Agenda item

(To receive a report by Nigel West (Head of Democratic Services and Statutory Scrutiny Officer), which invites the Committee to consider the content of its work programme, and the work programme of the Council's other overview and scrutiny committees)

Consideration was given to a report which enabled the Committee to consider its own work programme and the work programmes from the scrutiny committees for 2016/17.

Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

Further to Minute 53 – 'Broadband Update', a further update would be added to the work programme for consideration at a future meeting.

It was suggested that the Committee had sight of the Council's proposed Councillor Induction Programme at either the meeting in February or March 2017, prior to the Council's Elections in May 2017.

It was noted that each scrutiny committee would hold an informal budget workshop in November 2016, as part of the budget planning process.

Adults Scrutiny Committee

There were no changes to the published work programme.

Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee

At the last meeting of the Committee on 21 October 2016, Members had received the Council's draft response to the new Government consultation Schools that work for everyone, which would close on 12 December 2016.  The final response would be presented to the Committee at its meeting on 25 November 2016, for its endorsement.

At the meeting scheduled for 20 January 2017, the Committee would receive two additional reports: an update onthe School Improvement Sector Led Model and an update on the Joint Targeted Area Inspection on Domestic Abuse.

Community and Public Safety Scrutiny Committee

There were no changes to the published work programme.

It was noted that a 'Meet and Greet' Session with the new supplier of the Community Substance Misuse Treatment Service was to be arranged to follow on from the meeting of the Committee on 25 January 2017.

To be included on the work programme for 2017 was an update on Lincolnshire Policing from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire and the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police; and an update on HMP Lincoln from the newly appoint Governor of HMP Lincoln.

Economic Scrutiny Committee

The item on the Impact of Transformation on Maximising Economic Growth (ITMEG) scheduled for 29 November 2016 had been removed. 

It was noted that the last update on this topic was received at the Committee's meeting in July 2016, where it was reported that progress had been made against all the key recommendations and therefore there was no longer a need to continue monitoring the recommendations. However, the Committee would instead receive reports on the individual issues as and when required.

It was queried whether the Committee would be considering the impact of the County Council's vote against the Devolution proposals, in particular those aspects of the bid which covered economic development and transport.  Further to this, the Committee was reminded that the decision had not yet been taken as this was within the remit of the Leader of the Council.  The decision by the Leader would be taken before the end of November 2016, and until that time the Committee would not be a position to give consideration to this issue.

Environmental Scrutiny Committee / Flood and Drainage Management Committee

There were no changes to the published work programme.

It was highlighted that there was a desire for Natural England to attend a future meeting of the Committee.  Further to this, a Member raised concerns regarding the potential detrimental effects of Neighbourhood Plans on the natural environment. It was confirmed that this would be raised with Natural England.

Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire

The item on Pharmacy Services at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) scheduled for 23 November 2016 had been deferred to the meeting on 28 January 2017. 

Further to the above, the Vice-Chairman advised that on 20 October 2016, the Government had announced that there would still be an overall funding reduction of £113 million or 4% in the current financial year 2016/17, which would be followed by a further reduction of 3.4% in 2017/18. The Committee would be considering an item on this issue at a further meeting.

With regards to the Update from ULHT on Emergency Services, it was noted that the update would include the latest position in relation to the temporary overnight closure of Grantham Hospital Accident and Emergency department.  

It was noted that in addition to the Members listed on page 54 of the agenda pack, the membership of The Working Group on Full Business Case for the Merger of Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust also included Councillor D Brailsford.

The Committee was advised that a working group had been established to respond to the Medicines Management Consultation.  The Working Group comprised of Councillors R Kirk, Mrs J Renshaw, J Kirk (City of Lincoln Council), Mrs R Kaberry-Brown (South Kesteven District Council) and C J T H Brewis (South Holland District Council). A meeting of the working group would be held the week commencing 7 November 2016.

Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee

There was one change to the work programme.  The pre-decision scrutiny item on the Grantham Southern Relief Road Phase 2 scheduled for the meeting on 28 November 2016 had been delayed and would be considered at a future meeting.  The delay was owing to officers not having received the expected information from Highways England.

It was also noted that a pre-decision scrutiny item on the Boston Transport Strategy had been added to the work programme for 23 January 2017.  The decision was scheduled to be taken between 24 – 31 January 2017.

Value for Money Scrutiny Committee

There was one change to the published work programme. The Voice of the Customer Feedback Report would no longer be presented to the Committee, as this report had been discontinued.  The information included within the report would now form part of the quarterly performance reports.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the content of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee Work programme, as set out in Appendix A of the report, be noted.

(2)  That the work programmes from overview and scrutiny committees, as set out at Appendix B of the report, be approved.

(3)  That the Working Group activity, set out at Appendix C of the report, be noted.

(4)  That the work programmes, in light of the Executive Forward Plan, as set   out in Appendix D of the report, be noted.