Select Committee Achievements 2007/08

purpose, aims and objectives 2 | Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 | 3

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Contents Glossary

1. Introduction 4 Select Committees The committees that discharge the “Overview and Scrutiny” functions of the Council Local Area Agreement (LAA) An agreement between the Council and its partners to deliver the aspirations of the Community Strategy (which sets out the shared vision for the future of South 2. Select Committee purpose, aims and objectives 6 Gloucestershire) Strategic Partnerships These are the partnerships to deliver parts of the LAA (above) Multi Area Agreements These are a bigger version of an LAA. Multi Area Agreements are where the Council 3. Review by the Corporate Co-ordination Select Committee formally joins with other Councils (and partners) to tackle issues that cross Council A Overview 7 boundaries B Developments in the last year 7 West of England Partnership A partnership between South Gloucestershire, , Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset Councils to tackle sub-regional (the ex Avon area) issues C Future challenges 9 The Executive/Executive Terms used to describe the Councillors who make Executive decisions (jointly as a Cabinet Councillors or individually) under the statutory framework 4. Report of individual Select Committees A Children and Young People 10 B Communities 13 C Community Care and Housing 15 D Corporate Co-ordination 17 E Health 19 F Planning, Transportation and Strategic Environment 20 Select Committee Chairs

Dave Hockey Howard Gawler Andy Perkins Ian Blair Sandra Grant Pat Hockey Communities Corporate Community Care Children and Health Planning, Co-ordination and Housing Young People Transportation and Strategic Environment 4 | Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 | 5

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1. Introduction

outh Gloucestershire Council has a very Through our Select Committee Councillors, our partners • The Planning, Transportation and Strategic inclusive and co-operative approach to the way and the public can help to develop and influence policy, Environment Select Committee has responded to Acknowledgements Sin which Councillors work together. This is not can deliver improvements and are able to make a public concerns around bus and rail services. The only visible in working practice but is also enshrined real difference to issues that directly affect the lives of committee influenced the Sustainability Appraisal In South Gloucestershire the in our constitution, with arrangements that go far residents. Full details are included in the report of each and Core Strategy during its development. It’s current Overview and Scrutiny function is beyond the minimum legal requirements. Select Committee within this report, but some examples review is looking at how the planning process might supported by Democratic Services from this year include: be developed to ensure that the Council’s own officers and Departmental This constructive approach is continued by our Select strategies and those jointly agreed with its partners officers. While some Councils Committees who undertake the work described in the • The Children and Young People Select Committee can be progressed have dedicated scrutiny staff, statutory framework as Overview and Scrutiny. had recently undertaken scrutiny of Teenage our Democratic Services officers Pregnancy. Its current review is ‘Local Schools for undertake a comprehensive The Council has six Select Committees which work Local Children’ and seeks to increase preferences range of Democratic Support on a themed basis but cross cut and work jointly for local schools. Obesity will form the subject of functions and are involved in when required. Select Committees hold a watching scrutiny through Committee during the remainder of many different areas of work in brief over the services of the Council and our partners 2008. addition to supporting the Select at a strategic level but also respond to more detailed Committees. issues of concern that are raised. • The Communities Select Committee has closely scrutinised waste management issues, has raised Much of the work undertaken Significantly more work is undertaken in contributing local concerns about the Streetcare helpdesk and would not be possible without the than acting as a critical challenge, although on cemetery provision. Its current review is on anti social hard work and support of these occasion this is appropriate. behaviour. staff and the Select Committee Chairs wish to place on record Select Committees provide the opportunity for public • Community Care and Housing Select Committee their thanks and appreciation to participation. They work in co operation with the has undertaken work on reviews, strategy revisions the Democratic Services officers Executive and our partners to achieve shared aims and action plans following the Large Scale Voluntary and Departmental staff who have and ambitions and provide a platform for Councillors Transfer of the Council’s housing stock to Merlin supported the Select Committees to champion the needs of their local communities. Housing Society in February 2007. Its current review throughout the last year. A good example of this is the anti-social behaviour is about enabling elderly and vulnerable people to review being undertaken in two hotspot Wards. stay in their homes for longer. It is also important to acknowledge the co-operation • The Health Select Committee successfully of partners and Executive campaigned against the removal of the Breast Councillors and to record Cancer Unit Support Trust at Frenchay. appreciation for the important work that is jointly undertaken • Corporate Co-ordination Select Committee undertook and the way in which this is work on the issue of proposed Post Office closures approached. and held two special meetings to discuss ways in which these could be opposed. The Select Committee’s 2008 review is on the use of Service Level Agreements. 6 | Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 | 7

