Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Loades.

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items included on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

The committee considered a report submitted by the Chief Executive that had been prepared following publication of the recommendations made by the Local Government Association Peer Review Team upon completion of its review of this Council’s decision making process.

Although the findings and recommendations of the Peer Review Team were comprehensively set out in the agenda the committee chose to confine its responses to the following issues:-

Merge the Active and Cohesive Communities and Health and Well Being Scrutiny Committees

There was unanimous opposition to this recommendation stating that, if implemented, it would adversely affect this committees ability to deliver effective and robust scrutiny of health related issues. In addition it was considered whilst the use of Task and Finish Groups was a valuable tool in the scrutiny process and should be continued they needed to be more streamlined and time limited.

In addition the committee supported the suggestion that the Council’s Constitution Working Group should be requested to review and make recommendations to change this committee’s terms of reference to ensure that the lessons learned from the issues at Stafford Hospital and from the resultant Francis Report are embedded into this Council’s arrangements.

Timing of Meetings

The committee supported the current practice of the majority of the Council’s meetings starting at 7pm.

Members did not feel that evening meetings placed excessive demands upon their time but considered that the Constitution Working Group should look at ways in which meetings could be better managed particularly in respect of those meetings where members of the public, consultees and others were in attendance.

Re-introduction of Members Information Bulletin

The committee supported this recommendation suggesting that it be incorporated into the Members website when it was up and running.

An alternative to this was that Members only receive information about matters affecting their own and adjoining Wards.

Reduce Frequency of Local Elections

Reduce the Number of Councillors

Delegating More Decisions to the Cabinet and Officers.

Although the committee acknowledged the importance of the above issues they considered it premature to comment at this time assuming that all councillors would have the opportunity to debate them at a later date.

Resolved:              That the information be received and the comments

noted.

There was no urgent business.