Agenda item

To receive reports from the Chairs of the Council’s Scrutiny Committees in accordance with Standing Order 36.  The reports have been attached as follows:

11.1       Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee

11.2       Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Members are asked to note that this session will include an opportunity (within the time available) for Non-Cabinet Members to ask questions of relevant Scrutiny Chair’s in relation to the remit of their Committees.

(Agenda republished to include Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee update report on 8 July 2022)

NOTED the update reports provided by the Chairs of the Community and Wellbeing and Resources & Public Realm and Scrutiny Committees.

Responses were also provided by the relevant Scrutiny Chair on the following additional question raised during the open session of this part of the meeting:

·                Councillor Kansagra seeking an assurance regarding the opportunities that would be made available to opposition group members on each Scrutiny Committee to contribute towards the scrutiny process.

Before being presented with the updates from each Scrutiny Committee, the Mayor reminded members the time set aside for this item was 12 minutes, with each Chair having up to three minutes in which to highlight any significant issues arising from the work of their Committees.  Once these updates had been provided, the remaining time available would then be opened up for any other non-Cabinet members to question (without the need for advance notice) the Scrutiny Committee Chairs on matters relating to the work of their Committee.

Councillor Ketan Sheth was then invited to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, with the following issues highlighted:

·            Thanks were expressed on behalf of the Scrutiny Committee to both Gail Tolley and Shazia Hussain for their support of the Committee and scrutiny in general within Brent.

·            The broad ranging nature of the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for 2022-23 which included items of strategic priority in terms of the Borough Plan; of concern to a significant proportion of the local community or which formed part of forthcoming policy reviews or new strategy being developed.  The work programme also included sufficient flexibility to respond to other issues as they arose throughout the year.  The first meeting of the new Municipal Year (held on 5 July 2022) had focussed on issues relating to adult social care including support for adult carers, updates on adult day care services and Brent’s shared living schemes as well as a review of end of life care services.

·            As part of its work programme for the year, members were advised that the Scrutiny Committee had also proposed to establish a Task Group focussed on social prescribing in health, on which a detailed scope was currently being prepared.

·            Updates on progress against the work programme would continue to be provided, with reference also made on the positive impact which the recommendations agreed as a result of the Task Group reviews undertaken by the previous Committee in relation to GP Access and Transitional Safeguarding were also having in respect of the services and local community.

·            Councillor Ketan Sheth ended by advising the Committee were looking forward to engaging with members across the Council as part of their work programme for the coming year to ensure scrutiny continued to add value and made a positive impact for residents across the borough.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Ketan Sheth for his update and then invited Councillor Connelly as the newly appointed chair of the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by that Committee.  The following issues were highlight as part of the update:

·            In welcoming all new members serving on the scrutiny function, the broad ranging and dynamic nature of the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny work programme was also highlighted along with the lead being taken in establishing the Scrutiny Task Group to review the Council’s budget proposals.

·            Key issues already identified for review as part of the Committee’s work programme had included the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, Digital Inclusion Strategy and Council’s response to the cost of living crisis with updates to also be provided on implementation of the recommendations from the Baroness Casey review on managing events at Wembley following the UEFA Euro 2020 Final.  As part of future reviews the Committee also planned to consider Flood Management as well as the ongoing impact and response in relation to Climate Change.

·            Councillor Connolly ended by highlighting how the Committee were also looking forward and keen to encourage full participation and engagement in the scrutiny process as part of their work programme for the coming year.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Connelly and it was RESOLVED that the contents of both update reports be noted.

Following the updates provided, the Mayor advised that the remainder of time available would be open for questions from non-cabinet members to the Scrutiny Chair in attendance. The Mayor reminded members of the need to ensure that questions raised were focused on the updates provided or the work being undertaken by the relevant Committee.  The following questions were raised and responses provided:

(i)     Following on from his earlier question Councillor Kansagra sought an assurance regarding the opportunities that would be made available to opposition group members on each Scrutiny Committee to contribute towards the scrutiny process.

In response, Councillor Ketan Sheth supported by Councillor Connolly, highlighted the intention to actively involve and engage all members on both committees (including those from the opposition groups) as part of the scrutiny process.

As no further questions were raised the Mayor thanked members for their contribution before moving on to the next item.