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2. Select Committee Purpose, Aims and Objectives 3. Review by the Corporate Co-ordination Select Committee

Select committees consider reports and receive Our constitution describes the functions of Select The constitution tasks the Corporate Co-ordination B) Developments Since May 2007 presentations or verbal updates. They influence Committees: Select Committee with undertaking an annual review developing policy as well as other important issues of Select Committee achievements. In practice, the Work Programming and provide links to our partners as part of our Overview and Scrutiny is about Councillors working Select Committee Chairs work in co-operation and contribution to work that is jointly undertaken. together with local people, service partners and jointly champion the Overview and Scrutiny process. The Select Committee Chairs met as a group shortly Executive Councillors also provide information to community groups to improve policies and services. In line with this practice, this report has been after their appointment at the annual Council meeting in Select Committees on the work that they undertake compiled with input from all Select Committee Chairs. May 2007. The Chairs agreed that a revised approach with partner organisations. This type of Select should be taken to work planning, most noticeably in the Committee work is generally referred to as Overview The functions of our Select Committees are: way that Select Committees chose review topics. and Scrutiny work. • To hold the Executive and individual Executive A) Overview An external facilitator was used to provide two scrutiny Councillors to account In addition to Overview and Scrutiny work, Select training events for all Councillors. Members agreed that The Scrutiny function of the Council has undergone a Committees undertake detailed work on chosen review • Policy review it was important not to be constrained by the need to number of developments in the last year. This has been subjects. The review subjects can be on any topic. complete a review topic each year, thus allowing much • Policy development led and championed by the Select Committee Chairs Typically it will be on an area of policy to be developed, bigger topics to be considered for review. Members through the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group. reviewing current policy or practice to assess • Performance monitoring also considered the benefit that topics would contribute effectiveness and areas for improvement. It can also be to the corporate aims and objectives of the Council and • External scrutiny The developments in the Scrutiny function have on an area where concerns have been raised. our partners. delivered improvements and ensured that the Scrutiny process has kept pace with changes to working The membership of these review groups is The scoping process that establishes the purpose, Scrutiny involves using a structured common sense practices. predominantly formed from members of the parent aims and parameters for review topics was revised and approach to check that the Council’s services and Select Committee but it is open to any member of the substantially developed. Scoping documents now take policies meet the needs of local people, according Select Committees and Executive Councillors co- Council with a particular interest or expertise in the the form of the Council’s project management (PRIME) to the Councils own aims and standards as well as in operate effectively to facilitate scrutiny of Executive review subject to join. project initiation documents. comparison with other local authorities Councillors activities. Executive Councillors usually provide written reports to Select Committees on their Members were able to chose which review topics The Council has an Overview and Scrutiny activities. Select Committees undertake pre-decision should proceed with fully developed project initiation Co-ordinating Group. This group has met on a quarterly scrutiny, discuss performance and question the documents and had the ability to interview departmental basis since the May 2007 elections and is an important Executive member(s). The healthy and constructive officers if required. forum for Select Committee Chairs to liaise with the relationship between the Select Committees and Executive leaders, share best practice and jointly Executive Councillors can be evidenced by the low Once review subjects had been chosen the Select contribute to the different reviews in progress. number of decisions which are “called in” (where a Committee lead councillors undertook a review of the decision is challenged before implementation). topic selection process and recommended a number of changes to create a framework to be used in future years. 8 | Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 | 9

