North West Scrutiny Officer Network Meeting

Kendal Town Hall - 21st October 2004

Frances Taylor, Head of Scrutiny, Cumbria County Council in the chair

Present:

• Bob Fletcher - Blackpool BC
• Steve Sienkiewicz - Blackpool BC
• Alison Davies - Tameside MBC
• Howard Boots - Tameside MBC
• Sarah Challoner - Tameside MBC
• Karen Couldridge - South Lakeland BC
• John Penfold - Barrow BC
• Steven Dugdale - Preston City Council
• John Addison - Bolton MBC
• Sarah Palmer - Wyre BC
• Karen Dainty - Salford City Council
• Mark Nedderman - Congleton BC
• Helen Burt - Congleton BC
• David Shaw - Warrington BC
• Yvonne Leathley - Warrington BC
• Eric Dickinson - Burnley BC
• Kath Haydock - Pendle BC
• Jacky Denning - West Lancashire BC
• Su Money - Allerdale BC
• Sheila Brown - Allerdale BC
• Paul Conlon - Blackburn with Darwen BC
• Steve Willoughby - Sefton BC
• Katy Spencer - Bolton MBC
• Katy Master - Stockport MBC
• Andrew Burridge - Stockport MBC

Apologies:

• Jane Murray - Copeland BC
• Peter Jones - Rochdale MBC
• Chris McConville - Rossendale BC
• Karen Fairclough - Wigan MBC
• Helen Gale - High Peak BC
• Chris Walsh - Liverpool MBC
• Robin Roberts - Cheshire CC
• John Mallinson - Carlisle BC
• Alan Darnell - Bury MBC
• Graham Canning - Knowlsey MBC
• Elaine Fisher - Trafford MBC
• Sulafa Halstead - Lancashire CC
• Sue Collier - Oldham MBC

1. Welcome and Introductions

Frances welcomed everyone to Cumbria and explained that she had been invited to chair the meeting. Everyone introduced themselves.

Howard reiterated the primary purposes of the North West Scrutiny Officer Network, which are to:

• share information and best practice;
• learn from each other and the variety of approaches to scrutiny across the North West;
• invite contributors who would be less likely with busy diaries to visit individual Las, to share their knowledge;
• maximise opportunities for joint working and activity.

2. Matters Arising

No comments on or corrections to Minutes of last meeting.

3. Reports from Working Groups

(a) Website Development

Vic Hewitt, NWEO, has agreed that the Network can have space on the NWEO website.

Suggested and agreed that the wording on the website be expanded considerably to include:

• information about and links to the NWSON member authorities;
• benchmarking information;
• database of reviews;
• bulletin board for NWSSON news - meetings/papers etc.

Issues that need to be considered in the development of the site are:

• who is the target audience of the site?
• avoid duplication with the CfPS site
• who is going to administer the site and changes to its content?

Note that Chris Walsh has also sent a paper through to Katy Master with some website suggestions (attached to email), but due to her late arrival this was not discussed.

Action

Howard to talk to Sue Collier who leads the working group to give feedback.

Further comments on website to Sue Collier.

(b) Benchmarking

Comments made:

• understanding cost and effectiveness in light of Gershon Report is important- there may be implications for overview and scrutiny;
• the qualitative aspects of overview and scrutiny are also relevant to any benchmarking exercise;
• the CfPS has been working with Warwick University and some local authorities on developing meaningful PIs for overview and scrutiny.
• the work they have done suggests that "added value" is the critical issue in terms of scrutiny outcomes, and that this only becomes apparent by reviewing the outcomes of scrutiny reviews;
• demonstrating added value is key to justifying the scrutiny function;
• there is a recognised distinction between the achievements/performance of a local authority's overview and scrutiny support team, and the achievements/performance of the overview and scrutiny function and councillors, over which officers have limited control;
• customers of overview and scrutiny include not just councillors, but the wider community, service departments and partner organisations;
• Cumbria CC has developed a range of scrutiny related performance measures, which include measures of councillors' performance (attendance at meetings etc)

Action

All members of the NWSSON please respond to recent email from Blackpool, to complete "Data Form A" Email to steve.sienkiewicz@blackpool.gov.uk

4. Speaker: Frances Taylor

"From Academic to Practitioner"

Frances gave an honest and personal overview on her experiences of moving from academia to local government scrutiny. The key learning point is that politics and people can get in the way of theory, and adjustments in thinking have to be made. It was agreed that many of her experiences are familiar to scrutiny officers across the North West.

5. Discussion: "Developing Relationships with Service-Based Colleagues"

Participants split into four groups to discuss the following questions:

• What are the typical behaviours that service-based colleagues display when they come into contact with scrutiny?
• What difficulties have you experienced in working with and obtaining information from service-based colleagues?
• What positive experiences have you had?
• Are there any specific mechanisms/protocols/practices that have evolved around the scrutiny officer/service-based officer relationship?
• What good practice can you recommend for developing good relationships?

The results have been written up as a good practice note for separate distribution amongst network members and the Centre for Public Scrutiny.

6. Date, Venue and Agenda for Next Meeting

Agreed to do a full day, to make it worthwhile. Agreed that format of meeting was successful and to repeat it.

Thursday, 20th January - 10am - 4pm, Southport Town Hall

Agenda items:

• Vic Hewitt from North West Employers on learning and development
• Audit Commission on CPA and Scrutiny
• Scrutiny as Performance Monitor