Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive and Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

The Annual Work Programme Review and Forward Plan was presented to the Committee for its comments, and approval.  The first part of the report highlighted the work of the Committee over the past municipal year.

During 2018/19, the Committee have seen if recommendations relating to the OSC’s Review of the Council and Partner’s Approach to Roads and Higways implemented.  The OSC has monitored progress on the implementation of these recommendations.  A members seminar was also arranged on the same topic for 10 October 2018.  A review of practice in relation to road repairs has also commenced to assess whether there was scope for further streamlining and efficiencies.

The OSC also noted that a range of options were under consideration for keeping councillors better informed of highway defects/repairs and other transport ward issues and an additional member of staff had been appointed to set up a system and work through outstanding matters.

The OSC will consider a further report in relation to progress against its

recommendations relating to the OSC’s Review of the Council and Partner’s

Approach to Roads and Highways at its meeting in September 2019.

During this period the OSC also carried out a Review of Work to address skill

shortages and increase employment opportunities and will consider a report setting

out its findings and recommendations at its meeting today. These recommendations

will then be presented to a future Cabinet meeting for approval and, subject to these

recommendations being agreed, the OSC will then monitor implementation of these

recommendations during its 2019-20 work programme.

The OSC has also considered the outcome of the public consultation on the draft

Gambling Statement of Principles for 2019-22 and its views were sought on how the

draft policy should be amended and subsequently proposed changes were

considered and approved by Cabinet on 20 November 2019 for incorporation into

the Statement of Gambling Principles for 2019-22.

The OSC has monitored Council performance generally, in those areas falling

within its remit, at its meetings on 18 June 2018 and 10 December 2018 and

Cabinet has had regard to the OSC’s views when considering Council performance

overall.

The Committee were consulted on the work programme for the 2019/20 Municipal Year which has taken into account the following:

·         Six monthly performance reporting

·         The Thrive agenda and the Council Plan and partnership work generally

·         Current issues referred to Committees

·         Details of potential review topics/case studies

·         Legislative provisions and guidance on the Councillor Call for Action

Cabinet may wish to refer further issues to Overview and Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.

The work programme does not take into account new policy issues which may be identified during the year which Cabinet may refer to Overview and Scrutiny and it does not include issues identified by members of committees on an ongoing basis during the year as a result of scrutiny of decisions, call-in and councillor call for action.

RESOLVED -    (i)       that the information contained within the annual review be noted.

                          (ii)      that the provisional work programme for 2019/20 be endorsed and referred to Council on 23 May 2019.

                          (iii)     that any further reports will be brought to the Committee to identify any additional issues which the Committee may be asked to consider.