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Councillors and committees

Agenda item

Work Programme 2020-21 and Development of Work Programme for 2021-22

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

Minutes:

The Committee received a report which set out the current work programme for Care, Health and Wellbeing OSC for the municipal year 2020-21 and the current position/next steps in the development of the work programme for this OSC for the municipal year 2021-22.

 

The Committee were advised that as a result of the uncertainties arising in relation to Covid-19 pandemic, along with the pressures on services that this brought and having regard to the Council’s approach to the development of a new performance framework, a more flexible approach was adopted for scrutiny in 2020-21.

 

This approach recognised the demands  on services and the Council as a whole but, at the same time, has ensured that we have been meeting our statutory obligations to provide an effective scrutiny function and scrutiny has concentrated on delivering work that is of genuine value and relevance to the work of the wider council.

 

The work of this OSC was refocused on the current Covid-19 related priorities and the impacts of that alongside a couple of other priority issues for the Council/partners which are already being progressed elsewhere to avoid placing any additional burdens on service areas and a reduced programme of meetings was agreed.

 

The Committee were advised that the current work programme was attached as Appendix 1 to the report and any changes to the programme have been highlighted in bold and italics for ease of identification.

 

The Committee were also advised that at its December 2020 meeting the OSC acknowledged that the ongoing uncertainties relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, the lack of clarity on the outlook for local government finance alongside the strong possibility that OSC meetings will continue to need to be held remotely for some time to come, meant that the approach to developing the OSC work programme for

2021-22 was likely to have to be similarly flexible and proposals were likely to be indicative.

 

It was also noted  that a continued focus on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in some form or another would be likely to be a major area of focus for the OSC’s at key points during 2021-22.

 

Committee were advised, with this in mind, an initial consultation with OSC Chairs and other elected members and officers on the proposed priority issues for the new work programmes for 2021-22 was carried out between 1 and 15 February 2021.

 

It was highlighted that any suggestions for the work programme should focus on priority issues that would support the Council’s Thrive agenda and add value, taking account of the five priority areas outlined in the budget consultation, the development of the Council’s new Performance Framework; the Gateshead Strategic Needs Assessment and the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

 

At this OSC meeting there will be an opportunity for the OSC to comment on/discuss emerging issues for this OSC/put forward additional issues for consideration.

 

Subsequently, in line with usual practice, partner organisations will be consulted on the emerging issues for each OSC for 2021-22 with a view to OSC’s considering any feedback/additional suggestions/endorsing their respective work programmes at their June 2021 OSC meetings and referring them to Council for agreement.

 

 

RESOLVED -

i)

That the information be noted

 

ii)

The Committee noted the work programme for 2020-21

 

iii)

The Committee wished to add free dental treatment update for pregnant women/new mothers into the work programme

 

iv)

That further updates will be brought to the OSC in due course

 

Supporting documents:

 

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