SCRUTINY NETWORK

Friday 12 September 2014 Notes

Attendees District Council Linda McBean Charnwood Borough Council Cllr Richard Shepherd Chesterfield Borough Council Anita Cunningham Chesterfield Borough Council Cllr Jean Innes City Council Mahroof Hussain County Council Jackie Wardle Derbyshire County Council Cllr Clive Moesby East Councils Kirsty Lowe Erewash Borough Council Lynne Ghent Erewash Borough Council Cllr Daniel Walton Council Ed O'Neill Harborough District Council Cllr Beesley-Reynolds Lincoln City Council Steve Swain County Council Louise Tyers County Council Cllr Allen Walker Northamptonshire County Council Catherine Greenfield City Council Angelika Kaufhold County Council Alex Daynes Rutland County Council Cllr J Lammie Rutland County Council Cllr Gale Waller Emma McClarkin MEP

Apologies Charnwood Borough Council Michael Hopkinson Corby Borough Council Cllr Judy Caine Council Cllr Dr Colin Morgan City Council Cllr Mohammed Dawood District Council Cllr Tracy Reader District Council Cllr Amy Plenderleith

Notes

Chairs Welcome and Introductions Cllr Walker, Northamptonshire County Council, Chairman Scrutiny Network welcomed network members.

Minutes from the last meeting The minutes were agreed as a true record of the meeting.

Emma McClarkin MEP Cllr Walker welcomed Emma to the network meeting. Emma provided a presentation on her role in the EU and her work as an MEP. Her presentation covered;  Her background and interest in politics  An overview of the EU legislative process  EU funding – support for funding applications  Projects that she has been involved with  Role on Committee on International Trade  Role on the Culture Education Committee  New Commissioners at the European Commission and the appointment process. Along with details of the new UK Commissioner, Lord Hill.

Action: Kirsty to circulate – A Brief Guide to European Funding Opportunities in the East Midlands

A discussion followed on the role of the EU in the development of legislation. Emma invited network members to provide details of specific cases where EU legislation is having a detrimental affect on a particular area or businesses.

A discussion took place on the role of scrutiny in the legislative process, where legislation is scrutinised by MEPs and the processes involved.

A discussion followed on the EUs focus on developing green and clean technologies. A further discussion took place on education and comparisons across EU countries.

Cllr Walker thanked Emma for taking time to speak to network members.

Poverty in Lincoln Steve Swain, City of Lincoln Council provided details of the Poverty in Lincoln review that the City Council had undertaken between June 2013 and March 2014.

The presentation covered;  Background to the review  How the review was undertaken and the themed meetings o Benefits review o Accessing work review o Child poverty and education review o Health review o Housing review o Lincoln Poverty Conference  Outcomes of the review o The development of an anti-poverty strategy and action plan  Examples of joint working being done

A discussion followed on the definition of poverty used by the review and where the review originated from.

Steve confirmed that the review had been shortlisted for a CfPS good scrutiny award.

Cllr Walker thanked Steve for his presentation.

Action: Kirsty to circulate briefing note on the review to network members.

Update from Vice Chair on National Overview and Scrutiny Forum

Anita informed the network members that the National Overview and Scrutiny forum would not be meeting until spring 2015 at the earliest.

Anita provided details of the CfPS’ request for authorities to road test their Care Quality Commission guidelines. www.cfps.org.uk/Scrutiny-CQC

Anita also informed network membersof the good practice guides available from the CfPS website. www.cfps.org.uk/practice-guides

Scrutiny update from around the region

Derby City Council  Election turnout, comparatively low turn out levels compared with neighbouring cities  Litter and fly tipping and increases in certain areas  Domestic abuse  Fracking  Affordable housing  Pupil premium

Northamptonshire County Council  Apprenticeships  Operation of LEPs  Implementation of the Care Act and the information from government  Fire and Rescue Service

Derbyshire County Council Information circulated in papers.

Blaby District Council  Business sustainability  Apprenticeships  New Performance system  Mental Health services

Rutland County Council  Reviewing People’s directorate and involvement of Scrutiny  Procedures and processes  Transport task and finish group, including home to school transport  Review of complaints policy

Nottingham City Council  Interest in Safeguarding issues being brought to Scrutiny  School achievement  Changing staffing

Charnwood Borough Council  Help to live at home  Libraries

Lincolnshire County Council  Commissioning Council and impact on Scrutiny  School improvement service

Erewash Borough Council  Jobs creation  Private landlords  Recycling

Harborough District Council  Affordable Housing  Pre-budget  Planning enforcement  Charities and voluntary sector where they receive funding from the authority

Chesterfield Borough Council  External communications  Corporate plan  Staff restructure  Review of Scrutiny  Health and safety  Clinical commissioning group attended meeting with Scrutiny

Any Other Business, Future work programme and dates of future meetings Kirsty provided details of three events that East Midlands Councils are currently organising;

 East Midlands Rail Summit - 10 October www.emcouncils.gov.uk/Councillor-Development-Events/East-Midlands-Rail-Summit- /20538

 The Future of Local Government in the next Parliament - 21 November www.emcouncils.gov.uk/Councillor-Development-Events/The-Future-of-Local- Government-in-the-next-Parliament/19345

 The Future Role of Scrutiny - 12 December www.emcouncils.gov.uk/Councillor-Development-Events/The-Future-Role-of- Scrutiny/20583

2014 dates . 12 December 2014 –