Issue - meetings

To submit the Scrutiny Annual Report.

DECISION                    

⁠TO ACCEPT THE REPORT AND NOTE THE INFORMATION

Submitted – the Annual Report of the Scrutiny Forum for 2023/24 by Councillor Elin Hywel on behalf of the Chair of the Scrutiny Forum, Councillor ⁠Beth Lawton. Best wishes were sent to Councillor Beth Lawton and she was thanked for her unwavering fair and strong leadership on scrutiny.

  Attention was drawn to the scrutiny work achieved during 2023/24 providing independent assurance on different fields. There was reference to examples where differences had been seen due to good scrutiny along with additional work such as holding a scrutiny investigation and task and finish groups that were achieved in light of Members' requests. Additionally, a review had been held of the scrutiny arrangements and actions had been identified. Following recent training, the need to create clear and measurable recommendations had been recognised that would in turn establish more formal arrangements to keep an eye on the impact of scrutiny. 

The Officers were thanked for their support and for creating the report with care. The Members were also thanked for their perseverance in ensuring effective, detailed and purposeful scrutiny in Gwynedd.

Members were given an opportunity to make observations and ask questions. The following matters were raised by individual members:-

Councillor Beth Lawton and Councillor Elin Hywel were thanked – the work achieved over the year was appreciated.

In response to a question regarding the Chairperson-ship of the Education and Economy Committee and a request to consider the Vice-chair to Chair succession, the monitoring officer noted that the current arrangement was in accordance with the political balance.

In response to a proposal that the Chair and Vice-chair (Lay Members of the Governance and Audit Committee) should be invited to the Scrutiny Forum, the monitoring officer noted, in accordance with CIPFA guidance that the Governance and Audit Committee did not hold the statutory role of scrutiny but reiterated that it would be possible to refer the proposal for the Head of Democratic Services' consideration.

Concern was expressed by Councillor Richard Glyn Roberts that the Estyn report highlighted that the internal operations of the Education Department were acceptable, although obviously, following the court case of the former Headteacher of Ysgol Friars in Bangor, the situation was entirely different. It was noted there was a need to consider a procedure that challenges information rather than having to only accept the information in question.

DECISION

⁠TO ACCEPT THE REPORT AND NOTE THE INFORMATION