MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2011

REPORT OF CORPORATE PROJECTS & OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY MANAGER

Report prepared by Overview & Scrutiny Officer

 1.     Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2010-11

1.1         The Maidstone Borough Council Constitution states “Overview and Scrutiny Committees may report annually to the full Council on their workings and make recommendations for future work programmes and amended working methods if appropriate” (Part One, Article 6:03(d)).

2.      Recommendation

2.1     That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2010-11 be noted.

3.      Reasons for Recommendation

3.1     The attached report (appendix a) summarises the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees during 2010-11 and highlights          key issues for 2011-12 and beyond.

3.2     Successful Scrutiny outcomes are governed by four principles:

• Ensures scrutiny provides ‘critical friend’ challenge to executive policy-makers;

• Enables the voice and concerns of the public and its communities;

• Makes an impact on the delivery of public services; and

• Is carried out by independent minded          governors who take the lead and own the scrutiny process.    

4.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

4.1     The Committees will consider reports that deliver against the    Council’s priorities.  The terms of reference of each Scrutiny    Committee for 2011-12 are aligned to a priority.

o   Regeneration and Economic Development Overview and Scrutiny - ‘For Maidstone to have a growing economy’;

o   Communities Overview and Scrutiny - ‘For Maidstone to be a decent place to live’; and

o   Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny - ‘Corporate and Customer Excellence’.