Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Curley and Williamson.

The Minutes of the informal meeting held on 15^th June 2021 are attached for consideration.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the previous informal meeting held on 15^th June 2021 be approved as a correct record subject to Councillors K Phythian and Surjan being included on the attendance list.

Urgent business, if any, introduced by the Chair.

There were no public questions received.

A report to update the Committee on the Covid-19 Recovery Strategy.

The Committee considered a supplementary report advising on a proposed Scrutiny implementation process of the Covid Recovery Plan.

The Committee was reminded that at the informal meeting of the Committee that had taken place on 15^th June 2021, the Committee had received a report seeking comments on the draft Recovery Plan 2021-2022, prior to the Plan being submitted to the Cabinet and then Full Council for approval and formal ratification.  The Committee had been informed that the Council’s annual business planning process would be the mechanism to assure delivery against the Recovery Plan actions and that quarterly reporting via the Corporate Performance Report would provide progress updates again identified actions and measures.

The Committee had considered potential ways in which progress could be monitored by Overview and Scrutiny and resolved that the Chair and Vice-Chair meet with Officers to discuss the issue prior to the next meeting.

The Committee was advised that the meeting had taken place on 19^th July 2021 and following consideration of the terms of reference of both the Policy and Performance Committees, it had been determined appropriate for the Performance Committee to consider quarterly updates as part of its role “to monitor and hold to account the performance of service delivery within Oldham Council… with particular reference to the Corporate Plan and all other strategic plans.”  It had been determined that any matters felt relevant to consider as part of the Policy Committee’s terms of reference which were attached to the report at Appendix 1, could be referred to the Chair/Vice Chair of the Policy Committee via the Chair/Vice Chair of the Performance Committee, minutes of its meetings and/or the Head of Strategy and Performance.

A discussion took place around the issue in which it was suggested that the minutes of each Scrutiny Committee should be shared amongst all of the Scrutiny Committees.  It was also highlighted that any issue/item to be scrutinized must fall within the remit of the terms of reference of the Committee (Appendix 1).

RESOLVED –

1.    That quarter performance reports in respect of delivery against the Recovery Plan be presented to the Performance Committee in line with its terms of reference; and

2.    That, in fitting with its terms of reference, any matter appropriate for the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider, via scrutiny of the quarterly performance report, be directed to it by the Chair/Vice Chair of the Performance Committee, through minutes of its meetings and/or the Head of Strategy and Performance.

A report to present the outturn Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

The Committee considered a report to present the outturn Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

The Committee was reminded that each Overview and Scrutiny Committee (procedure rule 4.1) was required to prepare and maintain a Committee Work Programme and further required to collectively arrange for an Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report to be submitted to the Full Council for consideration.  A report was to be presented to a meeting of the Full Council to be held on 8^th September 2021.

Attached to the report were:

Appendix 1 – Overview and Scrutiny Board Outturn Work Programme 202/21

Appendix 2 – Overview and Scrutiny Performance and Value for Money 
                      Select Committee Outturn Work Programme 2020/21

Appendix 3 – Health Scrutiny Committee Outturn Work Programme 2020/21

Submission of the outturn work programmes would bring a formal conclusion to the 2020/21 overview and scrutiny programme and complement the Annual Report submission to Council.

The Committee was advised that the three outturn reports were being submitted to the three current Committees due to the transfer of responsibilities that had occurred on implementation of the new overview and scrutiny arrangements in May 2021.

The Committee was further advised that some items on the programme were outstanding and that some Council motions were still ongoing and that these issues would be addressed.  Examples of this were highlighted as follows:

Place Base Integration – Update on Progress

Youth Offer – An update on the Council’s Youth Offer

The Committee was advised that difficulties due to the Covid lockdown had contributed to the outstanding issues and were still to be addressed.  Youth Council was currently in recess and would reconvene in September 2021 at the earliest.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee notes the Overview and Scrutiny Board Outturn Work Programme 2020/21, Overview and Scrutiny Performance and Value for Money Select Committee Outturn Work Programme 2020/21 and the Health Scrutiny Committee Outturn Work Programme 2020/21; and

2.    That the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee reserve the right to convene Joint meetings of the Scrutiny Committee when required; and

3.    Requests that a Budget Training Workshop be scheduled for the Committee.

4.    That an update be sought with regard to the outstanding Youth Offer as detailed on page 18 at Appendix 1; and

5.    That an update be sought with regard to Place Based Integration.

The Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee is requested to note and comment on the attached Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2021/22.

A report was considered which was presented to enable Members to review the Committee’s Work Programme 2021/22.

The Committee was reminded that Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 4.1 required the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to prepare and maintain a Committee Work Programme.  The programme, which was attached to the report at Appendix 1, presented the issues the Committee would be considering and scrutinising during the 2021/22 Municipal Year as it worked within the agreed terms of reference which were outlined within the report.

A discussion took place around the work programme in which it was suggested that a report/update be requested by the Committee from Greater Manchester Police Authority reporting on the operational success and outlining the following:

·         Number of unrecorded crimes

·         Number of crimes reported and investigated

·         Crimes allocated a reference number but without follow up

·         Breakdown of crime figures within wards

It was also highlighted that there was no reference to Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and queried if this may be within Safeguarding or where it may sit under the new responsibilities/Committee structure.

RESOLVED –

That the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2021/2022; and

That the Committee request a report from the Greater Manchester Policy Authority in relation to the issues as highlighted above; and

That clarification be sought in relation to MASH.