Agenda item

To receive updates from the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Select Committees in respect of the topics under scrutiny in their areas, including any recommendations for endorsement by the Management Committee.

A report outlining a proposal from Children’s Select Committee’s Traded Services Rapid Scrutiny Exercise will also follow.

The Forward Work Programmes for the Select Committees and updates on previous work was received. Additional updates were received as follows:

Children’s Select Committee

Cllr Jon Hubbard Chairman of the Select Committee informed Members of recent activity, including the provision of SEND in schools. There had not been complete agreement between the Local Authority and the schools involved but the Committee had agreed to recommend to the Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee that a task and finish group be formed to consider the future provision of education for SEND children and young people, specifically working with Officers, Schools and Parents to identify and consider the challenges outlined in the Wood Report and other associated documents. In order to proceed with this task and finish group without delay, permission to start had been sought and obtained from the Chairman of this Committee and approval was now being sought retrospectively.

The Committee also received a report by Cllr Anna Cuthbert, Chairman of the Rapid Scrutiny – Traded Services for Schools in which she set out their findings.

Environment Select Committee

Cllr Matthew Dean, Chairman of the Select Committee, gave an update of work undertaken so far by that Committee. In particular he drew attention to the Resident Engagement Strategy for which a draft report was likely to be presented to the Select Committee in early 2018.

Cllr Dean also highlighted work which was continuing on the Municipal Waste Management Strategy and proposed changes to the Council’s Housing Allocations Policy.

Members noted that the Select Committee at its next meeting would receive a report on the joint working between the Council and train operating companies to consider the transport outcomes for Wiltshire residents and to assess the economic benefits of Wiltshire train stations.  

Health Select Committee

Cllr Gordon King, Vice-Chairman of the Select Committee provided an update on the work of the Select Committee. He highlighted the impact of the Adult Care Charging Policy, a further report on which was likely to be presented to the January 2018 meeting of the Select Committee.

A report on Wiltshire CCG’s commissioning intentions would be considered at the next meeting of the Select Committee. In particular, proposals would be presented about care proposals in Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge.

O & S Management Committee    

The Chairman reported that the previous week he and Cllr Graham Wright had received a briefing from the Head of the Programme Office on the Council’s key corporate programmes. It was pleasing to note that all of the most significant six programmes were already receiving some form of scrutiny engagement.

In consideration of the Council’s new Business Plan, at the meeting of this Committee on 21 June 2017, mention was made of the Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy, it being noted that the Leader had expressed a wish that the Policy be revised in order that the process of transferring assets could become faster and more cost effective.  The Committee had resolved that the new Policy be scrutinised before being presented to Cabinet, which had now been scheduled for 7 November 2017.     

It was also noted that the Management Committee would receive an update on the Council’s Highspeed Broadband Programme at its next meeting in November.

After some discussion,

Resolved:

1.    To note the Overview and Scrutiny forward work programme and the updates on recent Overview and Scrutiny activity provided.

2.    To endorse the establishment of the S.E.N.D. Provision in Schools Task Group by Children’s Select Committee.

3.    To endorse in principle the establishment and commencement of a task group looking at Traded Services for Schools to complete its work within 9 months, noting that the task group’s establishment will also be considered by Children’s Select Committee at its next meeting on 31 October.

4.    To agree that the Chairman of Health Select Committee will sit on the Adult Social Care Transformation Programme Board as the Overview and Scrutiny councillor representative.

5.    To establish a rapid scrutiny exercise to consider the revised “Asset and Service Devolution and Community Asset Transfer Policy” prior to its approval by Cabinet in November.

6.    To congratulate Alistair Cunningham and Terence Herbert on their appointment as Corporate Directors and to thank Carolyn Godfrey for all her work during her tenure since the formation of Wiltshire Council in 2009.