Agenda item

To submit the report of the Deputy Leader and Corporate Support Senior Manager.

The Deputy Leader presented the report detailing two potential models deriving from the work of the Sub-group, which had been set up by the Committee, and in which the Council's scrutiny arrangements were examined following criticism by the Wales Audit Office. It was noted that Model A was an amendment of the existing arrangements and would consist of three scrutiny committees (Education and Economy, Care, Communities), whilst corporate matters would be scrutinised by the Audit Committee; and Model B, which would have one Principal Scrutiny Committee but would conduct a greater number of investigations (up to eight at any given time, compared with three under Model A).

Attention was drawn to the appendices, which contained a full description of the models, an assessment of their advantages and disadvantages, and their ability to address the weaknesses identified. 

The Senior Corporate Support Officer highlighted the difference of opinion among members of the Sub-group about the favoured model. The need to weigh up the risks of both models was emphasised.

The Committee, as the individuals responsible for governance, were asked: to recommend one of the scrutiny models to the Full Council; to recommend amendments (a) to (f) in paragraphs 9.1 to 9.5 in the report (whichever formal model was selected); and request that the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Senior Corporate Support Officer, draft the necessary changes into the Constitution in order to implement the recommended arrangements and recommend them to the Full Council.

          Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer their observations. During the discussion the following main points were highlighted:-

·         Model B was favoured, since one committee would allow for greater overview.

·         There was an element of disconnect between the Cabinet and Scrutiny with some matters being scrutinised that the Council had no influence upon. Need to be more specific in future.

·         Inconsistency in the workload of the Scrutiny Committee currently, and on occasion some items were not followed up.

·         Identifying the interests and skills of individual members was very important. The arrangement of distributing seats on scrutiny committees in accordance with the political balance only led to the filling of empty seats.

·         The investigations were more effective.

·         A member of the Sub-group and was of the opinion that change was necessary and that Model B with one Committee would be an improvement and would ensure the scrutiny work programme was kept in order and would hold the Cabinet to account. It would be necessary to tread carefully so that the same people (members) were not part of the investigations.

·         Members needed to take advantage of the available training.

·         A member of the Sub-group and favoured Model A, considering that most of the Council's spending was in the fields of Education and Care. Felt that specific committees attached to these fields of work could consider issues in more depth. Would this be possible with one committee?

In response to a member's question, the Senior Corporate Support Manager stated that committees were restricted whilst scrutiny investigations were informal meetings where matters that could not be discussed in public could be discussed.

The Chief Executive stated that there were two matters that should be considered:

1.      The point of view of Heads of Department - Whilst Heads of Department accepted the need for scrutiny and the fact that it was possible to make a difference as part of live democracy, there were too many occasions where it was difficult to see the gains, with staff being taken away from providing a service for the people of Gwynedd in order to write reports and prepare for scrutiny.

2.      Model A - the danger that the scrutiny work load would fall to Education and Adults, drawing more resources from those fields to feed "scrutiny" rather than providing services for residents.

RESOLVED:

(i)     to recommend Model B to the Full Council;

(ii)    to recommend suggestions (a) to (f) in paragraphs 9.1 to 9.5 in the report, whichever formal model is chosen;

(iii)  to ask that the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Senior Corporate Support Officer, draft the necessary changes to the Constitution in order to implement the recommended procedure and recommend them to the Full Council.