Agenda Item No. 8

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

Homes and Safe Communities Scrutiny Committee: 10th October, 2018

Report of the Managing Director

2nd Quarter Scrutiny Decision Tracking of Recommendations and Updated Work Programme Schedule 2018/19

Purpose of the Report

1. To advise Members of progress in relation to the Scrutiny Committee recommendations and to confirm the updated Work Programme schedule for the Scrutiny Committee for 2018/19:

• 2nd Quarter - July to September 2018 (Appendix A)
• 1st Quarter - April to June 2018 (Appendix B)
• Municipal Year 2017-18 (Appendix C)
• Updated Work Programme Schedule for 2018/19 (Appendix D).

Recommendations

1. That the views of the Committee on the status of the actions listed in Appendices A to C to the report be sought.
2. That the updated Work Programme Schedule attached at Appendix D be approved and uploaded to the Council's website.

Reasons for the Recommendations

1. To maintain effective tracking of the Committee's recommendations.
2. For information.

Background

2. An integral part of effective scrutiny is a mechanism for Scrutiny Committees to monitor their recommendations to ensure that desired actions are carried out and where necessary progress is reported back.
3. The updated Work Programme schedule provides a breakdown of reports anticipated to be considered by the Scrutiny Committee over the forthcoming months.

Relevant Issues and Options

4. Appendices A to C attached to this report set out the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee and Members are requested to review progress against each recommendation, to assess whether further action may be required, ensure the required action is undertaken and to confirm which recommendations are to be agreed as completed.
5. Where appropriate, progress on actions relating to a service area covered by a previous Scrutiny Committee are now included in the Appendices for the appropriate Committee's consideration.
6. It is important that decisions of Scrutiny Committees are tracked and monitored as failure to do so could result in a risk that recommended courses of action will not be followed and consequently lost.  This would undermine the credibility of the scrutiny process. 
7. Members are also requested to confirm approval of the updated Scrutiny Committee Work Programme Schedule attached at Appendix D, it being noted that the schedule is a proposed list of items for consideration and may be subject to change depending on prevailing circumstances. 
8. The Work Programme has been aligned to the Cabinet Forward Work Programme.  The Scrutiny and Cabinet Roles and Responsibilities Protocol Point 7.6 states it is essential that the Cabinet Work Programme is taken into account when Scrutiny Committees are drawing up their own Work Programmes and also details reports that have been requested by the Scrutiny Committee together with items that require regular monitoring and scrutiny.  Other reports will be added to the schedule as and when necessity arises.  The schedule will also detail Requests for Consideration that have been received and the consideration given by officers of the likely date they can be reported to the relevant Committee.  With regard to Call-in Requests that are made following decisions of Cabinet, as these are required to be dealt with within 20 working days of a Cabinet decision (as per the Council's Constitution) , they will be included within the programme as and when received.
9. Discussions in relation to broadening the work programmes of all Scrutiny Committees will be subject to further consideration by the Scrutiny Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen Group having regard to resource implications and corporate priorities.
10. The Work Programme can also be found on the Council's website at the following link:

http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/Council-Structure/scrutiny/scrutiny_committees.aspx

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

11. None as a direct result of this report.

Sustainability and Climate Change Implications

12. None as a direct result of this report.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

13. None as a direct result of this report.

Crime and Disorder Implications

14. None as a direct result of this report.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

15. None as a direct result of this report.

Corporate/Service Objectives

16. Scrutiny contributes to all Corporate and Service Objectives contained in the Corporate Plan and there is also an important role for Scrutiny to play in monitoring the progress for delivering these objectives.  There is also an integrated planning action contained in the Corporate Plan for 2016/17 "Review the current arrangements to support effective scrutiny and facilitate more robust challenge and improved accountability" of which this Work Programme forms a part.

Policy Framework and Budget

17. This report is in accordance with the recommendations of the WAO Democratic Renewal report and acknowledges the recommendations of the review of the Council's scrutiny function.

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

18. Not applicable given the issue is an internal matter.

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

19. All.

Background Papers

Relevant Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet minutes.

Contact Officer

Amy Rudman, Scrutiny Support Officer, Tel: (01446 709855)

Officers Consulted

Jeff Rees, Operational Manager (Democratic Services)

Responsible Officer:

Rob Thomas, Managing Director