Agenda item

To align itself with the Council’s changing approach to procurement and commissioning and to ensure the most appropriate use of resources, the Liaison Board at its meeting held in February resolved that future scrutiny should be dealt with by way of a dedicated Task Group to replace the four current Major Contracts Task Groups.

The new Task Group would scrutinise the delivery of the overall procurement and commissioning programme on a quarterly basis with specific reporting on the performance of major contracts continued by exception.

To retain the knowledge gained by the individual Major Contracts Task Groups the Committee was requested to appoint one member with experience to become part of the new Task Group.   Membership would include Cllr Nigel Carter and Cllr Tony Deane, together with representatives from the other Select Committees.

Ensuing discussion included from some members that there remained value for retaining the separate task groups and that the proposed disbandment was contrary to what had initially been agreed last year.  The Chairman reminded the Committee of the rationale for the change including that procurement and commissioning was a major implementation programme of the Business Plan and that resources had been reduced in the scrutiny support team.

In relation to the extended remit of the Chief Executive following recent service realignment it was noted that Cllr John Noeken would be the respective Cabinet Member with the Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer responsible for Procurement.  It was understood that the Chief Finance Officer would be the lead in this area although further clarity would be sought following the meeting.

Members acknowledged the need for the change in scrutiny arrangements but, mindful of the reduced membership and to retain the knowledge gained, the appointed Chairman of the Task Group would also have the discretion to invite additional member attendance at meetings where required.

Following all select committee appointments to the new Task Group, scoping work would be undertaken based on the terms of reference set out in the report and, where necessary, further discussion undertaken by the individual select committees.

The Committee acknowledged the need to review the scrutiny structure to ensure it remained in tune with the recent service realignment following the release of the Business Plan.

Resolved:

1)            To note the considerations given to this issue by the Overview and Scrutiny Liaison Board;

2)            To agree to the disbandment of the Select Committee’s current Major Contracts Task Group;

3)            To approve the new Task Group arrangements for scrutinising the procurement and commissioning programme under this Select Committee;

4)            To appoint Cllr Mark Packard to join the new ‘Procurement and Commissioning Scrutiny Task Group’ in addition to Councillors Tony Deane and Nigel Carter;

5)            To note the service realignment and the Chief Executive’s new responsibilities for procurement via the Chief Finance Officer and to invite attendance at the first meeting of the new Task Group; and

6)            To review these arrangements in a year’s time or earlier at the request of the Task Group.

(N.B. Cllr Jon Hubbard and Cllr Judy Rooke requested that their votes against this resolution be recorded.)