Agenda item

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for 2020/21

To consider a report by the director for Digital and Resources, copy attached as item 8

Minutes:

The Committee had a report before it attached as item 8, a copy of which had been circulated to all Members, a copy of which is attached to a signed copy of these minutes. The report before Members included a draft JOSC Work Programme for 2020/21.

 

The Committee agreed to note the progress of the work programme 19/20 and considered the work programme for 20/21

 

Members were informed that the night time economy working group had prepared a report on it’s work, however due to the Covid-19 lockdown the situation had changed significantly. It was agreed that the group meet again and report back to the Committee in the future. Cllr Paul Mansfield was elected as a new member of the Working group.

 

A Worthing Member commented that the pre-scrutiny of the Worthing Budget Estimate and setting of Council Tax had not been a productive use of time in the past and proposed that the item be removed from the work programme the proposal was seconded debated and upon a vote it was passed and the report was withdrawn from the work programme

 

The Chairman introduced a proposal to the Committee that sought to re-introduce Executive Member interviews, the matter was seconded, debated and upon a vote was included on the Work programme

 

The Committee discussed the introduction of scrutiny of the forward plan of key decisions. The Chairman told the Committee that he did not support the introduction of the item as members were sent updates every time that the plan was added to or amended. Councillors who were not on the Executive took it upon themselves to keep up to date with what was proposed and could act accordingly. An opposing view was that inclusion of the item could lead to more information being received particularly regarding exempt matters. The removal of the item was proposed seconded and approved upon a vote.

 

The Committee discussed the role of Health and Social Care reporting and it was agreed that representatives on WSCC HASC report back to the Committee as and when they see fit. The proposal was seconded and on a vote was approved.

 

The Committee appraised a request to add a topic concerning food poverty to it’s work programme. There was a debate as to whether this matter should be widened to include a general investigation of poverty following the Covid-19 lockdown, however, the Committee decided on balance that the matter was one that the committee could add some quality research to and approved the introduction of food poverty to the work programme.

 

The Committee appraised a request to add an item to the work programme form the Joint Governance Committee concerning the working relationship between Adur and Worthing Councils and West Sussex County Council. Members in support of the proposal sited communication issues encountered during the Covid-19 lockdown. The authority had responsibilities concerning health and wellbeing and therefore should take the opportunity to review the councils’ relationship with West Sussex County Council. Opponents of the item’s inclusion noted that the Committee had already undertaken a review of the relationship with regards to major projects. West Sussex had its own mechanisms for scrutiny and the broad terms of the request would make it difficult to undertake an effective review. The matter was voted upon and it was decided that the matter not be added to the Work Programme.

 

The Committee discussed working group memberships and agreed that Cllr Stainforth be added as a full member to the Adur Homes Repairs and Maintenance Working Group. The other memberships were agreed as set out in the report.

 

Resolved:

 

1.      That the progress of the work programme 2019/20 be noted

2.      That the work programme 20/21 be approved as amended

3.      That the work programme 20/21 as amended be submitted to meetings of the Full Council for approval

Supporting documents: