Agenda item

The Committee is asked to review and agree the Forward Work Programmes for each of the Select Committees.

Declarations of interest:

 

None

 

Witnesses:

 

Mark Brett-Warburton, Chairman of the Children & Education Select Committee

Ken Gulati, Chairman of the Adults & Health Select Committee

Rachael I. Lake, Chairman of the Communities Select Committee.

 

Key points raised during the discussion:

 

1.    The Chairman began by explaining to the Committee that the process of reviewing the proposed forward work programmes of each individual select committee was to ensure that items scheduled for scrutiny reflected the council’s priorities, were value for money, avoided duplication of work and were cross-cutting across the council.  Members also noted that it was important to ensure Select Committees were not putting Democratic Service resources under strain by undertaking too many Member Reference Groups or Task & Finish Groups. 

 

2.    Members acknowledged the need for scrutiny involvement in policy development as well as subsequent scrutiny of performance post-implementation of decisions.  It was noted that timing of items being considered was crucial in order for the scrutiny function to help influence the 2018/19 budget. 

 

3.    The Chairman invited each of the Select Committee Chairmen present to talk through their proposed forward work programme with the Committee.

 

Tim Evans entered the meeting at 10:10am

 

Adults & Health Select Committee (AHSC)

 

4.    The Select Committee Chairman explained that the item for Housing Related Support was on the agenda for the committee’s 14 July 2017 meeting to enable pre-decision scrutiny as this was on the Cabinet Forward Plan for 26 September 2017. 

 

Hazel Watson, Robert Evans and Nick Harrison entered the meeting at 10:13am

 

5.    It was explained that the item relating to the Acute Mental Health Ward relocation was a continuation of work from the Committee’s predecessor- the Wellbeing & Health Scrutiny Board- and that it was important to assess the impact on patients and their families following the substantial changes to the services implemented in early 2017. 

 

6.    Members noted that the Suicide Prevention Framework review was scheduled for scrutiny following a request from the Chair of the House of Commons’ Health Select Committee.

 

7.    The Select Committee Chairman explained that the other items on the AHSC forward work programme (listed at Annexe 1) would be scheduled dependent on service developments, whilst an item on Sexual Health Service provision was not currently on the forward work programme as it was subject to legal questions.

 

8.    Members commented that it was important not to simply review Cabinet decisions as this would be a  duplication of what the Cabinet Member has already undertaken, but instead, to add value, it would be useful to hear from service users as witnesses in order to understand their experiences and how the savings being achieved were impacting on service delivery. 

 

9.    The Chairman informed the Committee that transition between children’s and adult social care had been identified as an important area for scrutiny at the first Select Committee’s Chairman’s Group meeting.  Whilst it did not appear on AHSC’s proposed forward work programme at Annexe 1, it was suggested that this was a cross-cutting issue and as such, that OBSC should recommend AHSC and the Children & Education Select Committee work together to investigate the transition, particularly for children with learning disabilities, between children’s services and adult social care.

 

10.  Members also requested that the Epsom & St Helier’s Hospitals future plans were added to the forward work programme for scrutiny as a public discussion on the plans had just begun. 

 

Tim Hall left the meeting at 10:27am

 

Children & Education Select Committee (CESC)

 

11.  The Select Committee Chairman explained that a full Ofsted inspection of Children’s Services was expected between September and October 2017, and the outcomes of that inspection would provide a steer on future scrutiny items for the Select Committee to address. 

 

12.  Members noted that the Surrey Education in Partnership programme had previously been an area of concern for the Committee’s predecessor, the Education and Skills Board, and that this was a continuation of their work to assess the impact of new initiatives since implementation.

 

13.  The Chairman highlighted to the Committee that the Early Help reconfiguration was due to generate £3.7m of savings in 2018/19.  The Vice-Chairman added that most of the SEND savings were rated as amber in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and it was likely that these savings would impact on SEND performance.  It was therefore agreed that OBSC should recommend that CESC considered an in-depth scrutiny item on the new Early Help Operating Model as this was of more importance than items such as a review of Pupil Referral Units.

 

14.  The Chairman also drew Members’ attention to the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children item which was currently on the Cabinet Forward Plan.  Members agreed that scrutiny of the county’s strategy, what it aimed to achieve and whether efficiencies could be made should be considered by CESC.

 

15.  Members acknowledged that the Children’s Improvement Board had worked to improve service provision in some of the areas which have been listed on CESC’s forward work programme at Annexe 1, and there were concerns that this would result in a duplication of work.  It was agreed that the Select Committee Chairman should discuss with the Chairman of the Improvement Board to understand how scrutiny could assist the work of the Board without duplication. 

 

Communities Select Committee

 

16.  The Select Committee Chairman explained that a number of items scheduled on the forward work programme were statutory items, for example Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) and the annual Community Safety Partnership report.

 

17.  The Committee welcomed the Select Committee Chairman’s proposals to look at Surrey Fire and Rescue service (SFRS), in particular the impact that fire cover reconfiguration would have on communities.  The Chairman of OBSC added that scrutiny of the effectiveness of the Emergency Services Collaboration Plan would add value. 

