Issue - meetings
Overview & Scrutiny Committee Terms of Reference, Membership, Quorum, Dates of meetings, Protocols and Guidance
Meeting: 04/06/2013 - Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 5)
To note the OSC Terms of Reference, Membership, Quorum, Dates of future meetings; and to agree a start time for scheduled OSC meetings in 2013/14. Also to adopt the protocols and note the guidance, to facilitate the conduct of OSC business, set out in the report.
Additional documents:
- OSC TofR Mship Quorum Dates Protocols - Procedure Rules Appx 1, item 5
PDF 95 KB
- OSC TofR Mship Quorum Dates Protocols - Membership Appx 2, item 5
PDF 55 KB
- OSC TofR Mship Quorum Dates Protocols - meeting dates Appx 3, item 5
PDF 43 KB
- OSC TofR Mship Quorum Dates Protocols - Appx 4 220513 JW Final2, item 5
PDF 93 KB
Minutes:
Please note that the order of business was varied by resolution of the OSC earlier in the proceedings in order to allow this item to be considered following Agenda Item 8.2 “Scrutiny Working Group report - Co regulation and the Accountability of Registered Housing Providers (RP’s) – Report of the Scrutiny Working Group”, however for ease of reference the OSC deliberations, and subsequent decisions taken, are set out below in the order detailed in the agenda.
Mr Angus Taylor, Principal Committee Officer, introduced and highlighted key points in the report, which:
· Provided the Terms of Reference, Membership, Quorum and Dates of meetings of the OSC for the Municipal Year 2013/14 for the Committee’s information;
· Set out protocols and guidance to facilitate the conduct of OSC business, for adoption by the OSC.
· Requested the OSC to consider and agree a start time for scheduled OSC meetings during the remainder of 2013/14.
Mr David Galpin, Head of Legal Service (Community) subsequently gave a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the Overview and Scrutiny Framework highlighting points including:
· Statutory and Constitutional framework.
· General powers of OSC.
· Process and powers relating to Call In.
· Process and powers relating to Call In of Budget and Policy Framework matters.
· Powers to invite/ require attendance of Members, Officers and others.
· Access to information framework, process and powers for OSC
· Health Scrutiny and Joint Health Scrutiny: statutory framework and powers.
· Education functions: statutory requirements
A discussion followed which focused on the following points:-
· Noted that in recent years the OSC had met at 7.00pm, and the former OSC Chair/ OSC members considered that this time had worked well for both OSC members and others attending. Consensus that a 7.00pm meeting start time would work well for the new OSC membership, and accordingly it was proposed that a 7.00pm start time be agreed for scheduled OSC meetings during the remainder of 2013/14 (with the exception of the 23 July meeting held during the holy month of Ramadan).
· The Chair expressed the aspiration that scrutiny in LBTH be as effective as possible, and emphasised his desire to work positively with the Executive and senior officers to address key challenges for local people, thereby improving their quality of life. To that end, he requested recognition of the importance of the OSC’s role; and set out his expectation that Corporate Directors would attend OSC for Call In discussions and be present for agenda items relating to their Directorate. Corporate Directors could attend with relevant Service Heads or Managers where necessary, but whenever possible attendance at OSC should not be delegated to less senior managers.
· Comment that at the previous OSC meeting [7 May 2013] the attendance of an Officer and Cabinet Member had been requested, to respond to any questions the OSC had regarding a ‘Call In’ of a Mayoral Decision, but the Officer had been stood down by the Cabinet Member. Accordingly clarification sought and given as to whether the OSC could oblige Officers and Members to attend OSC and whether ... view the full minutes text for item 5