Agenda item

To consider and amend the Board’s Forward Plan as appropriate and to consider the published Cabinet Forward Plan.

The Chairman introduced this item and asked the Scrutiny Specialist to explain the current situation in terms of the Audit and Governance Committees recommendations with regards to changes to the Overview and Scrutiny structure. The Board was advised that the recommendation from the A&G Committee was to have a scrutiny structure with 4 themed based committees without Overview and Scrutiny Board. This would mean that the responsibility for call-in would be spread across the 4 committees as appropriate. The proposal would request that this was implemented from the new municipal year. Therefore, a practical solution to move things forward ensuring a smooth transition was required. It was hoped that the transition would encompass those issues in place from the existing Board’s Forward Plan.

A Councillor commented that if the recommendation to go forward with the new committees was agreed they did not want to not want to lose items which Councillors had already said they want scrutinised. Are members content with proposals to move forward.  A Councillor raised concerns that the new structure would no longer track Cabinet meetings.

There were a number of issues which Councillors had requested to be added to the Forward Plan.  There was a request to place a item on the Councils complaints procedure on the Board’s Forward Plan.

A Councillor requested that the Severe Weather Protocol should be considered by the O&S Board. This was not put in place on the preceding weekend on a technicality. It was suggested that the current protocol should be looked at along with suggestions for any changes which may be made.

It was agreed that these issues should be added to the Forward Plan.

Voting: For – 11, Against – 0, 1 Abstention

A Councillor proposed that an item on selective licensing be added to the Forward Plan, this was agreed by the Board:

Voting: For – 8, Against – 0, 4 abstentions

It was proposed that an item on levels and types of anti-social behaviour as referred to in the previously considered item on housing be added to the Forward Plan. It was suggested that Police be invited for this item. It was agreed that this item should be added to the Forward Plan.

Voting: For – 10, Against – 0, 2 abstentions

The Chairman suggested that Scrutiny should look again at the town centre BIDS and give the BID managers an opportunity to give their views and explain what they were doing. It was agreed that this should be added to the Board’s Forward Plan.

Voting: For – 10, Against – 0, 2 abstentions

The Scrutiny Specialist advised that it would be useful at this stage to allow agreement on issues for the initial meetings of any new scrutiny structure agreed by Council to be delegated to the Chair and Vice-Chair, in order to discuss arrangements further.

Voting: Unanimous

As this may be the final meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, the Vice-Chair placed on record her appreciation of the work of the Chairman over the last year.