Agenda item

·       Committee Work Plan

·       Progress of Panels/Working Groups

·       Feedback from Councillor Survey

The Chair reported the Annual Work Programme Review 2013/14 in order to help the Committee to take stock of the work completed this year and to reflect on progress.  A full summary of the work undertaken was provided, including details of the work of the Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. 

It was added that the key achievements from the scrutiny work carried out over the past year will be featured in the Scrutiny Annual Report which will be published during the next Municipal year.

It was noted that the Education Inclusion Inquiry was being suspended pending outcome of a departmental review into the Education Other Than at School (EOTAS) service.

The Chair stated that he will write to the Leader to request that Scrutiny Dispatches is removed as a ‘for information only’ item and included as an item for discussion in order to allow time at council for any questions to the Chair. 

The Chair referred to the self-evaluation workshop held earlier in the year and suggested improvements for the coming year in relation to:

·         scrutiny work programme

·         preparing for meetings

·         outcomes from scrutiny (this was highlighted as the priority for the coming year)

·         following up on scrutiny recommendations

·         pubic engagement

In addition comments were made about:

·         scheduling of meetings

·         access to research / background information

It was added that there was an error in the draft Council Diary 2014-2015 whereby Scrutiny Programme Committee was listed as commencing at 5pm.  This will be amended to 4.30pm at Council.

The Chair expressed thanks to all those councillors who have acted as conveners over the past year and to the work of the various Panels and Working Groups. He also thanked the scrutiny team for the support provided.

The Chair announced that the next meeting (subject to agreement of the council diary) was scheduled for 9 June. Ahead of that he informed the committee that the Scrutiny Work Planning Conference would be taking place on 12 May (for all scrutiny councillors) to gather ideas and prioritise topics for scrutiny.