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3. Review by the Corporate Co-ordination Select Committee

Joint Scrutiny Joint Waste Scrutiny We have recognised the importance of Select Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committees in these partnership arrangements. Joint scrutiny work often takes place within the We are involved in a Joint Waste Scrutiny arrangement. Opposition groups have a seat on each LAA The Police and Justice Act 2006 provided a framework Council’s own structures. For example the Planning, This informal body meets to monitor and scrutinise partnership in a non voting capacity so that they may for new scrutiny powers on Crime and Disorder which Transportation and Strategic Environment, the Health the Joint Waste Management Member Project Board. be kept informed and contribute to the work of the will come into force by commencement order. and the Communities Select Committees have worked Although not a formal Joint Scrutiny Committee, partnership. jointly on different issues. There are close links between meetings are held in public with public participation When implemented each Council will be required to the Community Care & Housing and Health Select rights. Each Council retains its individual ability Training events have been held on the scrutiny of have a Select Committee with power to undertake Committees and members have attended each others to scrutinise waste issues and the informal joint LAA partnerships. A cross authority event with expert scrutiny of Crime and Disorder functions of the Council. meetings when necessary. arrangement feeds each Council’s formal scrutiny speakers was held in April and was well attended. arrangements. This arrangement will be reviewed in Workshops have also been held on the developing LAA For clarity, it should be noted that this will not be In the future, further joint Select Committee work will the light of the developments in the West of England targets. scrutiny of the Chief Constable or the Police Authority become even more important with scrutiny of the LAA Partnership which will include formal scrutiny and the committee does not have to be a separate targets and Multi Area Agreements as they develop. arrangements. Select Committees have implemented arrangements to Select Committee dealing only with crime and disorder scrutinise the activities of the appropriate LAA Strategic alone. Partnerships. This usually involves looking at the future Scrutiny of the Great Western Ambulance Service Strengthening of Powers to Scrutinise Other Public work plan of the partnership, receiving an update on the NHS Trust Service Providers progress to date and questioning the Partnership Chair. Councillor Call for Action

On the 19 March, Council resolved to join a Joint The Council already had statutory powers to scrutinise Select committees will have an important role to play The Local Government Public Involvement in Health Act Health Scrutiny Committee established to scrutinise the health related issues, these have now been increased to in helping the Council’s Executive and our partners 2007 created a concept of ‘Councillor Call for Action’. performance of the Great Western Ambulance Service include other public service providers. achieve the LAA targets. following concerns over key performance issues. The This will allow Councillors to submit ‘calls for action’ Ambulance Service covers, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire Select Committees were already in regard to persistent issues that cannot be resolved and the former Avon areas. The Joint Committee is working within the spirit of these new powers by through other channels. The intention is to strengthen a comprised of representatives from each Council’s developing relationships and a framework to support C) Future Challenges councillors ability to respond to local community issues Health Select Committee. scrutiny of the LAA partnerships. Scrutiny of the as a community leader. In practice this will mean little Great Western Ambulance Service trust (although set change is required as our enhanced constitutional Partnership Scrutiny The Council also continues to be involved in a Joint up under health scrutiny legislation) is also wholly in arrangements already allow Councillors to place an item Health Scrutiny Committee which is in place across the accordance with this principle. on any Select Committee agenda. A clear priority over the next year will be to further ex-Avon area to deal with substantial changes to health imbed, review and refine the arrangements to work with services requiring formal consultation across unitary The implementation of this provision will be by and scrutinise the activities of the LAA partnerships and authority boundaries. Partnership Scrutiny commencement order and it is likely that it will be at partner organisations. the same time as the commencement of Crime and This has been a main area of development. The Disorder Scrutiny. establishment of LAA partnerships has required a Multi Area Agreements revised approach to Scrutiny arrangements. Select Committees need to further develop working As the Council moves to exploit the opportunities that arrangements with our partners as the LAA re-enforces are offered by working in co-operation with partners the need for multi agency working to meet key targets. and other Councils it will be important to ensure that effective arrangements are in place to allow the Scrutiny function to contribute and carry out its watching brief. 10 | Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 | 11

