Issue - meetings

Leader of the Council.

RECOMMENDED to Council:

1.    That the proposed Work Programme for 2021/22 as set out at Annex 1 to the report and detailed in the report, with the addition of the Leisure Strategy and ICT Strategy following their inclusion at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 18 March 2021, be approved.

RESOLVED:

2.    That the wording on the proposed scrutiny of ICT Strategy be agreed by the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Brunt, invited the Vice-Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Walsh, to introduce the Committee’s proposed Work Programme for 2021/22.

Councillor Walsh explained that the Committee had reviewed the Work Programme and had resolved:

·         That the planned Scrutiny Panels would include a Budget Scrutiny Panel in December 2021 and a Commercial Strategy Scrutiny Panel. The Local Plan Scrutiny Panel would be constituted if required.

·         That two Member requests for be included on the work programme.

i) Representatives from Raven Housing Trust would be invited to attend a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and ii) any forthcoming Leisure Strategy for the Council would be scrutinised by the Committee.

Councillor Walsh explained that Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 18 March had additionally asked to scrutinise the ICT Strategy in response to changing working practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee wanted to understand what future hybrid ICT working arrangements would mean for officers and Members, what improvements would be made to benefit residents, the resilience of the Council's ICT systems and the costs, challenges and risks associated with remote working.

Councillor Brunt proposed an additional recommendation that the wording on Work Programme in relation to the proposed scrutiny of ICT Strategy would be agreed by the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny.

RECOMMENDED to Council:

1.    That the proposed Work Programme for 2021/22 as set out in the report and summarised in Annex 1, with the addition of reviews of the Leisure Strategy and a review of future hybrid working arrangements for Officers and Members and future IT provision, following their inclusion on the work programme at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 18 March 2021, be approved.

RESOLVED:

2.    That the wording of the proposed review of future hybrid working arrangements for Officers and Members and future IT provision on the Work Programme would be agreed by the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure rule 5.7.1.

To consider and approve the proposed Work Programme for the Committee for the coming year 2021/22 for consultation with Executive on 25 March and approval by Full Council on 8 April 2021.

Members reviewed the Committee’s proposed Work Programme for the coming year (2021/22). Annex 1 set out the Committee’s work, proposed Scrutiny Panels and Member suggestions.

Planned Scrutiny Panels included the Budget Scrutiny Panel in December 2021 and a Commercial Strategy Scrutiny Panel. The Local Plan Scrutiny Panel would be constituted if required.

The Committee supported two Member requests for inclusion on the work programme that a) representatives from Raven Housing Trust be invited to attend a future Committee meeting and b) any forthcoming Leisure Strategy for the Council following the pandemic, be scrutinised by the Committee.

Members asked to scrutinise the ICT strategy in response to the last 12 months and changing working practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The response to coronavirus had led to an increased number of staff required to work from home. Members attended virtual meetings, including formal Committee meetings and the Committee wanted to understand what any future ‘hybrid’ ICT working arrangements would mean for staff working and responding to residents, the improvements to be made for the benefit of residents, the resilience of the Council’s ICT systems and the costs/challenges and risks associated with continued remote working.

RESOLVED:

(i)             To approve the proposed Work Programme for 2021/22 as set out in the report and in Annex 1; and included two Member suggestions relating to Raven Housing Trust, and any forthcoming Leisure Strategy.

(ii)            To review the ICT strategy, consequent to the increase in remote working due to COVID-19, and any preparations for a ‘hybrid’ working model, including improvements for the benefit of residents, and the costs/challenges and risks with continued remote working.