Issue - meetings

To summarise the key findings and recommendations from the LGA Peer Challenge that the Council Participated in during October 2018.  The report focuses on feedback provided by the Peer Team on the work of OSCOM.

Consideration was given to a report by the Leader which summarised the key findings and recommendations from the LGA Peer Challenge that the Council participated in during October 2018.

In respect of the scrutiny function the Feedback Report highlighted the strengths of the Council’s Scrutiny arrangements and the good working relationships between members. The peer team made specific reference to the effective way in which the Overview and Scrutiny Committee developed its work programme through an annual away day and by focusing on key priority issues for the area. In particular, issues such as economic development and affordable housing were notable examples.

The Feedback report also noted that the Overview and Scrutiny task and finish groups “undertook work with purpose” and drew on recent examples such as the work of the Communications and Procurement Panel and the Public Involvement Panel. There was also recognition of the proactive and beneficial work Overview and Scrutiny was undertaking with Cabinet to consider key issues on the Cabinet’s forward plan such as the Corporate Plan and budget at an earlier stage. 

The Peer challenge feedback report highlighted a number of strengths in the Council’s scrutiny arrangements and made specific reference to the good relationships between members.

The Leader was delighted with the findings of the review and praised the collaborative work being undertaken across all Parties.  He explained that in response to the recommendations identified by the Peer Team an action plan had been developed which would enable the Council to demonstrate how it would practically take forward the improvement areas identified by the Peer Team and provide a basis on which to measure progress.

The Chairman thanked the Leader for attending the meeting and for the positive comments.

Resolved:

1.  That OSCOM welcomes the positive comments from the LGA Peer Challenge Team’s findings, as set out in the Feedback Report at Annex 1 to the report.

2.  That OSCOM considers through its Annual Away Day how it can continue to build upon the good practice highlighted by the Peer Challenge.