 

18.  The Vice-Chairman highlighted that savings for SFRS set out in the MTFP were all rated as amber, and that these would all have an impact on service delivery so it was suggested that the financials be reviewed in line with the Integrated Risk Management Plan.  Members felt it was pertinent for the Chief Fire Officer to be invited to a Communities Select Committee meeting to discuss the implications of the Grenfell Tower Disaster on Surrey.

 

19.  The Select Committee Chairman explained that scrutiny of Surrey Heritage would not add much value.  It was however noted that the Surrey History Centre, amongst other venues, could be utilised more for income generation, and it was suggested that there could be scope for a future item regarding this to be considered by the Corporate Services Select Committee as property services falls within its remit. 

 

20.  The Select Committee Chairman was concerned about delays to the implementation of recommendations that derived from the latest peer review of the Library Service and would be keen to scrutinise this. 

 

21.  The Chairman of the Select Committee’s role as Armed Forces Champion was recognised, but in reference to the Covenant other areas with financial implications should be prioritised for scrutiny.

 

Ayesha Azad entered the meeting at 11:50am

 

Environment & Infrastructure Select Committee (E&ISC)

 

22.  The Committee agreed that it was sensible for the New Surrey Waste Local Plan to be scheduled for the October meeting of the E&ISC to allow for pre-decision scrutiny as it was scheduled to go to Cabinet shortly afterwards.

 

23.  Members acknowledged that an item around the savings proposals for Community Recycling Centres was necessary, whilst Members also suggested that this would provide an opportunity for the Select Committee to look at the alternative options available to the council.

 

24.  Members noted that the item on the long term sustainable management of Basingstoke Canal had been proposed to be dealt with by re-establishing the task and finish group.  The Committee agreed this was a sensible approach given that this was scheduled to go to Cabinet in October 2017.  

 

25.  The Committee highlighted that there was no planned scrutiny of highways services in the proposed forward work programme for the select committee and suggested that this be reconsidered.  Members also suggested that an item on the Thames Flood Alleviation scheme should be added to the forward work programme.

 

26.  Members proposed some additional areas of scrutiny for E&ISC.  These were scrutiny of the Carbon and Energy policy, the Transport for the South East (TfSE) partnership, the Crossrail 2 project which was due to go to public consultation in Spring 2018, airspace and runway changes, implications of the strategic housing initiative and impact on place development work. 

 

Corporate Services Select Committee (CSSC)

 

27.  The Chairman explained that she had received a letter from the Select Committee Chairman explaining that the CSSC was still in the process of formulating its proposed forward work programme and it would be sent to OBSC for approval by the end of July 2017. 

 

Overview and Budget Scrutiny Committee (OBSC)

 

28.  The Chairman informed the Committee that the items identified for OBSC to consider included Budget and business planning, Investment Strategy and Shareholder Board, Digital Strategy, Equalities and the cost implications of Place & Partnerships. 

 

 

Recommendations:

 

The Committee agrees the forward plan proposals with the following comments:

 

As a general principle proposals for scrutiny work should consider the Cabinet Forward Plan and aim to programme items before a decision is taken.

 

All Select Committees should review their Directorate risk registers on a six monthly basis.

 

Adults and Health

 

a)    OBSC requests that the Chairmen of the Adults & Health Select Committee and Children & Education Select Committee work together to scope a joint piece of work investigating the transition, in particular those with learning disabilities, between children’s services and adult social care; and

 

b)     Consideration is given to scrutiny of the ‘Epsom and St. Helier 2020 – 2030’ plans

 

Children and Education

 

c)    OBSC supports an in-depth examination of the Early Help project and a review of the strategy for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children by the select committee

 

d)    Suggests clearer links are drawn between the proposed forward plan and the savings and service plans outlined in the MTFP

 

e)    Recommends that the Chairman discusses with the Chair of the Improvement Board how scrutiny can best complement the work of the Board and avoid duplication

 

Communities

 

f)     The Committee’s interest in income generation at the Surrey History Centre and elsewhere could be coordinated with the Corporate Services Select Committee which has Property Services in its remit

 

g)    OBSC recommends that the Committee prioritise the key areas for change in the SFRS as identified in the MTFP and uses a Task & Finish methodology to scrutinise these

 

h)     The Committee should invite the Chief Fire Officer to a meeting to understand the implications of the Grenfell disaster on Surrey

 

Environment and Infrastructure

 

OBSC outlined a number of areas for the Committee to consider for scrutiny:

 

i)      An item on the Thames flood alleviation should be added to the forward plan

 

j)      The Committee should consider what scrutiny of highways services needs to be done

 

k)    Implications of the Strategic Housing initiative

 

l)      Annual scrutiny of the Carbon and Energy policy

 

m)  Impact of Place Development work 

 

n)    Transport for the South East (TfSE) partnership

 

o)    Crossrail 2 consultation

 

p)    Aviation National Policy Statement