Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2020 be agreed as a correct record.

It was confirmed that all items were marked as Part I and would be considered in public.

The report before the Committee included the full set of Policy Overview Committee comments on the Cabinet’s draft budget proposals.

Members agreed the comments before them and noted that these comments would now be submitted to Cabinet for consideration.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

1.    Considered the formal comments on the Cabinet’s budget proposals from the other two Policy Overview Committees;

2.    Agreed its own final comments on the Cabinet’s budget proposals for submission; and,

3.    Submitted a combined set of formal Policy Overview Committee comments to Cabinet for consideration.

The Democratic Services Officer introduced an update of the actions taken by officers following the Committee’s review on “Digital Broadcasting of Policy Overview, Scrutiny and Select Committees”, which was agreed by Cabinet in March 2019.

Members were informed that all four of the recommendations contained within the review had been implemented by officers. Broadcasting of the policy overview, scrutiny and select committees began on 12 June 2019 with the Social Care, Housing and Public Health Policy Overview Committee, and since then, 26 Committee meetings have been broadcast with over 13,000 views of these meetings on the Council’s YouTube channel.

The Committee heard that procedures were in place to inform witnesses for reviews and members of the public that meetings were filmed and their comments would be recorded on the broadcast, and the Democratic Services Officer noted that all policy overview, scrutiny and select committees took place in Committee Room 5 or 6 to ensure it could be broadcast.

Members asked if it was possible to provide some statistics regarding viewing figures, including how many residents watched broadcasts live and how long they watched the broadcast for. The Democratic Services Officer noted that these figures could be provided, and could be sent to the Committee in the near future.

Councillors welcomed the update and congratulated officers on their ability to implement the recommendations so quickly. Members stated that the review helped enhance democracy within the Borough by improving transparency and giving residents greater access to witnessing the democratic process in person.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the update on the actions taken with regards to the previous review regarding Digital Broadcasting of Policy Overview, Scrutiny and Select Committees.

The report presented the proposed draft final recommendations for the Committee’s review into Local Commerce, Employment, Skills and Job Creation, following discussions at the last Committee meeting on 14 January 2020.

With regards to Recommendation 4, it was noted that the changes were a move in the right direction but requested that the recommendation be linked in with what the overall direction of the local economy.

The Chairman noted that if any Councillors had any further changes to recommendations they speak to either the Labour Lead Member or Chairman to confirm their requested changes. Any alterations could be confirmed under delegated authority and would be sent to the Committee to ensure Members were aware of potential changes.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

1.    Agreed the proposed draft recommendations of the review on Local Commerce, Employment, Skills and Job Creation; and,

2.    Delegated authority to the Democratic Services Officer, in consultation with the Chairman and Labour Lead Member, to make any further changes to the recommendations that are deemed necessary.

RESOLVED: That the forward plan be noted.

The Chairman noted that, following the change in Cabinet portfolios at Cabinet in January, climate change would now be within the Committee’s remit and, as such,

RESOLVED: That the work programme be noted.