To elect a Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board for the 2015/2016 Municipal Year.

Councillor Lewis was elected Chairman of the Board for the 2015/2016 Municipal Year.

Councillor Lewis in the Chair

It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Independent and Conservative Groups, the membership of the Board had been amended to include Councillors Morey and Thomas (D) in place of Councillors Stockman and Tolchard respectively.

To consider appointing a Vice-Chairman of the Board for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Consideration of this item was deferred until the next meeting of the Board.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 8 April 2015.

The minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 8 April 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The above decision was called-in by Councillors Lewis, Bent, Darling (S), Morey, Barnby, Tyerman, Tolchard, Thomas (J), Thomas (D) and Stocks on 10 June 2015.

The reasons for the call-in are attached together with the Record of Decision and the report “The principles of overview and scrutiny in Torbay” which was prepared following work undertaken by the Centre for Public Scrutiny between November 2014 and February 2015.

The Board considered a call-in by ten Members of the Council of the decision by the Mayor to, amongst other things,:

·                    establish two Policy Development Groups

·                    agree the working arrangements for the Policy Development Groups

·                    approve the Decision-Making Route for policy development.

In considering the call-in, the Board sought the views of the Mayor on a number of points which the Board felt would ensure that the Overview and Scrutiny Board would have an appropriate level of influence within policy development.

Resolved:  that the issue be referred to the Council for the following reasons:

1.            The principles of overview and scrutiny at Torbay were agreed by the Council with an overwhelming majority at its meeting held on 26 February 2015.

2.            Whilst not part of the Council’s formal governance arrangements, the principles were also confirmed by the Conservative Group following the Local Elections in May 2015. 

3.            All Councillors should have the opportunity to express their views on the Mayor’s proposals for policy development and on the governance arrangements of the Council.