Public reports pack Wednesday 22-Jul-2015 19.00 Council

Page 563. MembershipThe Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) comprises nine councillors plus four educationco-opted members (who may vote only on education issues). OSC has a chair and threevice-chairs. Each vice-chair leads on a particular outcome theme (which reflect the Cabinetportfolio teams), with the chair providing strategic direction and leading on any other areasnot included within the vice-chair remit:Cllr Ed Davie - ChairCllr Jacqui Dyer – Vice Chair (Community Wellbeing)Cllr Nigel Haselden – Vice Chair (Neighbourhoods, Environment and Sustainability)Cllr Matt Parr – Vice Chair (Housing, Jobs and Investment)The chair and the three vice chairs plus the minority group appointed member, Cllr TimBriggs, comprised the five standing members of the committee in 2014/15. Four majoritygroup members drawn from the pool of non-executive members of the council wereappointed for each scheduled OSC and according to the meeting theme. In varying themembership meeting-to-meeting councillors with specific areas of interest or expertise wereable to bring their knowledge to OSC’s deliberations subject to the topic issue under review.4. Work planningFollowing the election in May 2014, a key activity was to ensure induction and briefings forcouncillors elected onto the council, a significant number new for the first time but also toensure that returning councillors also understood the revised arrangements for scrutiny andhow all might participate and contribute. An informal session was held in June to provide ageneral introduction to scrutiny which considered the purpose of scrutiny, roles, aims andobjectives. As well as being open to all members of the council, also invited to the sessionwere key council partners and community and voluntary sector representatives who haveplayed an active role in the scrutiny process. A workshop session divided participants intothe three outcome areas – community wellbeing; housing, jobs and investments;neighbourhoods, environment & sustainability – for discussions and shared learning on whatwere perceived to be the key issues facing the council, its partnerships and the borough andsuggestions for the topics that scrutiny might want to consider over the forthcoming year tohelp shape the focus of the themed OSCs.The chair and vice chairs met regularly throughout the year to steer scrutiny and establishedthe following principles for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the commissions itsponsors:- Be independent from the administration and stakeholders;- Be as accessible and inclusive of everyone in the borough;- Enable decisions to be challenged constructively;- Strive for better services that produce the best outcomes;- Base its decisions and recommendations on the best evidence available;- Follow up its recommendations.The changing OSC membership and the themed approach presented challenges on howbest to secure the engagement of different members on a meeting-by-meeting basis and4