Notes of the North West Scrutiny Support Officers' Network Meeting

South Ribble Borough Council - 11th October 2006

Present:

AGMA - David Fletcher
Blackpool Borough Council - Mark Towers and Steve Sienkiewicz
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council - James Dearling and Sabeena Domun
Burnley Borough Council - Eric Dickinson
Chorley Borough Council - Steve Pearce
Cumbria County Council - Frances Taylor
Hyndburn Borough Council - Paul Preston
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council - Joanne Griffiths
Lancashire County Council - Claire Evans
Manchester City Council - Kate Brown
Pendle Borough Council - Kath Haydock
Preston City Council - Steven Dugdale
South Ribble Borough Council - Joanne Heron and Andy Houlker
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council - Howard Boots and Gaynor Alexander
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council - Nicola Hine
West Lancashire District Council - Jackie Denning

Apologies for Absence

Allerdale Borough Council - Hazel Cushin
Carlisle City Council - John Mallison
Eden District Council - Gilliam Kartach
Halton Borough Council - Martin Laughna and Alex Villiers
High Peak Borough Council - Helen Gale
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council - Rachel Flood
Lancaster City Council - Elizabeth Bateson
Liverpool City Council - Joan Leonard
Oldham Council - Robert Hadrell, Matthew Drogan, Hana Assifuah and Sewa Singh
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council - Peter Jones
St Helens Council - Catherine Fletcher
Sefton Council - Mike Norris, Patrick Sebastian, Debbie Campbell and Ruth Harrison
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council - Andrew Burridge and Katy Spencer
Wigan Council - Katherin Fairclough

1. Introduction

Joanne Heron welcomed everyone to South Ribble and agreed to chair the meeting.

2. Notes of the Last Meeting

The notes of the last meeting of the Network held on 15th June 2006 were approved as a correct record.

3. Update on the Website for the Network

Howard Boots reported that North West Employer's Organisations' website was due to go live on 12 th October 2006. A hard copy setting out details of the website was circulated for comments.

Brian Megan from Warrington suggested that articles such as 'a day in the life of a scrutiny officer' be placed on the website. The website was fairly flexible and it was important that the Network had ownership of it.

4. Meeting with Jessica Crowe - New Executive Director - Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS)

Howard Boots reported that he had recently met with the new Executive Director for the CfPS, Jessica Crowe. At their meeting, Jessica expressed her desire for the centre be recognised a political professional body such as the 'Institute for Public Scrutiny'.

It was also reported that Jessica had been invited to attend the next meeting of the North West Employers Organisation Scrutiny Chairs & Vice-Chairs Network meeting, which was to be held on 2 nd November in Blackburn

5. Police and Justice Bill - Scrutiny of Crime and Disorder

Gaynor Alexander of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council gave a detailed presentation on the requirements of 'Community Call for Action” in the Police and Justice Bill and their implications for Scrutiny.

It was reported that the Police and Justice Bill was published in January 2006 and it contained legislative changes relating to the role of local authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee with respect to crime and disorder.

Gaynor explained the key measures of the Bill and highlighted the statutory duties of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership. These were to co-operate with Scrutiny Committees during the course of a review and to consider any recommendations made by Scrutiny Committees and report back on action that has or will be taken, or on the reasons for deciding that action cannot be taken.

Gaynor then explained about the proposed 'Community Call for Action' mechanism and re-affirmed the Bill's proposals that a 'matter' should only be referred to Overview and Scrutiny as a last resort, if a solution could not be agreed using conventional methods.

The forum discussed in detail the following issues:

• The minimum steps a ward councillor should have completed prior to referral to Scrutiny?
• The types of issues that would be inappropriate to deal with through Scrutiny?
• Should there be specific guidance as to the form of a CCA request or should it be left to local arrangement?

It was reported that no specific guidance as to the timings etc. had yet been published and the forum suggested the following timings:

• The Councillor to decide whether the issue is a valid CCA - 5 working days
• The Councillor to seek to resolve the issue prior to referring it to Overview & Scrutiny - up to 20 working days
• Overview & Scrutiny to decide whether to accept the referral - as soon as possible and no longer than 7 working days
• The responsible authorities to respond to information requests from Overview & Scrutiny - 20 working days
• Overview & Scrutiny to make a recommendation - 15 working days
• The responsible authorities to respond to Overview & Scrutiny recommendations - 28 days

The forum also agreed there was a definite need for the Community Call for Action to be piloted with the involvement of Overview & Scrutiny.

6. Scrutiny of North West Strategic Health Authority

David Fletcher from AGMA and Frances Taylor of Cumbria County Council jointly reported that they had recently had confirmation that Strategic Health Authority was anxious to develop an event with a 'specific regional dimension' for Health Scrutiny. A budget of up to £10k had been allocated. Whilst the monies were aimed at the formal health scrutiny committees, one of the ideas being floated was to run a seminar/conference for officers and members where the Director of Public Health and so on would give presentations on their role, future plans, approach etc. David informed the Group that Greater Manchester currently had issues with the Ambulance Service and suggested that this might be a relevant area for an information sharing event.

The Strategic Health Authority was very keen to engage scrutiny and felt that it was a means by which public awareness/engagement could be improved.

7. Scrutiny Qualification

Howard Boots updated the forum regarding the proposed post graduate Overview & Scrutiny qualification. He circulated a leaflet that had been received from Jon Talbot from Chester University and confirmed that the course should be available from January 2007..

8. Any Other Business

Howard Boots reported that Joanne Heron of South Ribble Borough Council had volunteered to be a contact for NW Scrutiny Support Officers' Network, which would provide more of a geographical balance and help to present a district council perspective.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held at Sefton Council in March 2007 at a date and time to be arranged.