Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Administration proposing changes to Overview and Scrutiny powers.

Noted the contents of the report and the suggested answers to the an improving local accountability consultation paper issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), subject to the incorporation of the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered a suggested response on behalf of the Council to a consultation paper issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) on improving local accountability which proposed a number of changes to Overview and Scrutiny function.  Executive Councillors were advised that the consultation paper had been produced in response to a recent White Paper “Communities in Control” which aims to encourage greater community involvement in local decision making.

In considering the Council’s response to a series of questions set by the CLG, Members discussed the requirement to make provision for a dedicated scrutiny resource to support the overview and scrutiny function,  Although not a requirement for district councils, Members were of the opinion that this should be at the discretion of the individual authorities depending on local circumstances.  With regard to the overall package of proposals to raise the profile of overview and scrutiny, the Cabinet recognised that several of the initiatives have been either tried or implemented by the Council.

Having been advised of the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels, the Cabinet

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 incorporating the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels be endorsed, for submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration seeking the Panel’s views on the changes proposed for Overview and Scrutiny powers.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel considered a suggested response on behalf of the Council to a consultation paper issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG).  Members were informed that the paper formed part of a series of consultation documents which had been produced to implement the proposals in the recent White Paper “Communities in Control”.  The comments made of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery) which had also considered the paper were circulated for information at the meeting.

In considering the responses suggested to a series of questions posed by CLG, Members discussed in particular the proposals to create a dedicated scrutiny resource at county and unitary authority level, to require the Chairman of the Council and officers to attend public hearings to explain their actions and to introduce “virtual” meetings with remote voting by Members.  The Panel noted that a number of the proposals in the paper had already been introduced by the Council and also that others would be addressed in the current review being undertaken by the working party under the chairmanship of the Special Advisor to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED

  that the suggested answers to the consultation paper set out in the annex to the report now submitted be endorsed for submission to CLG emphasising that the way in which the issues raised were implemented should be left to local discretion rather than the prescriptive approach adopted in the paper.

To consider a report by the Head of Administration seeking the Panel’s views on the changes proposed for Overview and Scrutiny powers.

15 Minutes.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained suggested responses to questions raised in a consultation exercise by the Department for Communities and Local Government following the recent publication of the White Paper - Communities in Control. The consultation originated from the Strong and Prosperous Communities White Paper in 2006. Since then the Panel had considered changes to overview and scrutiny powers introduced by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, namely the use of local petitions and calls for action (Minute No. 70 refers).

In discussing the suggested responses to the consultation, the Panel expressed general support for area scrutiny committees operating on a district basis, especially given the need to scrutinise the Local Area Agreement and the Local Strategic Partnership and their effect on Huntingdonshire. Members went on to emphasise that it was councillors rather than officers whom the public should hold to account. It was, however, suggested that, if officers were to be held to account, this should apply only to officers of other bodies with which the Council was in partnership.

With regard to the general aim of the measures referred to in the consultation document, which was to increase public interest in overview and scrutiny, the Panel suggested that the relevant area of the Council’s website should be updated on a regular basis on the Panel’s progress. Finally, it was observed that, should this aim be achieved, there would be resource implications for the way overview and scrutiny was supported. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that, subject to the comments outlined above, the suggested responses appended to the report now submitted be endorsed for submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government.