Agenda item

Context:

 

A ‘planned approach’ to Scrutiny Forward Work Programming is required in order to maximise the effectiveness and added value of scrutiny activity, ensuring focus upon topics of the highest priority for the Council and those which reflect the public interest.

 

Key Issues:

 

Work programme discussion meetings have taken place between the new Chair of the Select Committee and the former chair. Chief Officers provided an overview of the Enterprise Directorate at the June 2017 Select Committee meeting, highlighting the following topics for consideration for future scrutiny:

 

·         Broadband, Infrastructure and connectivity.

 

·         Employability Grant.

 

·         Rural Development Programme Update.

 

·         Agri Urban Update.

 

·         Impact of the Severn Bridge Toll Reduction ~ South East Monmouthshire Future Economies Analysis.

 

·         Rights of Way Improvement Plan ~ suggested joint scrutiny with Strong Communities Select Committee.

 

·         Affordable Housing.

 

·         Cardiff Capital Region City Deal.

 

·         Local Development Plan.

 

·         Tourism and the Destination Management Plan.

 

·         Events Strategy and return on investment.

 

·         Cycling and Walking Product.

 

·         Outdoor Education Review.

 

·         Alternative Service Delivery Model.

 

·         Health and well-being goals (leisure provision, agreements with schools).

 

Member Scrutiny:

 

Having considered the report the following points were noted.  Also, the following topics were identified by Select Committee Members for scrutiny:

 

·         In addition to the topics outlined in the report it was agreed that an additional three or four topics should be agreed by the Select Committee to be added to the topics already identified.

 

·         Some of the topics identified could potentially be merged and considered as one topic.

 

·         In response to a Select Committee Member’s question regarding bringing in academic opinion into a select committee meeting, it was noted that this would depend on the topic.  The Scrutiny Manager would extend an invitation to the relevant people / organisation to attend such a meeting.

 

·         Planning sessions can be arranged for Members to prepare and identify questions in advance of meetings with representatives from organisations that have been invited to attend a select committee meeting. This will depend on the topic.

 

·         Cross border issues should be added to the work programme with a view to working with local authorities that border Monmouthshire to scrutinise issues that affect all authorities.

 

·         Outside of the select committee meetings members could meet with the public and talk about specific issues that are relevant to local people.

 

·         The Future Monmouthshire agenda needs to be added to the work programme as an item for scrutiny.  In time, topics such as affordable housing, could be added to an overarching theme that is Future Monmouthshire. Additional topics could also be considered under this overarching theme in which the Select Committee could scrutinise and make a difference.

 

·         It was noted that Business Improvement for small businesses had been scrutinised by the Economy and Development Select Committee from the previous administration.  The Scrutiny Manager considered that it might be useful for the Select Committee to have sight of this document and she would email it to Members for context.

 

·         The following topics were suggested to be added to the Work Programme:

 

-       Impact of the Severn Bridge tolls.

-       Affordable housing and transport.

-       Tourism.

-       Enterprise that includes leveraging the City Deal.

 

·         A workshop session would be held to discuss the Future Monmouthshire agenda with discussion to establish which items would be incorporated into this topic.

 

·         The impact of the Severn Bridge tolls could be considered as part of the cross border issues. Each topic to be considered needs to be initially assessed, to determine whether it will have a cross border effect

 

·         Broadband, Infrastructure and connectivity to be scrutinised at a Select Committee meeting.

 

·         Employability Grant, as well as other reports identified in the report could be emailed to the Committee, initially.  Members could then decide whether it required further scrutiny via the Select Committee.

 

·         The Tourism and the Destination Management Plan will be presented to the Select Committee for Scrutiny in October 2017.

 

·         The report regarding the return on Investment of the Velothon 2016 will be emailed to Select Committee Members by the Scrutiny Manager.

 

·         Topics agreed:

 

-       A workshop regarding the Future Monmouthshire Plan.

 

-       Broadband, Infrastructure and connectivity – September 2017.

 

-       Employability Grant and the Agri Urban update – the reports would be sent to Select Committee Members to ascertain whether there is a need for further scrutiny.

 

-       The Rural Development Programme Update report to be presented to the Select Committee.

 

-       The Scrutiny Manager to liaise with Scrutiny Managers within border authorities with a view to initiating dialogue regarding cross border issues for further discussion later in the year.

 

-       The Scrutiny Manager will arrange for some workshops to be established from September 2017.

 

Committee’s Conclusion:   The Chair thanked Select Committee Members and officers for submitting the topics for consideration by the Select Committee.   We resolved to adopt the process outlined in the report to develop the Select Committee work programme, taking into account:   The responsibility to scrutinise performance and key risks in order to provide effective challenge to the Council’s Executive.   The duty to scrutinise wider public services provided to Monmouthshire residents as a result of powers afforded to them through the Local Government Measure.   Capacity / resources when prioritising topics for scrutiny and agreeing their inclusion into the work programme.