Meeting of the North West Scrutiny Support Officers’ Network

Friday, 27th February 2009

Lancaster City Council Town Hall

Present:

Howard Boots - Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Muna Clough - Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Alison Davies - Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Gina Murphy - Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Nicola Hine - Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Joanne Heron - St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
Rachel Bridge - St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
Janet Borgerson - Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Ruth Harrison - Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Jane Murray - Allerdale Borough Council
Jacky Denning - West Lancashire District Council
Patrick Sebastian - Cheshire West and Chester
Roland Howard - GM Police Authority
Nick Lamper - Wigan Council
Steve Callender - Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Louise Benney - South Ribble Borough Council
Imelda Grady - Burnley Borough Council
Steven Dugdale - Preston City Council
Karen Lucas - Salford Council
Gary Finch - Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Matt Drogan - Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
Kath Haydock - Pendle Borough Council
David Moran - Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Hannah Easby - Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
John Addison - Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Josh Mynott - Lancashire County Council
Ed Hammond - CfPS
Georgina Atkinson - Blackpool Council
Steve Sienkiewicz - Blackpool Council
Yvonne Ablett - Blackpool Council
Alex Villiers - Halton Borough Council
Courtney Brightwell - Manchester City Council
Chris Joseph - NHS NW
David McNally - NHS NW
Stephen Metcalfe - Lancaster City Council
Jane Glenton - Lancaster City Council
Liz Bateson - Lancaster City Council
Sam Martin - Trafford Council
Bill Aker - Ribble Valley

Apologies:

David Fletcher - AGMA
Sabeena Wootton - Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Alice Rea - Bury MBC
Angela Norton - Stockport MBC

1. Notes of the Last Meeting

The notes of the previous meeting of the network held on 17th October 2008 were agreed as true and accurate with the addition that Joanne Heron (then at South Ribble) be included in the attendance.

2. Councillor Call for Action (CCfA)

Howard Boots who chaired the meeting welcomed Ed Hammond, Policy Officer (CfPS) to the meeting. Ed Hammond delivered a presentation on the proposals for the Good Practice Guide for the Councillor Call for Action 60.41 KB . It was noted that guidance was now available on the CfPS website with hard copies being forwarded to local authorities. The presentation outlined the background, principles, key areas, and exclusions as well as raising the issue of a formal process, the concept of resolution and the power to delegate discretionary powers. It was suggested Councils would need to think creatively about the way in which the CCfA interacts with complaints/call-ins etc and it was unreasonable to expect that when all other methods fail, bringing a particular issue to a CCfA Committee will necessarily resolve the issue. It was reported that further guidance would be forthcoming regarding the other scrutiny elements of the 2007 Act; district councils and joint committees. It was agreed that a copy of the presentation would be forwarded to attendees.

It was noted that several launch events were being held at Kirklees, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Harrow. These were free to attend with further details on the CfPS website.

It was also noted that the scrutiny elements of the Police and Justice Act 2006 were expected to be implemented at the end of April 2009.

3. NHS North West - Interaction with Scrutiny

Howard Boots welcomed Chris Joseph and David McNally from NHS North West to the meeting. Chris Joseph and David McNally both welcomed the opportunity to participate in this regional network and provide an outline of developments. Reference was made to the new regulations for complaints on health and social care, regional organisation, the development of PCTs as commissioning organisations and ongoing dialogue with health scrutiny and the PCTs. It was agreed that it would be useful if the NHS North West newsletter could be circulated to the attendees.

Reference was made to the Burns Care Review, and Local Agreements to determine substantial service change - it was noted that both Trafford and Cumbria had produced a substantial variation assessment and it was agreed that a copy should be circulated to attendees.

Reference was made to the North West Specialist Commissioning Team (NWSCT) and a replacement was sought to act as a link between the SCT’s Chief Officer and Health Scrutiny Officers in the North West. It was agreed that Alison Williams (Warrington) and Nicola Hine (Tameside) should assume this responsibility.

It was noted that there was £4K of funding available which could be used to hold another North West Regional Health Scrutiny Conference if required and the meeting supported this proposal in principle.

4. North West Employers Organisation - Support for Officer Training

Topics identified for future training included Partnerships and Crime and Disorder. It was suggested that authorities could be willing to pay £80-100 for such training. It was noted that the Officer Development Day at the CfPS Annual Conference would focus on partnership working.

5. Pay and Grading Review

It was noted that Salford, Allerdale and Lancaster had received their results and scrutiny officers had for the most part stayed the same. Tameside, Cheshire & Oldham were still awaiting their results.

6. Organisation of the Network

Howard Boots informed the meeting that Joanne Heron who had worked with him from a District’s point of view to convene meetings had left South Ribble District Council to become Scrutiny Manager at St Helens MBC. He asked whether anyone from a District Authority would be prepared to replace Joanne.

There were no volunteers at the meeting from amongst the district councils to assume Joanne Heron’s role as joint convenor of the Network it was suggested that if any one was keen to take on this role they should notify Gina Murphy.

7. Arrangements for the Next Meeting

It was agreed that the next meeting of the Network should be held in July 2009. Any authority interested in hosting the next meeting should notify Gina Murphy.