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4. Reports of individual Select Committees

A) Children & Young People Strategic Guidance Reflecting Public Concerns • The Adoption Service Annual Report; Select Committee From high level strategic issues to service specific At the same time as keeping its eye on the strategic • Health of Children in Care. matters, this Committee sought to secure improvements issues, the Committee has responded to the following From the outset of the new Council, this Committee through considering and offering comments in relation specific concerns brought to its attention by members In addition, outside of Committee, members were has held in its focus the prime challenges facing to the following: of the public: - notified of school Ofsted Inspection reports on a regular Children & Young People’s services and the operation basis. The Spokespersons also met regularly with of those services within the new context of integrated • Parenting Support Strategy; • Concerns about pupil safety around schools at the the Executive Member and Senior Officers to monitor working. This understanding has shown itself through start and end of the school day due to hazardous progression in schools causing concern. the selection of topics on the Committee’s agenda and • Admissions criteria; traffic flow. The Committee scrutinised formal work through the selection of member-led review topics. In underway by the authority to minimise the hazards addition to these high level matters, the Committee’s • Development of policies and service delivery options and recommended improving the awareness of Partnership Scrutiny business has spanned the gamut of subject matter from regarding Early Years and Childcare; Extended young children via the parenting strategy; receiving young people’s views on Sex and Relationship Schools and Integrated Youth Services; • Since the outset of the Children & Young People Education in schools to examining progress and • A request by a member of the public asking for the Strategic Partnership, members of the Committee services for children looked after, from monitoring the • School Organisation Plan; Committee to review anti-bullying practices. have been notified whenever Partnership agenda development of new services for early years through In response, the Committee scrutinised a report on papers are published; they receive a verbal update to strategies to enhance the participation of children & • Contributions to Disabled Children’s Strategy, the proposed new electronic recording system to on the business of the Partnership together with a young people in services and in society. Children & Young People in Care Implementation enhance information about the scale of bullying in copy of the Forward Plan at each Committee meeting Plans; South Gloucestershire schools. The benefits of the and they also have the opportunity to question two system will be scrutinised by the Committee in the members of the Partnership – the Executive Member Policy Framework Scrutiny & Development • Scrutiny of the Sure Start Centres project including Autumn; (who Chairs the Partnership) and the Director for offering specific views on location of the Filton Sure Children & Young People. The Partnership is now The Committee not only scrutinised performance Start Centre; • The case of a lost application for a primary school also attended by the Chair of the Select Committee against the objectives of the five ‘Every Child Matters’ place led to suggested improvements to prevent a and the Labour Spokesperson. outcomes contained in the multi-agency Children & • Requests for improving the integration of the Play recurrence. Young People Plan, but also contributed views about Policy into Planning Policy Guidance. • The Committee has introduced a new stream of new priorities for the updated implementation plan at multi-agency scrutiny: the scrutiny of children’s an annual workshop at Committee. The Committee Performance Monitoring health issues. The Committee has already secured a also offered comments in relation to both the Council Holding the Executive Member to Account briefing from the Director of Public Health, from which Plan, Budget and Council Tax consultation and the In addition to regular and close monitoring and further regular scrutiny will flow. Community Strategy. A new-style Executive Member report was introduced evaluation of progress against targets in the Children from September 2007. The Committee scrutinises & Young People Plan and the relevant priorities of not only recent and forthcoming decisions by both the Local Area Agreement Evaluation, the Committee Member-led reviews the Executive Member and Cabinet, and any issues received briefings on the new national indicators, on the surrounding them, but is also appraised of any relevant joint area review and reviewed the following: The Committee inherited and completed work on the local issues or national issues e.g. National Children’s review of School’s Funding, which began during the life Plan. • Implementation of the Commissioning Strategy and of the previous Council. A complicated subject matter, the Workforce Strategy; about which few have an in-depth understanding, the review was prompted by the need to improve the equity • Risk Registers; of those parts of the formula which had not altered since the abolition of Avon County Council. Through 12 | Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 | 13

