Agenda item

Report of Head of Law and Governance

Summary

This report presents the Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme 2012/13 for consideration.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is recommended:

(1)               To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme 2012/13 as set out at Appendix 1 of the attached report.

(2)               To note any items of interest in the Executive Forward Plan and consider whether to include them on the work programme 2012/13.

(3)               To consider if there are any other items Members would like to include on the work programme.

(1)               To endorse and adopt the Mission Statement detailed in Section 4 to the report.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Law and Governance which presented the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2012/13

Forward Plan

The Committee agreed that there were no items on the Forward Plan for August to November 2012 that they wished to include on their Work Programme in 2012/13.

Potential Work Programme items 2012/13

Impact of Employment Initiatives

Noting that the Council had contributed to various employment initiatives, it was agreed that the Committee should receive a briefing advising on what outcomes had been achieved as a result.

Identification of Service Priorities and Budget Resources

Consideration was given to the means by which the Committee might influence the identification of service priorities and budget resources. It was agreed that Councillor Lawrie Stratford would work with officers in preparing a scoping document.

Air Quality

It was agreed that the previously identified item regarding Air Quality be scheduled for consideration at the October meeting of the Committee.

Planning and Building Control Enforcement

It was agreed that, at the October meeting, the Committee receive a briefing on the operation of the Council’s Enforcement service.  

Agenda for 11 September, 2012

Banbury Brighter Futures

Noting that there would be a briefing on this item at the next meeting, the Committee agreed that the Lead Member for Housing Services (Councillor Pickford) be invited the attend, and the briefing should include figures for the current number of NEET’s (young people not in Employment, Education or Training).

RAF Bicester

It was agreed that the Committee should receive some briefing materiel prior to consideration of this item at the next meeting.

National Benefit Changes

It was agreed that all members of the Resources and Performance Scrutiny Board be invited to attend the next meeting for consideration of this item and that a representative from the Housing Team also be invited to attend.

Mission Statement

The   The Chairman asked the Committee to note and endorse the following Mission Statement for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

‘In the face of budgetary pressures, the role of the Scrutiny Committees is even more important in ensuring the needs of our service users are at the forefront of policy. Instead of being in the main retrospective, we are now moving towards considering key policy proposals as part of the decision making process. Scrutiny must now have a central role in assessing whether the Authority is meeting targets set out in the Core Business Strategy and ensuring savings are delivered in the most effective way.’

Resolved

(1)               That there were no items in the current version of   the Forward Plan (August to November, 2012) to include on the Work Programme for 2012/13.

(2)               That it be noted that the October meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee will now be held on Tuesday, 9 October, 2012.

(3)               That the following Mission statement for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted and endorsed:-

‘In the face of budgetary pressures, the role of the Scrutiny Committees is even more important in ensuring the needs of our service users are at the forefront of policy. Instead of being in the main retrospective, we are now moving towards considering key policy proposals as part of the decision making process. Scrutiny must now have a central role in assessing whether the Authority is meeting targets set out in the Core Business Strategy and ensuring savings are delivered in the most effective way.’