Agenda item

9.1

The Committee received a report of the Director of Policy & Democratic Engagement. The Policy and Improvement Officer, Alice Nicholson, explained that the Committee’s Work Programme was attached at Appendix 1 for the Committee’s consideration and discussion. This aimed to show all known, substantive agenda items for forthcoming meetings of the Committee, to enable this committee, other committees, officers, partners and the public to plan their work with and for the Committee.

9.2

The Policy and Improvement Officer referred to part 2 of the programme which highlighted any potential items which were not yet included on the programme. She mentioned two new potential items for the Committee to consider, these were:

1.    Member appointments to external bodies

2.    NHS Governance and the Council’s Committee System

9.3

Members of the Committee asked questions and made comments and the key points to note were: -

9.4

A Member of the Committee referred to a previous discussion around Policy Committees not having sight of cross-cutting issues which went to Strategy & Resources Policy Committee although they had direct links within that work.

9.5

A Member of the Committee referred to an item on the programme relating to Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO’s). He mentioned that Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee expressed the need for decisions on TRO’s to be devolved to Local Area Committees.  Therefore, suggested that this be considered during that item.

The Head of Policy and Partnerships explained that this item was listed so that the Governance Committee could look at their relationship within this topic. He added that a report on this could be brought to a future meeting of this Committee.

9.6

A Member of the Committee suggested an item be included relating to meeting timings, in order to support working Members with other commitments and also to not discourage people from wanting to become a Councillor.

9.7

A Member of the Committee referred to the ‘Reviewing Committee Remits’ item listed on the programme. She raised the importance of looking into this issue further as she mentioned that Committees workloads were currently unbalanced.

9.8

A Member of the Committee referred to the ‘Understanding Committee Roles and Remuneration’ item on the programme. He mentioned that officer roles should be looked at as well, as part of this item.

9.9

A Member of the Committee suggested that a Public Health impact assessment tool be included across all policy committees so that all decision were influenced by this priority.

9.10

A Member of the Committee suggested that this Committee looked into how cross-cutting issues were made.

9.11

The Head of Policy and Partnerships thanked and noted Members comments on the work programme. He agreed to amend the programme based on the comments made at the meeting. He also stated that the programme was currently a list of items which needed to be organised on a priority basis and that this could start to be arranged due to the discussions made during this item.

9.12

RESOLVED:That (1) the Committee’s work programme, as set out in Appendix 1 be agreed, including any additions and amendments identified in Part 1; 2; (2) that consideration be given to the further additions or adjustments to the work programme presented at Part 2 of Appendix 1; and (3) that Members give consideration to any further issues to be explored by officers for inclusion in Part 2 of Appendix 1 of the next work programme report, for potential addition to the work programme.