Agenda item

The Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee is asked to consider and identify work priorities for publication in a Work Plan.

As part of this item the Committee is asked to consider recommendations from the O&S Board meeting on 18 November. The recommendations were made during consideration of the conclusions from the Overview and Scrutiny Budget working groups and are provided at Appendix G.

The Senior Democratic and Overview and Scrutiny Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Committee was asked to consider and identify work priorities for publication in a Work Plan.

There was a scrutiny request received regarding active travel. In response to this, as there was already an existing Council working group, the Committee agreed to refer this issue directly to the working group and asked it to provide a response back to the Committee for it to consider.

Further to the budget scrutiny workshops held, the Overview and Scrutiny Board made the following recommendations to the Environment and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee which were all agreed by the Committee to add to the work programme: 

1.The committee add to its work programme an officer report relating to the

Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP), when available, in order that the committee

can understand and comment on the direction provided to the council and the steps that the council should take upon receipt of the LAEP.

2. The committee continue to explore ways in which it can contribute to and

support the council in reaching its net zero targets by 2030, to be informed by the LAEP report. This may include deep dive scrutiny into a range of areas that will have the most impact on reaching the council’s net zero targets, such as the council’s fleet of vehicles, housing, energy supply and the council’s procurement strategy.

3. The O&S committee add to its work programme a deep dive exploring

options to progress community owned renewable energy working in

partnership with the council.

4. The committee note that officers plan to develop a Temporary

Accommodation Strategy and that the committee add this to its work plan to

provide O&S engagement in the strategy at the appropriate time.

It was agreed by the Committee to hold an enquiry day regarding community owned renewable energy working in partnership with the Council and invite external bodies to participate.

Safer Accommodation Strategy – the Chair encouraged members of the Committee to put themselves forward for the working group.  It was requested that members putting themselves forward were passionate about the topic.  The group will be formed and will report back at a future meeting.

The Committee were informed that the Overview and Scrutiny Board did have the Local Transport Plan on their work plan but this has been transferred to Environment and Place and will be added to the work plan.

RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee review, update and confirm its Work Plan.

Voting: Unanimous