Agenda item

Consideration of Scrutiny Group Work Programmes

Report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services

Minutes:

The Group considered the requests for scrutiny items submitted by either Councillors or officers using the scrutiny matrix. The Service Manager Corporate Services explained how the scrutiny matrices were formed and that Directors considered issues for scrutiny at the start of each year.

In respect of the scrutiny matrix submitted by Councillor J Walker concerning the inclusion of Active Travel in future Local Plans, it was agreed that this would not be submitted to scrutiny as it was already being addressed by officers following submission to scrutiny earlier in the year. In response to questions, the Service Manager Corporate Services explained that the issue could be submitted for consideration again later in the year but that the scrutiny matrix would need to clarify how the issue had changed from the current position.

Regarding the scrutiny matrix concerning the Customer Access Strategy, the Group agreed that this should be submitted to the Communities Scrutiny Group rather than the Corporate Overview Group as suggested in the scrutiny matrix due to the link to customers and the wider community. The Group asked that the issue be discussed at the meeting in October when the External Communications Strategy would be discussed due to the linkages between the two items. The Group was, however, concerned about the length of the agenda for this meeting and that sufficient time be allowed for full scrutiny of both items. Councillors proposed that the item ‘Establishment of a Youth Council’ which was also planned for the October meeting be delayed to allow more time at that meeting for full scrutiny of the items. The Service Manager Corporate Services agreed to discuss the Group’s comments and the work programme with the Service Manager Neighbourhoods and to report back to the next meeting of the Corporate Overview Group.

The Group discussed the item ‘Policies relating to Alternative Energy Sources’ provisionally scheduled for the Growth and Development Scrutiny Group in July and agreed that this item fell outside the scrutiny process as the discussion was to inform policy development rather than to scrutinise policies. The Service Manager Corporate Services agreed to arrange a separate workshop for Councillors to discuss the item and to feed into the policy development process.

It was RESOLVED that the work programmes outlined below be agreed.

Work Programme 2022-23 – Corporate Overview Group

7 June 2022	· Consideration of Scrutiny Group Work Programmes
6 September 2022	· Standing Items o Feedback from Scrutiny Group Chairmen o Feedback from Lead Officer o Consideration of Scrutiny Group Work Programmes o Financial and Performance Management · Rolling Items o Health and Safety Annual Report
15 November 2022	· Standing Items o Feedback from Scrutiny Group Chairmen o Feedback from Lead Officer o Consideration of Scrutiny Group Work Programmes o Financial and Performance Management · Rolling Items o Customer Feedback Annual Report
21 February 2023	· Standing Items o Feedback from Scrutiny Group Chairmen o Feedback from Lead Officer o Consideration of Scrutiny Group Work Programmes o Financial and Performance Management · Rolling Items o Review of the 2019-23 Strategic Tasks o Review of the draft Business Continuity Strategy
May 2023 (date to be agreed at Annual Council)	· Standing Items o Feedback from Scrutiny Group Chairmen o Feedback from Lead Officer o Consideration of Scrutiny Group Work Programmes o Financial and Performance Management · Rolling Items o Diversity Annual Report and update on the Equality and Diversity Strategy

Draft Work Programme 2022-23 – Governance Scrutiny Group

30 June 2022	· Internal Audit Progress Report · Internal Audit Annual Report · Annual Governance Statement (AGS) · Treasury Management Update · Constitution Update · Code of Conduct · External Audit Annual Plan · Annual Audit Letter and Value for Money Conclusion
15 September 2022	· Risk Management · Going Concern · Asset and Investment Outturn 2021/22 · Treasury Management Update
24 November 2022	· Internal Audit Progress Report · Annual Audit Report 2021/22 · Statement of Accounts · Streetwise Annual Report · Treasury and Asset Investments – 6 monthly update · Asset Management Plan
23 February 2023	· Internal Audit Progress Report · Internal Audit Strategy · Risk Management – Update · Treasury and Asset Investments Strategy 2023/24

Work Programme 2022-23 – Growth and Development Scrutiny Group

	Items / Reports
27 July 2022	· Conservation Areas – Part Two
21 September 2022	· Covid-19 Business Recovery Update · Sewerage infrastructure and discharge within Rushcliffe
4 January 2023	· UK Shared Prosperity Fund
8 March 2023	· ·

Work Programme 2022-23 – Communities Scrutiny Group

	Items / Reports
21 July 2022	· Sports Development in Rushcliffe · Access Agreement – Canals and Rivers Trust
6 October 2022	· Council’s External Communications Strategy · Customer Access Strategy
19 January 2023	· Establishment of a Youth Council · Corporate Enforcement Policy
16 March 2023	· Carbon Management Plan · Environment Policy

ACTION SHEET

Minute Item

Action

Officer Responsible

To discuss the Group’s comments about the timing of the Youth Council item and the wider work programme with the Service Manager Neighbourhoods and to report back to the next meeting of the Corporate Overview Group.

Service Manager Corporate Services

To arrange a separate workshop for Councillors to discuss ‘Alternative Energy Sources’ so as to feed into the policy development process.

Service Manager Corporate Services

Supporting documents: