Agenda and minutes

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.

None declared.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2024.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

This report provides an overview of the work of the Overview & Scrutiny Co-ordination & Finance Committee, and sub-committees during 2023-24.

The Committee received the Annual Report which will be presented to full Council in May 2024.  It was noted that at the Council’s Annual Meeting in May 2023 a new structure of Scrutiny committees was agreed by full Council.  The work which has been undertaken by these Scrutiny committees during 2023/24 was summarised in an appendix to the report.

It was noted that some work was undertaken in partnership with the Centre for Public Governance and Scrutiny in 2022/23 and 8 specific actions were identified. The municipal year 2023/24 saw a change from 8 Committees to 6. A Lead Cabinet Member and a Lead Senior Officer was identified for each of the Committees.  The changes in the Committee structure reflect the North Tyneside Plan.  The Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordination and Finance Committee has been keen to ensure that the Scrutiny work programme could flex sufficiently to address any emerging areas identified as being of greatest benefit as the year progressed.

Each Scrutiny Committee Chair has sought to be open and inclusive in working with Committee members to identify topics for inclusion in the 2023/24 Scrutiny Work Programme.  All Committee Members have been encouraged to suggest potential items and this has been included as a standing item on the agenda for each scrutiny committee.

Future plans have been identified for the 2024/25 Municipal Year, including the development of a Work Programme by all, for all Scrutiny Committee for 2024/25 involving all members of each respective Scrutiny Committee, once the Annual Council has taken place on 16 May 2024 and the 2024/25 Membership of Scrutiny Committees is known.

It was suggested that we have a progress report against the actions from the Centre for Public Scrutiny and Governance Report.  It was noted that this was something which could be looked at for the first meeting of the new municipal year.  It was also noted that the progress/changes will probably take at least two years.

RESOLVED - that 1) that the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordination and Finance Committee on the work undertaken during 2023/24 of the OSCFC and the five Scrutiny Sub-Committees be noted; 2) the contents of the annual report be approved to submission to the next Annual council meeting as required by part 3.5 of the Constitution (Terms of Reference for Council and Committees), and 3) note that arrangements are being made for development of work programmes by all Scrutiny Committees for 2024/25, which will involve members of each respective Scrutiny Committee once the annual Council has taken place on 16 May 2024 and the 2024/25 membership of Scrutiny Committees is known.

The Chair advised the Committee that a draft Terms of Reference for the Task and Finish Group to be established to look at Highways issues has been circulated and any comments should be returned by email.

RESOLVED – That the information be noted.