Issue - meetings

The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee commissioned a Data Working Group to consider how it could effectively use data to strengthen scrutiny.

The purpose of this report is to inform the committee of the findings and output of the working group and to present recommendations.

The Scrutiny Specialist and the Chair of the Data Working Group presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee commissioned a Data Working Group to consider how it could effectively use data to strengthen scrutiny.

The purpose of this report was to inform the committee of the findings and output of the working group and to present recommendations.

The Committee were grateful for the work undertaken and looked forward to the toolkit being used.

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1.     notes the findings of the Data Working Group as set out at Appendix A to this report.

2.     adopts the Data Use Toolkit at Appendix B to this report and implements it with immediate effect to support O&S work.

3.     supports the standard data request to accompany all O&S reports as set out at section 6 of the toolkit.

4.     shares the toolkit with the Council’s Corporate Management Board to share the expectations of the committee in relation to data reporting, and to highlight the committee’s commitment to evidence-based scrutiny.

5.     agrees to undertake ‘horizon scanning’ research proactively and independently, raising any issues of interest or concern into committee.

6.     explores the value of using the rapporteur model further in its next round of annual work programming.

7.     agrees to review the identified primary sources annually, as part of work programming activity, to assist in setting a value- added programme of work for the forthcoming year.

8.     annually reviews its training needs associated with accessing and interpreting data sources, this to form part of the committee’s annual work programming activity.

9.     agrees to follow the methodology, as set out in the toolkit at section 6, for the scoping of scrutiny items and identification of Key Lines of Enquiry and supporting data requests.

10. keeps the toolkit under review and strengthens it with additional suitable data and policy, as arising.

RESOLVED that the Committee recommend to the O&S Board:

11.  that a similar toolkit be developed for all O&S committees to reflect the relevant data and policy landscape within the remit of these committees.  This to be added to the O&S Action Plan.

12. that the Data Use Toolkit be highlighted within the O&S annual report to Council.