Issue - meetings

Cllr White reported that revised versions of the Scrutiny Protocol and the Scrutiny Panel remits had been tabled as an item of urgent business.

Dominic O’Brien, Scrutiny Officer, explained that two significant changes were proposed to the Scrutiny Protocol. The first change was to paragraph 9.2 which clarified that a Committee member from the largest opposition group was responsible for chairing the Budget Scrutiny process. The second change was to add a new section (Section 10) to set out the formal role of Overview & Scrutiny in the scrutiny of local health services as specified in national legislation and guidance. In addition, the Scrutiny Panel remits had been revised through the addition of two new bullet points to the remit for the Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel to clarify its role in the scrutiny of health services.

Cllr Gunes queried whether the scrutiny of health services had previously been part of the remit of the Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel or whether the scope of the remit was being widened through the amendment. Dominic O’Brien explained that the Panel had always had a focus on health services but that the remit did not reflect this as it tended to be based on the Cabinet Member’s portfolio. The amendment was therefore intended as a clarification rather than a significant change to the remit. Cllr White added that the changes would also help to ensure continuity of the scrutiny function in the future by setting out clearly in writing the health scrutiny role as currently performed.

The Committee approved the recommendations as summarised in the report.

RESOLVED – That the revised Scrutiny Protocol document be approved by the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the revised Scrutiny Remits and Membership 2025/26 document be approved by the Committee.