Issue - meetings

To agree the Membership and Terms of Reference for Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the four Scrutiny Panels.

The Committee noted that, due to the need for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (OSC) to focus more closely on finance issues in 2025/26, some areas of its previous remit would be allocated to the Panel previously known as the Climate, Community Safety and Environment Scrutiny Panel. The details of new draft remits were set out in the report. It was proposed that the name of the Panel be changed to the Culture, Community Safety and Environment Scrutiny Panel in order to more accurately reflect its new remit.

The Committee was informed that, due to a transposition error, the wording of paragraph 9.2 of the OSC protocol was not correct and should be replaced by the following wording:  

“A lead Committee member from the largest opposition group shall be responsible for chairing the Budget Scrutiny process and co-ordinating recommendations made by respective Scrutiny Panels and the Committee relating to the budget.”

The Committee was informed that Cllr Connor, as Chair of the Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel had expressed concerns about the wording of the remit for that Panel as it did not specifically state that it had responsibility for NHS-related health issues. The Scrutiny Officer stated that the wording was drawn exactly from the Cabinet portfolio for the Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing and that all Scrutiny Panel remits were drawn from the Cabinet portfolios which they shadowed. However, it was noted that both the Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing and the Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel both engaged with health issues and local NHS Trusts on a regular basis. The Scrutiny Officer also reminded the Committee that paragraph 1.3 (ii) of Part Four, Section G of the constitution states that:

“Scrutiny Review Panels will analyse submissions, request and analyse any additional information, and question the Cabinet Member(s), relevant Council officers, local stakeholders, and where relevant officers and/or board members of local NHS bodies or NHS funded bodies.”

On this basis, the Scrutiny Panels had the authority to scrutinise local NHS services, irrespective of the specific wording of the Panel remits.

The Committee concluded that the remit for the Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel should be amended to clarify its role on health issues but, as Cllr Connor was not present at the meeting, it was agreed that the specific wording should be delegated to the Democratic Services & Scrutiny Manager so that she could consult with Cllr Connor on this.

The Committee noted that each of the five Boroughs in North Central London (NCL) were entitled to appoint two Councillors each to the NCL Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee. It was proposed and agreed that Cllr Matt White and Cllr Pippa Connor be appointed to this Committee as representatives of Haringey Borough for 2025/26.

RESOLVED – That the Committee:

a) Established the following Scrutiny Panels for 2024/25:

·         Adults and Health;

·         Children and Young People;

·         Culture, Community Safety and Environment; and

·         Housing, Planning and Development.

b) Approved the remits and membership for each Scrutiny Panel for 2025/26 as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8