To receive a presentation and verbal update from the Scrutiny Strategy Day held on April 26, 2023.
Minutes:
The Senior Governance Advisor gave a presentation outlining the key points from the recent Scrutiny Strategy/ Work Planning Day held on 26 April 2023. Fifteen members attended the session, along with Link Officers and Governance Advisors. The day was supported by the Local Government Association as a follow-up to its “Effective Scrutiny of Children’s Services” session delivered to members of Improving Lives Select Commission in October 2022.
The presentation covered the following areas:
• Overview
The purpose of Overview and Scrutiny (O&S)
What does O&S do (and what it can’t)
Role of “scrutiny” and “overview”
• Work programming
Provides a framework for scrutiny activity (rather than prescriptive list)
Should be member led
Be selective – can’t focus on everything
Need to consider what resources are available to support – time and information
Usually determined at the start of each municipal year
Is a living document - reviewed and revised regularly
• Longlisting
Can scrutiny add value or influence?
Is it being looked at elsewhere?
Is it a priority – council or community?
• Developing a consistent shortlisting criteria e.g.
T: Time: is it the tight time, enough resources?
O: Others: is this duplicating the work of another body?
P: Performance: can scrutiny make a difference
I: Interest – what is the interest to the public?
C: Contribution to the corporate plan
• Scoping scrutiny activity
What are the key issues?
What is the outcome that we want?
Who are the key stakeholders?
Who should be involved?
Benchmarking?
What evidence is needed?
What are the potential barriers/risks you may need to overcome?
What are the timescales?
What is NOT included in the review?
• Types of scrutiny
Whole Committee review?
Formal meetings
Task and finish to drive the investigation work?
Spotlight reviews
Individual or paired Councillors to drive the review?
Visits
• Putting into practice – examples of scoping work
• Health Select Commission
Social prescribing
Access to mental health support
• Improving Lives Select Commission
Preparation for adulthood
Safeguarding of children educated in a non-school setting
• Improving Places Select Commission
Environment Act- opportunities to increase reuse/recycle (including partnerships with social enterprises)
A further report would be submitted to the Board detailing options for work planning in due course.
The Chair invited questions and comments from Board Members.
The Chair of Improving Places Select Commission commented on the recent Council motion on the Nature Crisis and how the commission would focus on this area as part of its work programme.
Clarification was sought about OSMB’s work programme. It was outlined that the programme would be submitted early in the new municipal year for discussion and approval. It was noted that the Board had prioritised a number of areas for scrutiny over the current year which would be factored into the work programme.
Resolved: - 1) That the presentation be noted.
2) That a further report detailing options for scrutiny work programmes be submitted to this Board.