Issue - meetings

The Chair of the Scrutiny Task Group set up to review the scrutiny functions and operations at City of York Council, to present the Task Group’s final report and seek approval for the recommendations arising from the review.

Note:  Due to the timescales involved in completing the scrutiny review, this item will not have been on the Forward Plan for 28 days at the time of the meeting.  It has therefore been included on the agenda under the council’s informal urgency procedures.

Resolved:  That the findings of the Scrutiny Task Group be noted and that the recommendations from the review, as set out in paragraph 44 of the Task Group’s final report at Annex 1 and paragraph 8 of the cover report, be approved.

Reason:     To conclude the Scrutiny Review in line with the council’s Scrutiny procedures and protocols.

Cllr Williams, Chair of the Scrutiny Task Group set up to review the scrutiny functions and operations at Cit of York Council, presented the Task Group’s final report and recommendations. He stated that the group had agreed on all of the recommendations, with the exception of pre-decision scrutiny. He went on to explain that, whilst the addition of pre-decision scrutiny under this administration had been well intentioned, it had not worked effectively throughout that period. The process had also highlighted that some of the scrutiny committees were not working as well as they could. In particular Health, Housing and Adult Social Care had such a large remit it could not cover everything it needed to and the trial of splitting Economy and Place had not worked as well as expected.

Finally he highlighted the issue of culture across CYC and how this related to engagement with scrutiny. He highlighted the lack of engagement from both Members and Officers over several years and how this meant that scrutiny was not performing as it could be.

Executive Members stated that it had been the intention to give power to scrutiny with the addition of pre-decision call-in but if this was not working then it would be important to find an alternative route through. They also suggested that it was important that scrutiny could keep up with officers when work was moving at pace. They thanked Members for their work on this review.

Resolved:  That the findings of the Scrutiny Task Group be noted and that the recommendations from the review, as set out in paragraph 44 of the Task Group’s final report at Annex 1 and paragraph 8 of the cover report, be approved.

Reason:     To conclude the Scrutiny Review in line with the council’s Scrutiny procedures and protocols.