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4. Reports of individual Select Committees

consultation with the Schools Forum, and related work school. Other data is being collected and visits B) Communities Select Committee Joint Scrutiny undertaken by them, some simplifications have now will be made by the review group to a sample of been made to the funding formula. secondary schools. The Committee works in conjunction with the PTSE Policy Scrutiny Select Committee and is working jointly with its The Committee has ensured that the relevant key The Council’s new PRIME (Project Run in a Managed counterparts at Bath and North East Somerset, The Committee has continued to consider and priorities facing the authority are under its scrutiny, Environment) principles have been applied by the and on provide comments on a number of the Councils major either through in-depth review, or through meetings of Committee to the in-depth reviews. the on-going scrutiny of the West of England Waste policy documents and the West of England Strategy the Committee itself, as set out below: Management and Planning Strategy. The Select documents. To date they have been consulted on Committees actively pressed for and finally succeeded the Economic Development Strategy, Equalities • Teenage Pregnancy – the Committee scrutinised the in having its meetings on this issue of great public Assessment, Community Engagement Strategy, Teenage Pregnancy Strategy and implementation interest, in the public arena. Community Strategy Refresh, Review of Licensing Policy of the Teenage Pregnancy Action Plan 2007/08 and and consideration of a Cumulative Impact Study. In recommended discussions with the Primary Care addition it has scrutinised the Council’s strategies for Trust to see if the role of the school nurse could be Reflecting Public concerns flood provision following a referral from Council. extended to offer lunchtime advice sessions; The Select Committee often brings issues of concern The Committee continues its close scrutiny of Waste • Obesity – this will form the subject of scrutiny through to their residents to the attention of officers and the Management issues, both at local and regional level. To Committee during the remainder of 2008, once Executive Member at committee meetings. Recent this end, an additional meeting was set up to specifically quality data becomes available; examples have been:- the SITA planning application scrutinise the Waste Management Strategy for South for an In-Vessel Composter in Westerleigh; the service Gloucestershire and the West of England Waste • Raising Performance at Key Stage 4 – initially provided by the Streetcare helpdesk; and cemetery Management Strategy. selected for in-depth review, the Committee received provision in South Gloucestershire. briefings about Standards and Performance in South Gloucestershire Schools; trends in examinations The Committee also continues to monitor the progress Holding the Executive Member to account and SATS and about successful practices used by made under the Priority Neighbourhoods Scheme and . Since work on the review has regular updates from the PN Coordinator. The Committee has a standard item on all agendas to began, the Council has now allocated funding for a receive an update from the Executive Member on issues project specifically designed to raise performance within her portfolio. This provides the opportunity for at Key Stage 4 in South Gloucestershire. The Scrutinising Outside Bodies cross-party scrutiny of decisions taken, future decisions Committee has agreed to suspend its own work (by way of the Forward Plan) and also the successes and instead it will keep a watching brief on this new The Committee regularly requests and receives reports/ of various departments and members of staff within the project. presentations from outside bodies, where the work is Directorate. linked to that of the Council. Recent examples are the • The related review of ‘Local Schools for Local Learning and Skills Council, SITA, ‘Destination Bristol’ The Committee has regularly requested updates on Children’ seeks to increase preferences for local (tourism) and the PCT (Smokefree South Glos. and various issues and has also requested that the Executive schools where necessary, by identifying factors health improvement) Member feedback comments of the committee to that influence parental choice and identifying good bodies that she attends as part of her Executive role. To practice in providing key information to parents The Select Committee is also looking forward to building date the committee has asked the Executive Member to about what a school offers. The review is still in its on the relationships being forged with the Police and ensure that the Economic Development Strategy early stages, but the review group has surveyed the Crown Prosecution Service in the Select’s review of includes rural issues and that the West of England Rural approximately 1000 parents of year 6 pupils about Anti-Social Behaviour and when the Select becomes Strategy considers the issues of farming communities the reasons for choosing their preferred secondary responsible for the scrutiny of Crime and Disorder under and sustainable villages. the Police and Justice Act 2006. 14 | Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 | 15

