Issue - meetings

Item OS 22/24 referred from Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 7 July 2022

Consideration of recommendation OS 22/24 from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 7 July 2022.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that:

Subject to the:

·        clarification of the wording of the Protocol with regard to access to key information (in accordance with paragraph 40 of the Statutory Guidance) in consultation with the Leader and Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and

·        amendment of ‘expectations of Cabinet’ so that the first paragraph read as follows:

‘It is expected that Cabinet Portfolio Holders should attend meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in person, when requested, to present reports relevant to their portfolio and answer any relevant questions.  Where a Portfolio Holder is unable to attend on a particular date it is expected that another Portfolio Holder or the Leader will attend on their behalf.’

the draft Protocol (as set out at Annex 1 to the report) be approved.

Decision Notice: D220083CAB

Consideration was given to the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 7 July 2022 (as set out in Minute Number OS 22/24).  Subsequent to this meeting, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had suggested a further amendment in respect of ‘expectations of the Cabinet (page 3 of the draft Protocol) and asked that a Cabinet Portfolio Holder attend in person when requested to do so.

Cabinet supported this request in principle but recognised that there were occasions when a Portfolio Holder might not be able to attend in person due to the short notice in respect of call-in of decisions and proposed that another Portfolio Holder or the Leader would attend in person when necessary.

The further change to the draft Protocol was proposed by Councillor Boughton, seconded by Councillor Coffin and agreed by Cabinet.

RESOLVED:  That the draft Protocol (as set out at Annex 1 to the report) be approved,

subject to the

·        clarification of the wording of the Protocol with regard to access to key information (in accordance with paragraph 40 of the Statutory Guidance) in consultation with the Leader and Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and

·        amendment of ‘expectations of Cabinet’ so that the first paragraph read as follows:

‘It is expected that Cabinet Portfolio Holders should attend meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in person, when requested, to present reports relevant to their portfolio and answer any relevant questions.  Where a Portfolio Holder is unable to attend on a particular date it is expected that another Portfolio Holder or the Leader will attend on their behalf.’

The report presented a draft Executive Scrutiny Protocol for consideration, comment and approval.

The report of the Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive reminded Members of the changes to the Council’s governance arrangements which had come into effect on 10 May 2022 and had increased the scope, role and responsibility of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee so that it could effectively discharge its functions.  The report provided details at Annex 1 of the draft Executive-Scrutiny Protocol agreed between the Leader and the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny which aimed to ensure that there was a constructive relationship between the Executive and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The Committee was advised that statutory guidance highlighted the benefits of adopting a protocol to clarify the relationship between it and the Executive to support a framework of strong democratic transparency and accountability and to establish effective communication between Scrutiny and Executive Members which could lead to more effective scrutiny of and support for the Executive.

A number of Members identified the need for training on the new governance arrangements and about the relationship between the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the new Scrutiny Select Committees and were advised that training for committee members was scheduled to be held on 5 October and that this could be shared more widely if required.

RECOMMENDED:  That, subject to clarification of the wording of the Protocol with regard to access to key information (in accordance with paragraph 40 of the Statutory Guidance) in consultation with the Leader and the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, the draft protocol, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, be commended to Cabinet for approval. 

*Referred to Cabinet