Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Administration on the implications of recent legislative change affecting the overview and scrutiny function and inviting comments in response to a consultation paper from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on local petitions and calls for action.

Noted the contents of the report and authorised the Head of Administration to respond to the Department of Communities and Local Government consultation paper in accordance with the suggested answers set out in Annex A of the report.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the implications for the Council’s overview and scrutiny function of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and the Police and Justice Act 2006 which were likely to be introduced later in the year.  Following receipt of anticipated regulations and statutory guidance, the Cabinet was informed that a more detailed report would be submitted.

Having been acquainted also with a consultation paper from the Department for Communities and Local Government on local petitions and calls for action, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)  that the Head of Administration be authorised to respond to the Department of Communities and Local Government consultation paper in as outlined in Annex A of the report now submitted.

To receive a report by the Head of Administration updating Members on the ‘Community Call for Action’ proposal.

A report by the Head of Administration was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding the implications of recent legislative change affecting the overview and scrutiny function. Members were informed that further information would be submitted to the Panel when guidance had been issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

The Panel’s attention also was drawn to the publication by DCLG of a consultation paper on local petitions and Councillors’ “calls for action” which would enable them to place appropriate items on Committee agenda. Suggested responses to the questions posed in the consultation paper were contained in an annex to the report. In commenting on the responses, Members felt that a minimum of 100 should be required for a local petition but that some local flexibility should be permissible.

In addition, Members suggested that the potential additional workload for Members and Officers if the new measures were used extensively by the public should be reflected in the Council’s revenue support grant settlement from the Government.

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted and the suggested answers to the consultation paper set out in the annex to the report now submitted be endorsed, subject to amendments to incorporate the above comments by the Panel.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration on legislative changes affecting Overview and Scrutiny and on consultations on local petitions and calls for action.

15 Minutes.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained details of legislative changes affecting overview and on consultations on local petitions and calls for action.  It was noted that the powers of overview and scrutiny committees would be enhanced and that they would have the power to require information from the County Council and certain partner authorities.  It was also noted that there would be duty for the executive to respond in writing to an overview and scrutiny report and recommendation within two months.  The Panel were advised that Fenland District Council would be holding a scrutiny seminar to discuss the proposals and several Members expressed an interest in attending.  The Panel noted that the legislative changes would enable Councillors to refer a local government matter to the relevant overview and scrutiny committee and a crime and disorder matter to a local crime and disorder committee and that this would amount to a “call for action”.

Whereupon, the Panel

RESOLVED

(a)  that the contents of the report be received and noted; and

(b)  that the responses to the consultation paper as set out in Annex A to the report now submitted be endorsed.