Agenda item

To consider the report

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