Issue - meetings

(i)       to agree that the Interim Chief Officer – Governance, would submit initial proposals to the Governance Reference Group on (1) how to better address the scrutiny remit of the committee; and (2) revisions to the MORP and Powers Delegated to officers as described in the report in order to ensure that proposals were included in the Scheme of Governance review to be submitted to Council in July;

(ii)      to agree that training on the Best Value framework be provided to members; and

(iii)      to otherwise note the content of the report and the attached Best Value Thematic Review on leadership of the development of new local strategic priorities.

The Committee had before it a report by the External Auditor which presented the Best Value Thematic Review on leadership of the development of new local strategic priorities.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee review, discuss and comment on the issues raised within the report and the attached appendix.

In response to a question relating to improvements to cross party working and what could be done to evidence these, the External Audit Director advised that he would look at good practice observed at other local authorities and share these with members.  The Senior Audit Manager advised that the scrutiny remit and terms of reference for this committee and the Powers Delegated to Officers merited review and that this provided good opportunities for collaborative cross-party working to develop improved governance structures.

In response to comments relating to councillors’ right to access information and the recent briefing note from the Standards Commission, the Senior Audit Manager advised that whilst councillors may wish to see all information, they were entitled to information on a need to know basis and that this was reflected in the current Member Officer Relations Protocol (MORP).  It was noted that at the recent Governance Reference Group (GRG) meeting, Officers had agreed to look at the MORP and make suggested amendments to a future meeting of the GRG.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to agree that the Interim Chief Officer – Governance, would submit initial proposals to the Governance Reference Group on (1) how to better address the scrutiny remit of the committee; and (2) revisions to the MORP and Powers Delegated to officers as described in the report in order to ensure that proposals were included in the Scheme of Governance review to be submitted to Council in July;

(ii)      to agree that training on the Best Value framework be provided to members; and

(iii)      to otherwise note the content of the report and the attached Best Value Thematic Review on leadership of the development of new local strategic priorities.