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4. Reports of individual Select Committees

C) Community Care & Housing Further areas of new or renewed strategy, policy and Meeting Ethos/ Public Participation The review is a first for the Committee in that it involves Select Committee action plans that the Committee has reviewed include scrutiny of a number of partnership agencies, primarily the Community Strategy; the Older Peoples’ Strategy; The Committee continues to extend a warm invitation to the Police who’s work in this field is inextricably linked Empty Homes Strategy; the Improvement Plan following Introduction members of the public and welcomes any contributions to the work of the Anti Social Behaviour Team. It is also the inspection of Supporting People; and lately the that they wish to make. Whilst it must be said that the first review that has involved a series of confidential review of residential care needs of older people, and Following the local elections in May 2007, the former public attendance and participation is not high, interviews with members of the public who have the Gypsy and Travellers Development Plan (particularly Community Care, Housing & Health Select Committee this year has seen better public attendance than in experience Anti-Social Behaviour first hand. around issues other than the provision of pitches). was discontinued in favour of separating out the Health previous years. Members of the public who have scrutiny function as a full Select in its own right. Of the attended meetings have commented that they found The review has created much interest amongst 13 councillors on the new Community Care & Housing the meetings interesting and informative and a ‘safe’ Councillors and its membership includes a councillor Holding the executive member to account Select, 7 are new to the committee and 6 are newly forum in which they could speak about issues that are who is not a member of the Communities Select elected members of South Gloucestershire Council. of concern to them. Committee. The local elections of May 2007 resulted in a change of Executive Member with Councillor Matthew Riddle Following the departure on maternity leave of During 2007 the Chair of the Communities Select taking over from Councillor Maggie Tyrrell. A report Democratic Services officer Claire Rees, the Committee Member-led review Committee also chaired the Street Lighting Policy from the Executive Member is a standing item on the was supported temporarily by Vivienne Johnson and Advisory Group which reported to Cabinet in April. Select’s agenda allowing Committee members to latterly by Zoe Wilkins. The committee has also been The Council held 2 Ambitious Scrutiny events in summer scrutinise the work undertaken by the executive member supported by Michael Hewitt (Legal Services). On 2007, both of which were well attended by members of and giving them an opportunity to question him on other behalf of the Committee I would like to place on record the Communities Select Committee. issues. The Executive Member is usually present for the our thanks for the support given over the past year by whole of Select meetings and is encouraged contributes these officers. Following careful consideration of the proposed review during debate/discussion where appropriate. topics the Committee elected to undertake a review of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in South Gloucestershire. The Committee also takes a 6-monthly performance Policy Scrutiny report from the Director. The review group spent a considerable amount of Following the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) time planning the review using project management of the Council’s housing stock to Merlin Housing principles. They met with the Head of Safer South Partnership Scrutiny Society in February 2007, the residual functions of the Gloucestershire, the Anti Social Behaviour Team and former Housing department were incorporated into representatives from the Police and Fire & Rescue The Annual Report of the Health and Well Being the new Community Care & Housing department. Service to learn more about the issues in order to Strategic Partnership was presented to the Committee These corporate changes have resulted in a number determine the priorities and direction of the review. With in January 2008 by Sir Chris Clarke (Chair of the of reviews, strategy revisions and action plans which this in mind they decided that in order to manage the partnership) and Peter Murphy (Director of Community the Committee has been kept busy commenting on. size of the review topic, they should primarily look at two Care & Housing). Comments made by the Committee Notable examples include the department’s Service ‘hotspot’ areas with a view to rolling out best practice were incorporated into the final report before it went to Plan (2008/11); a renewed Housing Strategy (2008/13); across the authority. Cabinet. the department’s response and action plan following the In common with other Selects, Community Care & Commision for Social Care Inspection; the action plan Housing Select has commented on proposals for resulting from the Audit Commission’s inspection of the a framework for partnership scrutiny to assist with residual housing function. monitoring how each Partnership is delivering on the relevant LAA targets. 16 | Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 | 17

