Agenda item

(including update from Director - Corporate Services on council priorities, strategic challenges, key decisions).

The report of the Chair reviewed the scrutiny work programme.

The report provided the committee with:

·       The current scrutiny work programme

·       A plan for future committee meetings

·       A progress report on the various existing Panels and Working Groups

·       Cabinet forward plan for opportunities for pre-decision scrutiny

The chair referred to the recently published CSSIW Performance Evaluation Report 2014/15. She stated that it was a very positive report about Swansea social services and it was very pleasing to read within the inspectors report praise for scrutiny, specifically the work of the Child & Family Services and Transformation of Adult Social Services Scrutiny Panels.

Amongst the positive comments noted were:

·       Clear work programmes

·       Close working with officers

·       Robust challenge provided by councillors

·       Improved information about scrutiny activities

Overall the report cited ‘effective and well managed scrutiny arrangements’ as an area of progress. The chair congratulated the two Panels and their conveners for their work and recognition.

Dean Taylor, Director – Corporate Services, had been invited to attend and gave advice on council priorities and main strategic challenges, following on from his contributions to the Scrutiny Work Planning Conference in May. His report provided information on the Corporate Plan, Sustainable Swansea programme, Medium Term Financial Plan, Whole Council Objectives, External Inspection Reports and Recommendation, and Current Directorate Priority Areas. This was intended to help the committee reflect on the work programme and the alignment of major activities with corporate priorities to ensure scrutiny can contribute to the big issues facing the council.

It was confirmed to the committee that a number of topics have been identified for potential inquiries, and these, including the issue of Sustainability – Food Security, will be looked at in order of agreed priority.

RESOLVED that:

1.    the committee work plan be accepted; and

2.  a request for pre-decision scrutiny be made in respect of the proposed cabinet report on ‘City Centre Development Sites – Selection of Preferred Developer(s)’, scheduled for 17 December Cabinet meeting.