Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Susan Jones, Elizabeth Mawson, Mike Nathan and John Rainsbury.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 8 November 2019 be held as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Members are requested to indicate at this stage in the proceedings any items on the agenda in which they intend to declare an interest. Members are reminded that if the interest is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct) they must leave the room for the whole of that item. If the interest is not a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, but is such that a member of the public could reasonably regard it as being so significant that it is likely that it would prejudice their judgment of the public interest (as explained in the Code of Conduct) then they may make representations, but then must leave the meeting for the remainder of the item.

There were no declarations of any interests.

Update report attached.

The Committee received an update on the progress made against matters arising from previous minutes. A general comment was made about marking actions as completed when tasks were either ongoing or had only just been implemented and needed a period of time to bed in. A number of actions were queried that would remain on the schedule and be updated upon at the next meeting.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

By Virtue of Paragraph 1: Information relating to any individual.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business as it involved the discussion of information defined as exempt from publication under paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, ‘information relating to any individual’ and in which the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing it.

Report of the Chief Executive attached.

The Committee received a report of the Chief Executive that provided progress made on the actions taken and outcomes, focussing on recent Organisational Developments at the Council.

The report also presented feedback on the recommendations made following the Investors in People assessment and progress made against the follow up actions, along with feedback on the Cultural Mapping work and final progress report detailing actions undertaken in response to the Scrutiny Review of Staff Morale.

The Leader of the Council attended the meeting along with the Chief Executive to answer any questions of the Committee.

Members discussed if the strengthening of the Officer/Member Protocol was a real possibility given the lack of sanctions contained within the current Standards regime. The Leader explained that many Councils had brought in their own local arrangements based around the original Nolan principles that have always been upheld by Standards. These arrangements would be agreed by members and allow the Council to enforce an agreed set of local sanctions. This approach was welcomed by the Committee as there was a feeling that some Members were not adhering to the Code of Conduct mainly due to the fact that there was no real penance if found to be in breach.

The Council has been working with North West Employers to develop a Cultural Mapping Toolkit. This will provide the Council with an effective benchmark around staff morale and culture. The methodologies will also be used in any future staff survey.

It was reported that communications had improved for staff with the implementation of a number of new or improved initiatives that included, fortnightly updates from Leadership meetings on CONNECT, regular Team Briefings, noticeboards updated regularly with printer friendly articles for the Depot and thank you cards issued for work well done.

The Chief Executive informed the Committee that information had been circulated to all Members on the Cultural Mapping initiative and that a Member Learning Session was scheduled to take place after the Elections in May.

The Chair commented that it was a positive approach by the Council to collect compliments and not just complaints.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

1.     Notes the report and its contents. 

2.     Future progress reports provide a more direct and robust response to the points and recommendations made.

3.     Further information on cultural mapping be provided to the new Scrutiny Committee after May 2019.

4.    Future reports are in plain English and provide greater explanation of acronyms, abbreviations and technical wording.

5.    Welcome that compliments are now recorded in the same way as complaints.

6.    Real life examples and case studies of the difference being made be included in future reports.

A Joint Committee meeting had been arranged to take place with Chorley on 29 January 2019.

The Chief Executive was due to meet with North West Employers to progress the Member Development/Member Induction process for the Council.

A membership for the Task Group was now being pulled together, with the Chair now just awaiting two councillor representatives of the Conservative Group.

Nothing to report.

No meetings had taken place.

Forward Plan attached.

The Committee noted the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Forward Plan attached.

The Committee noted the Scrutiny Forward Plan.

The Chair informed the Committee that it was Darren Cranshaw’s last meeting. Darren Cranshaw, Assistant Director of Scrutiny and Democratic Services had supported Scrutiny for a number of years and always went the extra mile, his support was greatly appreciated and Members thanked him for all his work and wished him well in his future endeavours.

The Chief Executive advised that the current officer support would continue until May, after such date, resourcing of the Scrutiny Committee would be considered. Working towards the principle of strengthening senior officer support to scrutiny in line with national guidelines on this matter.