Agenda item - Democratic Arrangements - Overview and Scrutiny Panels

To consider a revised structure for the overview and scrutiny panels, to align them with the new portfolios.

RECOMMENDED:

(a) That an additional overview and scrutiny panel be introduced;

(b) That the panels be named as set out below; and that they have particular responsibility for the overview and scrutiny of the service areas attaching to the Portfolios shown:

O&S Panel	Portfolio	Service responsibilities
Corporate	Leader (Cllr Barry Rickman)	Political Structures
		Employee Engagement
		Corporate Plan
		Staff Matters
		Organisational strategy
		Town & Parish matters
		Emergency Planning

	Finance, Corporate Services & Improvement (Cllr Jeremy Heron)	Medium Term Financial Plan
		Financial Services
		Business Rates & Council Tax
		Housing Benefits
		ICT
		Legal Services
		Democratic Services
		Human Resources
		Performance & risk management

	Local Economic Development, Business & Innovation (Cllr Michael Harris)	Economic Development Strategy
		Business Engagement & Growth
		New Forest Business Partnership
		Local Enterprise Partnerships
		Asset Management/Property Matters
		Smarter Working
		Collaboration & Innovation

Community & Leisure	Community Affairs (Cllr Diane Andrews)	Community Engagement
		Community Grants & Support
		Customer Services
		Elections & Electoral Registration
		Community Safety Partnership (Safer New Forest)
		CCTV
		Careline
		Communications

Community & Leisure (Cont)	Leisure & Wellbeing (Cllr James Binns)	Health & Leisure Centres
		Local Leisure, Arts & Heritage
		Health & Wellbeing Board
		Older Persons’ Affairs
		Children & Youth Affairs

Housing	Housing Services (Cllr Jill Cleary)	Housing Strategy (Local Housing Need)
		Council House Estate Management and Rent Accounting
		Council Housing Maintenance
		Homelessness

Environment & Infrastructure	Environment & Regulatory Affairs (Cllr Alison Hoare)	Refuse Collection & Recycling
		Street Cleaning
		Abandoned Vehicles
		Environmental Health Services
		Coastal Protection & Drainage Issues
		Grounds Maintenance Services
		Cemeteries
		Public Toilets
		Sustainability
		Improvement Grants & Private Sector Housing

	Planning & Infrastructure (Cllr Edward Heron)	Local Plan
		Development Control
		Building Control
		Listed Buildings & Conservation
		Open Space Infrastructure
		Car Parking & Traffic Management Matters

(c) That each Panel continues to comprise 10 members;

(d) That the political proportionality be as set out in paragraph 4 of Report Item 4 to the Cabinet;

(e) That each Panel meets four times per year, in January, March, June and September, with

· an additional annual meeting to appoint the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Panel, and

· special meetings as may be deemed necessary by the Chairman of that Panel.

RESOLVED:

That each Overview and Scrutiny Panel be recommended to meet on the following dates and times during 2018/19:

Panel	Day of meeting	Recommended dates	Start time
Corporate O&S Panel	Thursday	28 June 2018 27 September 2018 24 January 2019 28 March 2019	9.30 a.m.
Community & Leisure O&S Panel	Tuesday	19 June 2018 18 September 2018 15 January 2019 19 March 2019	6.00 p.m.
Environment O&S Panel	Thursday	14 June 2018 13 September 2018 10 January 2019 14 March 2019	2.00 p.m.
Housing O&S Panel	Wednesday	20 June 2018 19 September 2018 16 January 2019 20 March 2019	6.00 p.m.

The Cabinet considered revisions to the structure and terms of reference of the overview and scrutiny panels to align them with the new portfolio structure and also ensure that each portfolio holder was only scrutinised by a single panel. In addition, as a result of new legislation, there would be a significant increase in workload on housing and homelessness and a new panel was proposed that was dedicated to that function. It was proposed that this panel would meet in the evening to give further opportunities for participation to those Members that found it difficult to attend daytime meetings.

It was also proposed that each Panel would, in future, meet 4 times a year, plus the annual meeting; instead of 5 times per annum as present.