To consider the
report
Minutes:
A
report was submitted by the Head of Democratic Services and the Democracy and
Language Services Manager, outlining the results of a recent review of the
Council's scrutiny arrangements. It was explained that a working group had
been set up which consisted of Members and Officers, in order to review the
existing scrutiny arrangements following observations that scrutiny did not add
value, that the arrangements were slow in achieving results, and a feeling that
things could be done better. It was reiterated that
striving for continuous improvement through reviewing and challenging the
system contributed to driving improvement in services to the people of Gwynedd.
Originally, the
Working Group drew up three options, and following consultation work with members
and the Scrutiny Forum, these options were amended for
the consideration of the Committee.
-
Three Scrutiny Committees (minor amendments to the
current arrangements)
-
One Principal Scrutiny Committee
-
Two Scrutiny Committees
The options were discussed, and reference was made to the advantages and
disadvantages of each individual option. The Committee was
asked to consider whether one option predominated and to submit the
preferred option as a recommendation to the Full Council on 19.12.19.
Observations arising
from the ensuing discussion from individual Members:
-
One Member did not have the capacity to chair one
Committee - a concern that this would be too much responsibility for one Chair
-
The need to review the system was acknowledged
-
Concern that matters on a specific subject would
not be recorded in informal meetings / information sharing
-
There was a need to consider how information would
be submitted
-
There was a need to look at items more
strategically, rather than at general matters across the County.
-
Whichever system or option that was selected, it
did not mean that scrutiny would improve - needed to refine arrangements and
priorities better
-
The option of One Committee excluded too many
Members
-
The option of One Committee - this gave the
opportunity for some Members to develop expertise through leadership
-
Was it scrutiny that was defective, or a failure on
members’ part to identify their role? Needed to consider educating Councillors
of their responsibilities
In response to an
observation with regard to who would Chair the Scrutiny Committee should the
option of One Scrutiny Committee predominate, the Monitoring Officer expressed
that a statutory formula was in place to determine this in the context of the
political balance. The formula would also be used if
the option of Two Scrutiny Committees predominated.
Option 1 was
proposed and seconded, namely Three Scrutiny Committees.
A request was also made for the Committee to consider which scrutiny committee
should scrutinise matters of the Housing and Property Department following the
reorganisation of the Adults, Health and Well-being Department. It was highlighted that discussions had been held in the
Scrutiny Forum, in the informal meeting of the Care Scrutiny Committee and with
the Chairs and Vice-chairs of the Communities and Care Scrutiny Committees. It was concluded in these discussions that the best place to
scrutinise housing and property matters was the Care Scrutiny Committee as
health and social matters were now connected to housing.
Observations arising from the ensuing
discussion by individual Members:
-
That there was a clear connection between
Housing/Housing Quality and Health
-
That the relationship between Social Services and
Health was developing
-
That the Communities Scrutiny Committee had the
capacity to discuss housing matters
-
That there was a clear link between Planning (which
was a Communities scrutiny matter) and Housing and Property in the context of
grants, building more houses and Housing Associations
It was proposed to discuss Housing and Property in the
Communities Scrutiny Committee. Nobody seconded this proposal and, due to the
shortcoming, Housing and Property would be discussed
in the Care Scrutiny Committee.
RESOLVED,
a) To welcome the review and accept
the report
b)
To propose Option 1 - Three
Scrutiny Committees with some amendments, as a recommendation to the Full
Council 19.12.19
c)
That Housing and Property (under option 1) would be discussed in the
Care Scrutiny Committee
Supporting documents: