Issue - meetings

This report sets out the comments of the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the referral from the Executive regarding overspends in Adult Social Services.  Councillor Alexander, Chair of the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee, will be in attendance at the meeting to present the Committee’s comments.

RESOLVED: That the Executive notes:

·        The partisan way in which the referral has been handled by part of the Council’s Scrutiny process;

·        The increasing frustration amongst many councillors in not having the same opportunity to make comments in pre-decision scrutiny following the abolition of the Executive Member and Advisory Panel meetings;

·        That there are no proposals for changes of Council policy to address the situation from the Scrutiny committee.

REASON:      In response to the comments provided by the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Members considered a report which detailed the comments of the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the overspends in Adult Social Services. 

The matter had been referred to the Scrutiny Committee by the Executive on 22 September 2009, following receipt of the First Performance and Financial Monitor for 2009/10.  A report outlining the reasons for the overspends had been presented to the Committee on 13 January 2010, together with further information provided by Officers.  The Committee had decided to forward that report to the Executive, noting that they were unable to make any comments on savings at this point in view of the potential impact of savings options on residents in the City.  Furthermore, the failure of the Executive Member to attend the meeting had meant they were unable to question him on this.  Further discussion had since taken place at the Executive Member Decision Session on 26 January 2010, when the Executive Member had noted, and expressed his own opinion on, the Committee’s comments.

Details of the context of the referral to the Scrutiny Committee were attached at Annex A to the report and the original report to the Scrutiny Committee was attached at Annex B.  The Chair of the Committee, Cllr Alexander, was in attendance to present the Committee’s comments and respond to Members’ questions.  He expressed the view that the Committee had carried out what was required of it, in accordance with its interpretation of the Executive’s request.

RESOLVED: That the Executive notes:

·        The partisan way in which the referral has been handled by part of the Council’s Scrutiny process;

·        The increasing frustration amongst many councillors in not having the same opportunity to make comments in pre-decision scrutiny following the abolition of the Executive Member and Advisory Panel meetings;

·        That there are no proposals for changes of Council policy to address the situation from the Scrutiny committee.

REASON:      In response to the comments provided by the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee.