Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2023 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

A presentation will be provided by the Head of Governance of the process for Overview and Scrutiny.

A presentation by the Head of Democratic Services and Deputy Monitoring was provided to the Committee to make them aware of the purpose of Overview and scrutiny, what effective scrutiny looked like, how to conduct scrutiny effectively and the benefits and outcomes it could bring. Effective Overview and Scrutiny should provide constructive critical friend challenge, amplify the voices and concerns of the public, be led by independent people who take responsibility for their role and drive improvements within public services.

To inform the Committee of their specific powers and to identify topics for scrutiny.

Members noted the process and forms for identifying topics for scrutiny. The Committee had been appointed to scrutinise the actions of the Executive and to review the policies and practices of the Council. It had the power to inquire, research and report on matters within its remit and could determine which topics were selected for scrutiny. In addition, the Committee could call-in decisions of the Executive within the set timeline.

To consider any matter referred to the Committee for a decision in relation to the call in of a decision.

Members were informed that no call-ins had been received.

To inform the Committee of items on the Cabinet’s work programme, from which items for scrutiny may be identified.

The Committee noted the Cabinet Work Programme.

Committee is asked to approve its Work Programme, including identifying topics for scrutiny, that will help to achieve the Council’s key priorities and associated objectives.

The Committee noted the work programme and identified topics for review. It was decided to leave topics for consideration listed with the exemption of Environment Strategy as it was felt that this topic had already been scrutinised at the Policy Overview Working Group.  There was some confusion with the title of the Budget Consultation and was agreed to change the wording to Budget Setting Process. Members further agreed that the person suggesting a topic to the Committee should attend the meeting to submit their request. 

There were two Scrutiny suggestions put to the Committee, Voter Disenfranchisement suggested by Councillor H Land and Building Control suggested by Councillor B C Carr.

Members discussed the issues raised for voter disenfranchisement and the outcomes to understand the levels of disenfranchisement in terms of numbers and demographics, whether the ID requirements impacted on turnout, and to understand the levels of awareness regarding ID requirement amongst the general population. It was concluded that as Voter ID was a national requirement from Government and Broxtowe figures were low, who chose not to return to a polling station to vote, the topic would not be added to the work programme.  The second scrutiny suggestion to look at the Shared Service provided by Erewash Borough Council Building Control and the poor level of service provided to Broxtowe residents and Councillors with a request that Managers of the service attend the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to explain the processes, service levels and explanation of the delays and poor service. An update was provided at the meeting that a report would be going to Cabinet and to request the Committee put the request on hold until further details were provided.

The D H Lawrence Museum topic was proposed by Councillor P J Owen to review the marketing of the venue and potential improvements following the visitor figures reported to the budget scrutiny meeting of January 2023. The committee agreed for the topic to be reviewed and scoped by a small working group at an informal meeting to be arranged.

The Markets in Broxtowe topic was proposed by Councillor P J Owen to discover the effectiveness of the team and to review whether footfall in town centres had been improved. The Committee agreed for a small working group to scope and scrutinise the topic.

The review of Scrutinising the Budget Setting Process was proposed by Councillor S Dannheimer. The Committee agreed to add to the work programme and to be scoped and scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 21 September. The review would consider more suitable ways of scrutinising the budget rather than just the method which had been used, which are the two January meetings.

          Resolved that:

1.     The scrutiny topics, for Voter Disenfranchisement not to be added to the Scrutiny Work Programme and Building control be put on hold until after the Cabinet report had been received.

2.     A Working Group for the DL Lawrence Museum topic appointed Councillor K Woodhead as Chair, Councillor A W G  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.