Venue: King Edmund Chamber, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich. View directions
No. | Item | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS Minutes: 55.1 There were no declarations made by Members.
|
|||||||||
JOS/20/20 TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 22 MARCH 2021 PDF 304 KB Minutes: It was RESOLVED:-
That the minutes of the meeting held on the 22 March 2021 be confirmed and signed as a true record of the meeting.
|
|||||||||
TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF PETITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL'S PETITION SCHEME Minutes: 57.1 None received.
|
|||||||||
QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC To consider questions from and provide answers to members of the public on any matter in relation to which the Committee has powers or duties and of which due notice has been given in accordance with the Committee and Sub-Committee Procedures Rules. Minutes: 58.1 None received.
|
|||||||||
QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS To consider questions from and provide answers to Councillors on any matter in relation to which the Committee has powers or duties and of which due notice has been given in accordance with the Committee and Sub-Committee Procedure Rules. Minutes: 59.1 None received.
|
|||||||||
JOS/20/21 REVIEW OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 2020/21 PDF 95 KB Members are asked to review the work undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees throughout 2020/21 assisted by the suggested questions and the Chairs’ Annual Reports to Council.
Assistant Director – Law and Governance
Additional documents:
Minutes: 60.1 The Chair, Councillor McCraw introduced the item and outlined the background for the annual review of the Committee. He referred to the appendices in the Agenda and invited Members to make comments and observations on the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees 2020/21 and the Annual Reports.
60.2 Members provided the following comments on remote meetings:
· The remote meetings had worked well given the circumstances of the Covid-19 Pandemic. · Virtual meetings were missing the interaction before the meetings. · Pressures on staff had increased due to the circumstances of working from home. · Officers had provided tremendous support for Councillors before and during virtual meetings and generally during the Pandemic. · Some Members felt there was more pressure from attending remote meetings, due to technical issues. · Both Chairs felt that chairing virtual meetings was demanding. · The challenges throughout the year had been resolved to a high standard by the Officers and advice received from the Monitoring Officers had been valuable. · All Members agreed that face to face meetings provided a better setting for committee meetings. · Hybrid meetings were suggested however this was for Central Government to decide in due course. · Monday morning virtual meetings were hindered by lag on-line. · Some Members appreciated the reduction of travel time and cost of attending face to face meetings in the Councils’ premises · Some Members felt that remote meetings were more accessible for Members, Officers and members of the public wishing to attend. · The electronic voting was an advantage. · Remote meetings made it more difficult for councillors to speak. · Officers were commended for the seamless transition from face to face to virtual meetings.
60.3 The Chair and Councillor Welham raised issues around task and finish groups and the possibilities of remote meetings.
60.4 The Monitoring Officer clarified the High Court ruling on remote meetings. Attendance for Councillors and officers for the Councils’ public meetings must be in a single, specified geographical location and be physically attended, which made hybrid meetings illegal for decision making committee meetings and the meetings for Council and Cabinet.
60.5 Councillor McLaren thought that remote meeting missed the interaction between members, which made it easier to contribute to a debate.
60.6 Councillor Grandon felt more comfortable participating in face-to-face meetings, as she was not hindered by the restrictions of virtual meetings.
60.7 Councillor Scarff commented that in particular larger remote meetings such as Council, were very lengthy, as a result of the virtual meeting process. However, remote meetings had worked well when the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had invited witnesses to attend, such as the Local Citizens Advice and the scrutiny of Representatives on Outside Bodies. Briefings were particularly suitable for remote meeting and saved time for both councillors and officers.
60.8 Members continued the debate relating to past meetings and made the following comments:
· That the spontaneous interaction and dialogue with officers when being in Endeavour House was missing. · That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee were mostly guided by the Cabinet and Council for items to be scrutinised. · That the ... view the full minutes text for item 60.
|
|||||||||
FORTHCOMING DECISIONS LIST To review the Council’s Forthcoming Decisions List and identify any items to be brought before the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Please note the most up to date version can be found via the Website:
Minutes: It was RESOLVED:-
That the Forthcoming Decisions List be noted |
|||||||||
JOS/20/22 BABERGH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PLAN PDF 161 KB To agree the Work Plan Minutes: 62.1 Members considered both workplans and made the following proposal for upcoming topics to be scrutinised:
· Delivery of services for transport for both town and rural areas. · The Infrastructure Delivery Plan · The way Cabinet was operating and whether this worked for the Council in relation to communication, learning and information and whether this was working for all members.
62.2 The Chair would begin preparation of these topics at the next Chairs’ Overview and Scrutiny Briefing.
It was Resolved:
That the Babergh and the Mid Suffolk Work Plans be noted.
|
|||||||||
JOS/20/23 MID SUFFOLK OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PLAN PDF 150 KB To agree the Work Plan Minutes: See the previous item. |