Issue - meetings

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

In doing so, he spoke of how the Committee had worked well together over the past year and how he looked forward to continuing successes in the new Civic Year.

The Committee had received presentations from several outside agencies, including the return of Everyone Active, Inspector Head from Lincolnshire Police and a very informative session from Rachel Stamp of Lincolnshire County Council regarding the continued success of the purple lidded bins.

The Committee had again been involved in the review of the Progress and Delivery measure set and there had been the continuation of the Performance Improvement Plans, which were implemented under the guidance of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee back in 2022.

The Chairman took the opportunity to highlight to wider Members, the excellent scrutiny training the Committee and any interested Members had received from Bethan Evans (Governance Training and Consultancy Ltd). The Committee had found the session invaluable. Also supporting the Committee in its role had been the introduction of a handbook developed by Officers. This had proven of great value as a training aid, and a copy was appended to the report for information.

Finally, the Chairman of the Committee extended his thanks to everyone involved in the Committee, both Members and Officers, as well as those the Committee had welcomed to present from outside of the Council.

He concluded his introduction by moving the recommendation, which was duly seconded.

Reference the Committee’s Operating Methodology, Opposition Members sought to understand why the number of pre-scrutiny items had been limited to four and were advised that this allowed the work plan to be managed to a degree. It had historically been two and in recent years increased to four. No changes to the number in year. Members of the Committee reviewed the Methodology annually and were at liberty to re-visit that number. In further responding the Chief Executive also highlighted to Members that as a full committee system, there was no statutory requirement for West Lindsey District Council to have a scrutiny committee, with scrutiny being undertaken at every meeting, given the politically balanced make-up of all decision-making bodies across the Council, unlike those operating in Cabinet and Executive Models.

On being put to the vote it was: -

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