Notes of the North West Scrutiny Support Officers' Network Meeting

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council - 19th May 2005

Attendance:

• Howard Boots - Tameside MBC
• Angela Norton - Stockport Council
• Katy Master - Stockport Council
• Katy Spencer - Bolton MBC
• Dave Taylor - Carlisle CC
• Kelly Neale - Wyre Borough Council
• Maria Ashworth - Pendle Borough Council
• Kath Haydock - Pendle Borough Council
• Brian Reed - Chester City Council
• Joan Leonard - Liverpool City Council
• Alex Villiers - Halton BC
• Yvonne Leathley - Warrington BC
• Emma Cooper - Warrington BC
• Tim Capper - Copeland BC
• Sarah Palmer - Lancashire CC
• Sue Collier - Oldham MBC
• Peter Baines - Blackpool

Apologies:

• Robin Roberts - Cheshire
• Bill Alker - Ribble Valley
• Karen Dainty - Salford
• Elaine Fisher - Trafford
• Helen Burt - Congleton
• Mark Nedderman - Congleton
• Jane Murray - Copeland
• Gillian Kartach - Eden
• Sharn Matthews - Chester
• Bob Fletcher - Blackpool
• Ruth Harrison - Sefton MBC
• James Doble - Lancaster
• Francis Taylor - Cumbria
• Chris Walsh - Liverpool
• Peter Jones - Rochdale

Notes of last meeting:

Agreed.

Matters arising:

Katy will send out notes on performance.

Discussion took place on performance and Centre for Public Scrutiny annual conference.

Website update:

There has been a delay with the provider for NWEO . It was clarified that Howard Boots would continue to liaise with NWEO to get the site up and running but that it would then be down to each of us to keep it going and updated. Precisely how this would be achieved had yet to be agreed.

Database:

Everyone needs to ensure their details are correct and that amendments are sent through where necessary, to Christine Reid at Tameside.

Work programmes:

Various methods of consultation in the development of work programmes were discussed. It was suggested that Camden's model was useful to look at.

Scoping issues using criteria that we can be scored against was discussed.

The issue of capacity on work programmes for taking extra items was aired.

Getting the public involved in Overview and Scrutiny was discussed, with various methods and it was felt that actually the most appropriate representation of the public may be at area committee level and not O and S.

Everyone agreed that the key to success was Overview and Scrutiny looking at items that the Members were interested in.

Members of this group will forward some examples of performance monitoring to Christine Reid for general distribution.

Budget scrutiny:

Fundamental that we get this right in the eyes of CPA. Cheshire will forward their process through for the group.
Warrington seems to have a method it would be worth us looking at.

Training:

It was agreed that we now need to speak to training providers about our training needs.

We will invite CfPS to the next meeting (week beginning 12th September).

Howard will liaise with Liverpool over potential questions we may need to ask ourselves before meeting with them.

We'll go back and talk to Officers and Members about what they'd like to see on offer, specialist training. We will also need to do a skills audit with staff to bring back to the next meeting.

Addendum:

The next meeting is confirmed for Thursday 15th September 2005, 2.00 - 4.30pm (buffet lunch will be provided from 1.00pm) to be hosted by Liverpool City Council.

Venue: Collingwood Room, Millenium Building, Victoria Street, Liverpool