-optees, Mel Ward and Lyn Fowler, both members of the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee, had decided not to return as they were no longer in the roles which had appointed them. Members wished to express their thanks to Mel and Lyn for their contribution.

The available co-optee positions would be advertised and the Scrutiny Chairs, in conjunction with the Scrutiny Team, would consider all applications and appoint as required.

RESOLVED – that authority be delegated to Scrutiny Chairs, in collaboration with the Senior Democracy Officer (Scrutiny) and the Democracy Manager, to appoint co-opted members to individual committees as required.