Notes of the North West Scrutiny Support Officers' Network Meeting

St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council - 19th October 2007

Present

• Blackpool Council - Steve Sienkiewkz and Mark Towers
• Burnley Borough Council - Eric Dickinson
• Bury MBC - Julie Edwards and Leigh Welsby
• Cheshire County Council - Robin Roberts
• Centre for Public Scrutiny - Gareth Wall
• Eden District Council - Gillian Kartach
• Ellesmere Port And Neston Council - Patrick Sebastian
• Halton Borough Council - Alex Villiers
• Knowsley Borough Council - Joanne Griffiths
• Lancashire County Council - Mel Ormesher
• Oldham MBC - Robert Haddrell
• Pendle Borough Council - Kate Haydock
• Preston City Council - Steven Dugdale
• St Helens MBC - Ian Blythin and Hannah Easby
• Sefton MBC - Janet Borgerson and Ruth Harrison
• South Ribble Borough Council - Joanne Heron
• Stockport MBC - Steve Callender
• Tameside MBC - Gaynor Alexander and Howard Boots
• Trafford MBC - Sam Martin
• Vale Royal Borough Council - Peter McKenzie
• Warrington Borough Council - Alison Williams

Apologies for Absence

• Lancaster City Council - Elizabeth Bates
• Bolton Council - James Dearling
• Salford Council - Karen Dainty
• Cumbria County Council - Alan Gunston

1. Notes from Previous Meeting

The notes from the previous meeting were agreed as true and accurate.

2. Govern It - An Innovative Approach to Overview and Scrutiny Training

Mary Dees from the Pixel Fountain gave a presentation on ‘Govern it’, an innovative approach that uses interactive simulation to enhance people’s understanding of sustainable development. The ‘Govern it’ simulation workshop involves officers of the council and elected members and normally last between 4 to 5 hours. The aim of the simulation game is to form a political party and make decisions to improve the services in a “virtual” community. Overview and Scrutiny officers from councils across the northwest have participated in the training and found that it was useful in building questioning skills and for new members to learn how the local authority operates.

Pixel Fountain will be holding an open workshop from 9.30am to 1.00pm on 27th November, in Stockport at the Chester Conference Centre, for anyone who is interested in seeing how it works in practice. Mary Dees contact details are mdees@pixelfountain.co.uk, Tel no. 0161 427 8684.

Delegates at the Scrutiny Network asked how many officers could attend and how much the workshop and system cost. The maximum number of delegates that can take part in the training is 30 and the minimum 12. The ‘Govern – it’ workshop and system costs between £1,500 and £3,000 depending on circumstances e.g. location, number of delegates etc.

3. Regional Health Scrutiny Event

Robin Roberts from Cheshire County Council spoke about the CfPS publication “Consultations by Specialised Services Commissioners” which uncovers what specialised commissioning is all about. He had recently attended an event in Runcorn on Specialised Commissioning that proved extremely positive. It was decided that letters are to be sent to Health Scrutiny Committees to request a health scrutiny contact to be updated with scrutiny activity relating to specialised commissioning.

Robin provided an update on the regional health scrutiny event that they are hoping to arrange for next year. He welcomed comments on a draft outline programme and would also be taking soundings at a meeting with O&S Chairs and the Strategic Health Authority. NW Employers wanted to get involved and the Strategic Health Authority was keen to raise the profile of scrutiny. The proposed venue for the conference will be in Merseyside and a number of key speakers have been identified in the draft programme. These included:

• Meredith Vivian (LINks)
• Jon Develing (Specialised Commissioning)
• Jo Dungey (LG and Public Involvement in Health Bill)
• John Boyington (Mental Health Commission)
• Dr Ruth Hussey (Public Health)

Delegates were asked to consider the list of possible speakers. The suggested dates of the conference are 14th or 17th March. A member of the audience advised organisers of the conference that they needed to be explicit about what the core objectives of the day were.

In the New Year, Relationship Managers will be in place for each sub region in the North West to act as a conduit between health scrutiny and the SHA. This will enable the SHA to develop a greater understanding of what is going on at local level

4. Local Government and Involvement in Public Health Bill

Gareth Wall, from CfPS, reported on the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill with a focus on Community Call for Action. There had been a few amendments from the Lords and a re-branding to Councillor Call for Action. Amendments from the Lords include:

Contractor’s duty: partners of the LAA will have to provide information to O&SC but also to those who deliver services.

Attendance of partners: The Lords would like partners to attend O&S meetings.
Widen the scope of powers in relation to LAA targets (this was withdrawn)
Councillors Call for Action can be raised in relation to anything not just issues around the members own ward.

Removal of CCfA from the Police and Justice Act and incorporate into CLGs version.
Further information about the changes is in the presentation that is attached as a separate document. The Bill must be completed and finalised by the 29th October, when it will be clear what amendments have been made.

Gareth welcomed comments from local authorities on a number of issues, particularly the 5 clauses affecting scrutiny: 127, 128, 130, and 132, 239. The detail of these clauses and some of the suggestions already made by other authorities are on the presentation.

5. Quality Benchmarking Scheme for Scrutiny

Rob Haddrell (Oldham MBC) introduced quality benchmarking and the idea behind it. Sam Martin (Trafford Council) fed back what progress had been made since the NWSSON meeting on the 19th August 2007. 10 Scrutiny Officers from across the North West has discussed the quality benchmarking scheme and it had been agreed that the assessment areas would be:

• Ownership and Leadership by elected members
• Reflecting the public voice
• Providing a challenge
• Raising awareness (with the Council and the broader community)
• Engagement of LSP and partners
• Making an impact

The criteria for assessment was based on a point system between 1 to 4, with 1 being basic and 4 being best. Sam asked that at the end of the session, delegates discuss the 6 principles in workshops.

Following the discussion that took place in the workshops, it was agreed that the suggestions and comments would be collated and reported back to the next network meeting with a view to reaching final agreement on a Quality Benchmarking Scheme.

6. Cost Benefit Analysis as a Tool for Effective Scrutiny

Alex Villiers (Halton BC) asked what experience others had had of cost benefit analysis and how relevant it was in relation to scrutiny.

7. Next Meeting of the North West Scrutiny Support Officers Network

It was provisionally agreed that the next meeting is to be hosted by Trafford Council in February/March 2008.