Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members will be invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Kirk declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 (Update on Work of Health Scrutiny Committee) as a governor of York Hospital Trust.

Councillor Moore declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 (Update on Work of Health Scrutiny Committee) as his wife was employed in the NHS.

Councillor D’Agorne declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 6 (Traffic Congestion Ad-hoc Scrutiny Review – Interim Report) as a member of the Cycle Campaign and the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC).

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2007.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Management Committee held on 26 November 2007 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Friday 25 January 2008 at 5 pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report introduces an update from Cllr Tina Funnell, Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee, on the activities and work of the Committee to date.

Members received a report which introduced an update from Cllr Tina Funnell, Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee, on the activities and work of the Committee to date.

Members commended the Committee for its hard work, the good relationships it had built and the successful community involvement events that it had run.  Members also noted that no reports had yet been produced by the Committee on specific scrutiny topics and that these may follow once a workplan had been established.

RESOLVED:That the report on the progress of the Health Scrutiny Committee be received and the Committee be requested to bring forward a workplan to the April meeting of Scrutiny Management Committee, including a suggested frequency for further updates.¹

REASON:      To inform Scrutiny Management Committee of the work and progress of other Scrutiny Committees.

In accordance with its constitutional role, this report seeks Scrutiny Management Committee’s advice on the support budget to assist Scrutiny in conducting their reviews.

Members received a report which summarised the position to date on expenditure against the budget available specifically for supporting scrutiny reviews in 2007/8.  It also sought their views on the available budget for 2008/9, with a view to making a recommendation to Council as part of the budget setting process.

Members highlighted the need to activate appointment to the vacant Scrutiny Assistant Post, by demonstrating to the Executive the impact of the Local Government & Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 on the workload of Scrutiny Services.  They also highlighted the need to tackle wider engagement issues within the organisation and it was suggested that meetings between Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Scrutiny Committees and Chief Officers be reinstated.

RESOLVED: That the Executive be recommended to activate appointment to the vacant Scrutiny Assistant post.¹

REASON:      To prepare for the wide ranging effect of the Local Government & Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

(See also Part B minute)

This report sets out progress to date with the Traffic Congestion Ad-hoc Scrutiny Review and seeks approval to extend the timeframe and increase the budget for the review.

Members received a report which set out progress to date with the Traffic Congestion Ad-hoc Scrutiny Review and sought approval to extend the timeframe and increase the budget for the review.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee attended the meeting to outline its work to date and to answer Members’ questions.  Following a request from Members, he agreed that specific consideration should be given as to how to meet the transport needs of older people.

Members discussed the request for funding to consult with residents on the broad strategic options available to the city to tackle traffic congestion.  The Chair advised that the proposal to survey all residents was designed to ensure participation and engagement, rather than just statistical analysis.  Members queried what other funding sources, such as European Union funds, might be available for the survey, what legal powers were available to request the funds from the Executive, and what costs could be reduced by incorporating the survey in the new Council newspaper when it was introduced.  Members proposed that the decision on funding be deferred to the next meeting to allow this additional information to be provided and for an appropriate officer to attend to answer questions on consultation and engagement mechanisms.     

RESOLVED:(i) That all of the information provided in the report and the associated annexes be noted;

(ii)               That the timeframe for the review be extended in line with the timetable in paragraph 54 of the report;¹

(iii)             That the decision on funding the survey be deferred to the next meeting for further information on alternative costings and funding sources to be provided and an appropriate officer to attend to answer questions relating to consultation and engagement;²

(iv)That the budget for the three forthcoming events (detailed in paragraph 54 of the report) be increased to whatever sum may be reasonably required to publicise them and encourage participation by stakeholders and residents.³

REASON:            To progress the scrutiny review.

Members received a report which summarised the position to date on expenditure against the budget available specifically for supporting scrutiny reviews in 2007/8.  It also sought their views on the available budget for 2008/9, with a view to making a recommendation to Council as part of the budget setting process.

RECOMMENDED: That a budget of £20k be set for supporting scrutiny reviews in 2008/09, in line with the 2002/03 funding levels.¹

REASON:      To enable a robust scrutiny review support budget to be set for the 2008/9 financial year.

(See also Part A minute)