To agree the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2013/2014.

The Board considered the draft Work Programme for the Board which had been prepared following discussions with members of the Board.

Resolved:  (i)  that the Work Programme for the Overview and Scrutiny Board and Health Scrutiny Board (as circulated at the meeting) be agreed as a framework for the coming year;

(ii)        that the principle of undertaking overview and scrutiny reviews in different formats and in different venues in order to best engage with the community be agreed;

(iii)       that the Priorities and Resources Review Panel be appointed (comprising the members of the Overview and Scrutiny Board) and meet throughout the year to (a) review and monitor the revenue and capital budgets for the current year; and (b) to review and challenge the emerging proposals for delivering the Council’s priorities for the 2013/2014 financial year; and

(iv)       that, taking account of the areas of activity and spend identified within the Service Reviews for the Council, the Mayor be requested to identify approximately ten areas which the Overview and Scrutiny Board could usefully review in order to prepare “packages of evidence” which he could use to inform the budget setting process.

To agree the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2013/2014.

The Board considered a report which explained the need for the Board to agree a robust, realistic and flexible Work Programme which would help to ensure that overview and scrutiny was driving service improvement and playing a role in the policy development process.

As part of the discussion, members expressed a desire to utilise different formats to encourage greater engagement with the community in undertaking its work.

It was suggested that an analysis of the complaints received by the Council be undertaken to identify issues of concern to the community.  It was also suggested that the way in which the Council communicated with the public was one of the recurring issues which was raised with ward councillors.