North West Scrutiny Support Officers' Network Meeting

17th March 2008

Agenda

1. Notes of the last meeting

To receive for information, the notes of the last meeting of the Network.

2. Scrutiny in Trafford

Sam Martin has agreed to outline the Trafford approach to scrutiny and share any good practice or particular scrutiny success that has been identified.

3. Councillor Call for Action

Whilst we are all waiting for the publication of regulations and guidance for the Councillor Call for Action, to share any thoughts or proposals for both potential referrals in relation to Crime and Disorder and the wider “any local government issue”

4. Support from the Centre for Public Scrutiny 

To consider the attached note that outlines a communication received from Jessica Crowe, Executive Director, Centre for Public Scrutiny on the support available from the Centre for an individual authority or regional and sub regional networks or groupings of councils.

It is hoped that colleagues from Cumbria County Council and other Cumbrian authorities who have received this support will inform the meeting of their experiences working with the Centre.

5. Quality Benchmarking - Presentation and Exercise 

At the last meeting consideration was given to the draft outline Quality Benchmarking Scheme for the North West and the suggested themes were discussed.

At this meeting there will be a presentation on the scheme proposed by the working group and a practical exercise undertaken to match the attached themes to practice in each of own local authorities.

It is suggested that each authority give some initial consideration to this exercise before coming to the meeting.

6. Arrangements for the Next Meeting