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Joint Scrutiny D) CORPORATE CO-ORDINATION Scrutiny of Executive Members 2. ‘Enabling elderly and vulnerable people to stay in SELECT COMMITTEE Although the scrutiny of Health was separated out into their homes for longer’ which was largely concerned The agenda for the Corporate Co-ordination Select a full Select in its own right following the local elections with how the Council might help those persons who Committee includes standing items on the executive in May 2007, it is inevitable that the close links between currently do not meet the eligibility criteria for formal Policy Scrutiny portfolios for Council and Community Leadership, health and social care have necessitated joint working. Community Care services. Corporate Affairs, and External Affairs and Partnership When items such as Older Peoples Mental Health During the past year the Select Committee has Development. The Executive Members responsible Services and reprovision of the Learning Difficulties Day After careful consideration the Committee chose to been monitoring and scrutinising the effectiveness for these portfolios have produced regular reports for Services have been considered, members of the Health review the second topic which is being led by Councillor of corporate policies across the Council’s activities. the committee on developments in their area which, Scrutiny Select Committee have been invited to CC&H Maggie Tyrrell. The review group is currently taking This has included scrutiny of the Community Strategy along with scrutiny of the forward plan, have enabled Select meetings so that they can contribute. This joint evidence from the Senior Officers’ Group within the Refresh – Vision for South Gloucestershire Consultation members to hold the executive members to account scrutiny is aided by the fact that a number of members Community Care and Housing Department and has Document, the draft South Gloucestershire Economic for their current and future proposed actions. This has sit on both Select committees. will shortly be seeking evidence from third party Development Strategy for 2007-2015, and the Chief allowed members to raise concerns on such diverse organisations. Executive and Corporate Resources Departmental matters as the abolition of Regional assemblies, the Service Plan for 2008-2011. Council’s review of contact centres, the progress of Scrutinising Outside Bodies shared service investigations, Local Area Agreement Concluding remarks The committee is also responsible for the scrutiny (LAA) targets and the future of the Savage Wood land at Following LSVT, members of the Committee have of performance management arrangements and Bradley Stoke. wanted to keep a close watching brief over Merlin This has been a very busy year for the Select corporate performance To this end it has received Housing Society. For example, following Merlin’s committee with, what at times has seemed like an reports on a variety of topics including the progress announcement of its intentions with Filton Area Housing endless stream of reviews, strategy documents, policy made addressing the issues arising from the Audit Strategic Partnerships Scrutiny Office, members were keen to hear about Merlin’s long- documents, frameworks and action plans. It has been, Commission’s 2007 report on Customer access, term intention with all of its housing offices. Officers and continues to be, a steep learning curve for the equality, fees and charges; Annual Reports on During the past year the Corporate Co-ordination Select from Merlin Housing Society have continued to keep Committee, including those of us who were not new to Equalities in Employment, and Staff Recruitment and Committee has introduced a standing item on the Members up to date on the work being undertaken by the Committee in May. Retention; the half year performance report for the Chief scrutiny of the Economy and Skills Strategic Partnership, the Society. Executive and Corporate Resources Department; an the Safer and Stronger Strategic Partnership and the I would like to thank the Executive Member and all update on the performance of Revenues and Benefits; Local Strategic Partnership. As part of this scrutiny Officers from various NHS trusts have attended officers who have provided reports to the Committee an update on the Strategic Implementation Plan for the role the Select Committee has received regular reports Committee when needed. For example they recently and attended to answer questions and hear our Local Authority Carbon Management Programme; an from John Godwin, the Chair of those committees attended to discuss the setting of Strategic Performance deliberations. update on the Implementation of the Member Review of outlining the work that has been carried out and Indicators for 2008/9 and to bring members up-to-date The Council’s Contract arrangements, and a progress the developments that have taken place. This has with progress on developing a PCT-owned property in I would also like to extend my gratitude for the work update on the Council’s Improvement programme, enabled members to be kept abreast of the work of Hanham for people with learning difficulties. that Committee spokes’ and members have put in over Fit For Our Future. The Select Committee has also the strategic partnerships and has facilitated a better the past year and the support they have given to me received reports on departmental risk management, understanding of the way in which they work within since taking the Chair in May. I am pleased to say that regular reports on the progress of feasibility studies for South Gloucestershire. This scrutiny will extend to Member-led Review party politics has played no role at all within our Select shared services in Revenues and Benefits, and regular the delivery of LAA targets when the new Local Area Committee meetings. It has been an all-round team budget monitor reports. Agreement is agreed. Members initially scoped two topics:- effort. Given the workloads that we all have as individual 1. ‘Dementia Care’ and looking at issues around the councillors, I think we can be justifiably pleased with the costs of drugs and the increasing numbers suffering Committee’s output over the past year. from dementia in the context of the current National Dementia Care Strategy development. 18 | Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 | 19

