Agenda item

To consider the committee’s work plan for the current municipal year, including suggestions for possible Task and Finish Groups.

Members considered the committee’s work plan for the current municipal year.

With reference to possible Task and Finish groups, it was:

·       Suggested that setting up no more than two Task and Finish groups per scrutiny committee within the municipal year would help maximise impact and available capacity, and noted that membership of a Task and Finish group was not limited to members of the parent committee. It was also suggested that Task and Finish groups should focus on issues from across the whole remit of the committee rather than all focusing on one area.

·       Noted that two possible Task and Finish groups into the work of York Youth Council and repair service satisfaction had been suggested at the committee’s previous meeting.

·       Noted that following a motion approved by Council in March 2025, a Task and Finish group had been established by the former Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee in May 2025 to examine the proposed changes to long-term sickness and disability benefits; its membership consisted of Cllrs J Burton, Coles, Fenton, Runciman and Steward, and it was now felt more appropriate for this group to report to the People Scrutiny Committee.

·       Noted that given the possibility of upcoming changes at a national level to Education, Health and Care Plans, there was little point at this stage in progressing with the proposed Task and Finish group into this subject inherited from the former Children, Culture and Communities Scrutiny Committee; nothing would be lost as the group had not yet commenced its work.

·       Noted that the work of the Task and Finish group considering Food Insecurity, which had also been inherited from the former Children, Culture and Communities Scrutiny Committee, was close to completion but some officer capacity was needed to assist with compiling a final report. It was agreed that this work could be completed without impacting on the choice of new Task and Finish groups.

·       Suggested that the Chair and Vice-Chair should liaise to consider prioritisation of remaining proposed Task and Finish work.

It was noted that an informal meeting of the committee was being planned for September to further consider the allocation of work plan items.

The Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education noted that work around York Hungry Minds and the Free School Meal Pilot was close to completion and would be ready to be considered by the committee in its preferred timescale and format.

It was noted that informal scrutiny briefings would provide opportunities to identify areas for further work. Members expressed a preference for holding briefings online in the interests of accessibility, and for avoiding hybrid briefings where possible; the Scrutiny Review Working Group would be considering this further.

Resolved:

                i.                    To note the work plan.

              ii.                    To approve the Task and Finish group on proposed changes to long-term sickness and disability benefits reporting to the People Scrutiny Committee.

             iii.                    To agree to the completion of the work of the Food Insecurity Task and Finish group for future presentation to the committee in a suitable format.

            iv.                    To not proceed further with the proposed Task and Finish group on Education, Health and Care Plans owing to the potential for upcoming changes at a national level.

              v.                    To further consider the allocation of work plan items at an informal meeting in September.

Reason:     To keep the committee’s work plan updated.