Agenda and minutes

To be notified of the appointment of any Substitute Members.

Pursuant to the council’s constitution the appointment of the following substitute Member was reported: Councillor J O’Shea for Councillor J Montague.

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation in relation to any registerable and/or non-registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

Please complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2022.

Resolved that the minute of the meeting held on 14 March 2022 be agreed.

To receive an update to the recent review by Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) of the scrutiny in North Tyneside.

The Committee received a verbal update in relation the recent review of the Authority’s Scrutiny Function by the Centre for Governance & Scrutiny (CfGS).

The review took place during March 2022 and undertaken by two experienced independent representatives of the CfGS. There were 59 interviews undertaken with a range of Members who had Scrutiny and Executive responsibility, in addition to interviews with key officers. The review also made an appraisal of the key scrutiny documents such as agenda, report, minutes and work programmes.

The review looked at the Authority’s;

·       Culture

·       Member Engagement

·       Member Skills

·       Information Sharing

·       The Impact of Scrutiny

·       The focus scrutiny has in its work programmes; and

·       The structure of Scrutiny in North Tyneside.

The Committee was informed that a preview report had been received that highlighted findings and that the results would be presented to all council Members once the comprehensive Scrutiny Report had been received.

It was also the intention that a Member Development workshop would be established to enable Members to shape and improve how scrutiny is conducted in North Tyneside.

Members expressed that they were keen to receive the findings of the review and that any recommendations for implementation be closely monitored.

Agreed to that North Tyneside Scrutiny Review update be noted.

To received information to the review to the North Tyneside Parking Strategy.

The Committee received a report and new proposed Parking Strategy following its recent review.

It heard that following Members’ feedback received through surveys and workshops, the Cabinet Member for Environment requested the review, with the aim to improving the current parking restriction request process and increase communication between Members and officers.

The Committee received an explanation to what improvements were proposed with the associated rationale that included a new monthly members update.

The Committee raised points in relation to:

·       The new permit classification for a Leisure Club and the possibility similar permit to be available to for Faith Buildings.

·       Concern was raised that some TM3 permits were allowed to park in TM1 which it was believed creates ongoing parking issues.

·       Concern in relation to business permits use.

·       The potential use of a commercial operator carpark in Whitley Bay Town centre.

·       That members receive information in the use of the Monthly Members update at their induction training.

Officers and the Cabinet Member for Environment were in attendance and responded to questions.

Agreed that the Parking Strategy proposals be noted.

To receive the findings of the Storm Arwen Task & Finish Group.

The Committee received a report that informed the findings and recommendations of the Storm Arwen Task & Finish Group. The group had been established following the Full Council meeting that took place on the 20 January 2022, where a Motion was agreed that a cross party inquiry take place into the handling of the Storm Arwen event by North Tyneside Council.

The Chair informed the Committee at the outset that the report had been slightly amended and the amended report had been circulated for acceptance to all Task & Finish group members before it could be considered at the Overview, Scrutiny & Policy Development Committee.

To guarantee transparency the Committee was informed of the rationale to each amendment. It was emphasised and demonstrated that there was no material change to the original findings and the amendments were made to provide greater clarity.

Members stated that the report provided reassurance to the Authority’s ability to respond emergency events such a storms and expressed gratitude to all the officers who worked in the response and the recovery of the series of winter storms.

Agreed that the Storm Arwen Task & Finish Group report be noted and to be forwarded to Full Council for consideration.

To give consideration to the Committee’s work programme for the 2022/23.

The Committee received draft work programme to the areas of business it would be involved through the year.

Members of the Committee were invited to raise suggestions for further areas and any suggestions were to be considered at the Scrutiny Chairs/Deputy Chairs meeting arranged for the 20 June 2022.

The Committee was informed that arrangements were ongoing to plan for the programming of the Budget Scrutiny in line with the process undertaken in previous years.

Members raised suggestions on the following:

·       The increase in Anti-social Behaviour and the Authority’s response

·       The Care sector workforce

Agreed that the Work programme 2022/23 be noted and the suggested areas for scrutiny raised be forwarded to the Scrutiny Chairs/Deputy Chairs meeting arranged for the 20 June 2022 for consideration.