Agenda item

10.1

The Head of Elections, Equalities and Involvement, submitted a report providing an update on the review of the Council’s scrutiny function during 2013/14, which had been undertaken with the aim of improving the impact and effectiveness of scrutiny.  The report contained, as appendices, a guidance tool to assist Scrutiny Committees to focus on topics most appropriate for their scrutiny and a scrutiny project mandate template, the Scrutiny Review Action Plan, and contained details of the scope of the review and the progress on the implementation of the Action Plan.

10.2

In response to questions from Members of the Committee, the Policy and Improvement Officer (Emily Standbrook-Shaw), stated that it was planned to hold further training sessions, following the success of the recent session held, as part of an annual training programme for Members.  In terms of public involvement in the scrutiny process, the Chair stated that the Environmental and Economic Wellbeing Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee had invited members of the public to take part in the scrutiny of specific topics.  Ms Standbrook-Shaw added that officers were working with Members on this issue, as well as a number of other ideas, in order to improve the impact and effectiveness of the scrutiny process.

10.3

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report now submitted, together with the comments now made, be noted.