Maidstone Borough Council

Scrutiny Coordinating Committee

Thursday 25 February 2014

Future Work Programme

Report of: Christian Scade, Senior Corporate Policy Officer

 1.     Introduction

1.1        To consider topics for inclusion in the Scrutiny Coordinating Committee’s work programme for the 2013/14 Municipal Year and beyond.

1.2        This is also an opportunity for the Scrutiny Coordinating Committee, in view of experiences this municipal year, to provide feedback on member development activities and to identify any additional training needs for Overview and Scrutiny. 

 2.     Recommendation

2.1    That the Committee considers its work programme, attached at Appendix A, and suggests items for consideration at future meetings, to ensure it is appropriate and covers all issues Members wish to consider within the Committee’s remit.

2.2        That the Committee provide feedback on the “Questioning / Challenging Skills” workshop held on the 29 January 2014 and identify any additional training needs for Overview and Scrutiny. 

3.      Background to recommendation

3.1    The Scrutiny Coordinating Committee is a Committee consisting of the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the four Overview and Scrutiny Committees. It will meet from time to time to consider matters relating to the conduct, performance and procedures of the Committees; to develop mechanisms for addressing cross-cutting issues; and to prevent duplication in the work of the individual committees.  

3.2    The Committee may wish to consider the support and development it could offer the four Scrutiny Committees at each meeting by structuring its own work programme.

3.3    In addition, and following the “Questioning / Challenging Skills” workshop, facilitated by the Parliamentary Outreach Service in January 2014, the Committee may wish to provide feedback on this session to ensure future development activities, such as the Centre for Public Scrutiny one attached at Appendix B, are appropriate.

4.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

4.1        The Committee will primarily consider reports that deliver against all the Council’s priorities: For Maidstone to have a growing economy, For Maidstone to be a decent place to live and Corporate and Customer Excellence.

          4.2    The Strategic Plan sets the Council’s key objectives for the medium   term and has a range of objectives which support the delivery of   the Council’s priorities.  Actions to deliver these key objectives may          therefore include work that the Committee will consider throughout the coming year.

5.      Background Papers

5.1     None