Issue - meetings

The outgoing Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented her Committee’s Annual Report to Full Council. 

The report summarised the visits from outside agencies the Committee had received, such as Lincolnshire Police, and also highlighted internal review work that had been undertaken.

The outgoing Chairman of the Committee expressed her deepest appreciation for the support given by Officers of the Council during her three years as Vice Chairman and the final year as Chairman.  She also took the opportunity to thank representatives of outside agencies who visited the Committee to provide valuable information about the work they undertook to support the Council in the delivery of public services.

Finally, thanks were expressed to her outgoing Vice-Chairman and other Committee Members for their support, and to those who came along as visiting members to hear presentations and put questions to fellow Councillors, Council Officers and Guest Speakers.

Having been proposed and seconded it was: -

RESOLVED that the Annual Report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be received and noted.

The Chairman introduced her Annual Report, to be presented to Annual Council in May following the elections. She thanked all present for their commitment and involvement with the Committee, thanked Officers for their assistance and advice, and repeated her comments contained within the report that she considered it a privilege to have been able to Chair the Committee for the past year. The Chairman explained that the report was to be taken as read, unless there any comments arising from Members.

With regard to the Operating Methodology, a Member of the Committee enquired as to the reduction in ‘pre-scrutiny’ items from four per civic year, to two. It was explained this had been an amendment passed at the start of the civic year, and the rationale was clarified. It was noted that any subsequent amendments could be included for consideration in the Annual Constitution Review, due to be heard both by the Governance and Audit Committee and presented to Annual Council, although the Operating Methodology would be presented to the first meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in July 2023, to be approved at that point.

The Vice Chairman echoed the thanks of the Chairman, stating he had found the meetings to be not only enjoyable, but demonstrative of effecting change, as detailed within the Annual Report. He extended his thanks, not only to the Members of the Committee and the Officers involved, but also to the Chair herself, for her hard work, dedication and success of the Committee.

The recommendations contained with the report were proposed, seconded and voted upon, and with unanimous vote it was

            RESOLVED that

a)    consideration had been given to the content of the draft annual report, and the Operating Methodology, with comments for the latter to be shared through the Constitution Review; and

b)    the submission of the annual report to Annual Council be supported; and

c)    any comments made through the course of debate be further considered by the Director – Change Management, ICT & Regulatory Services and Chairman of the Committee prior to the finalised report being submitted to Annual Council in May 2023.