Agenda item

(To consider a report from Nigel West, Head of Democratic Services and Statutory Scrutiny Officer, inviting topics for consideration by Scrutiny Panels A and B)

Consideration was given to a report from the Head of Democratic Services and Statutory Scrutiny Officer, inviting topics for consideration by Scrutiny Panels A and B.

The Board was invited to identify and agree potential topics for in-depth scrutiny reviews to be undertaken by the two Scrutiny Panels, taking into account the Prioritisation Toolkit. Councillor Phil Dilks, Chairman of Scrutiny Panel A, was in attendance for this item. Nigel West, Head of Democratic Services and Statutory Scrutiny Officer, presented the report.

The Board were asked to determine whether a scrutiny review should be undertaken on Lincolnshire Agricultural Sector Support and, if agreed, approve the terms of reference as set out in Appendix B to the report and determine which Scrutiny Panel would undertake the review. They were also invited to identify and agree topics for future scrutiny reviews to be undertaken by the Scrutiny Panels and to delegate to the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board approval of the terms of reference for future scrutiny reviews.

The report identified the following potential topics for the Board's consideration:

• Lincolnshire Agricultural Sector Support – proposed terms of reference were set out in Appendix B.
• Town Centre Improvements – to consider what opportunities existed for the revitalisation of town centres around the county.
• Capital Programme Planning – An assessment and challenge of the current capital project lifecycle arrangements and any lessons learned from major projects, and how Overview and Scrutiny could be involved in the process.

Members discussed the report, and during the discussion the following points were noted:

·         It was suggested that the Chairmen of the Scrutiny Committees be asked to consider one idea for in depth scrutiny review and report back to the 1 July Board meeting on this in more detail. It was also suggested that all councillors should be invited to put forward suggestions. A further suggestion was to consult Scrutiny Committees and report back on ideas to the September Board meeting.

·         Suggestions of ideas made at the meeting included:-

o   Brexit and its impact on the availability of overseas farmworkers and on farming in the County.

o   The impact of robotics on employment in the food services industry.

o   How councillors' ways of working had changed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the positive impact these changes have had, and how they should work going forward, given that there would be hybrid working by officers under the Smarter Working Policy. The Executive Director – Resources offered to provide some wording on this suggestion.

o   The Policy Team would provide some Horizon Scanning for feeding into the suggestions for scrutiny reviews.

o   Traffic management, speeding, signage etc - to consider whether current policies on these were up to date or required review.

There were mixed views and some doubts expressed about whether a review of Lincolnshire Agricultural Sector Support would be a good idea at this moment in time, especially in the light of the uncertainty surrounding the outcome and content of the proposed Agricultural Bill currently going through Parliament. It was recognised that any Bill or change in subsidies would have an impact on County Farms.

RESOLVED:

1)    That Scrutiny Chairmen be invited to submit detailed ideas for scrutiny reviews to the September Board meeting for further discussion and decision;

2)    That the ideas included in the report submitted to the meeting be noted and be included in the above report to the September meeting.

(Councillor C E H Marfleet gave his apologies and left the meeting)