The Committee noted the draft work plan which has been developed following away day held on 15^th June 2019.  . It was clarified that each of the Scrutiny Sub – Committees would have an opportunity to review suggest topics for the work programme, prior to the presentation of the scrutiny work programme to the Council meeting. Topics could also be added during the year as and when the need arose.

It was also confirmed that as Environment & Community Safety and Resources and Finance were two areas without a Committee, items would either need to be taken at OSC or considered by the Scrutiny Lead through a Challenge Session/Scrutiny Review.

The Committee suggested that the work programme could include the following areas:

·         A focus on insourcing of the waste service’.

·         Leisure contract management, particularly from a young person’s view point.

·         The quality of the customer services across the organisation

·         Community safety and local policing, particular with regard to the allocation of the local police force in the Borough through a spotlight with Borough Commander and Cabinet Member

·         Equalities issues in terms of the implications for Council policies.

·         Windrush and slavery issues.

·         The issue of extended family households and the financial pressures they face.

·         Review of recent scrutiny recommendations.

The following comments were also made -

·         The Committee noted the merits of holding meetings in community venues, visiting other boroughs to learn about best practice, encouraging greater levels of public participation, through for example receiving petitions.

·         Preference was expressed for scrutiny to focus on reviewing narrower issues in depth as opposed to carrying out reviews of wide-ranging areas.