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Reflecting Public Concerns Agreements and to consider whether value for money Joint Scrutiny Scrutinising Outside Bodies is being achieved and whether appropriate monitoring The Select Committee regularly questions officers, Chief arrangements and quality control mechanisms are in The Committee has worked jointly with the ex-Avon The Committee continues to work very closely with Officers and Executive Members on issues of current place. The Member Review Group has now met on authorities scrutinising the Bristol Health Services outside agencies. Officers of the various NHS concern. During the past year they have raised queries several occasions. It has collated detailed information Plan (BHSP). This has led to successfully halting the trusts and voluntary organisations regularly attend about proposed measures to combat anticipated on the SLAs held by each Directorate and has proposal to centralise all treatment of Breast Surgery. the committee and are committed to working with parking problems in Yate as a result of large scale interviewed senior officers from each of them. As a The Joint Health Scrutiny Committee has worked closely councillors to keep them informed of national and development works taking place, disposal of the Kings result it has become aware of a need to formalise the with NHS Trusts and patient support groups to ensure regional issues relating to healthcare services. Chase Lease by Property Services, the effectiveness of Authority’s approach to the use of SLA agreements, so that all views were heard. The Select will continue to Information Screen sites in South Gloucestershire, the that a more structured way of dealing with them is used. scrutinise this area of the BHSP. use of dispersal orders in the South Gloucestershire Member-led Review area, plans to improve the One-Stop Shop at The next phase of the review will be to look at the final The Committee has also recently joined a Joint Health Kingswood and post office closures. two aims and consider the effectiveness and value Scrutiny Committee which has been specifically set After careful consideration the Select has chosen to for money of SLAs and what monitoring and quality up to look at the Great Western Ambulance Service look at what mental health services are available in the control mechanisms are in place. As a first step, a NHS Trust (GWAS). This Committee currently includes South Gloucestershire area. Members spent some time Scrutinising Outside Bodies questionnaire has been compiled and sent out to a members from Bristol City Council, Gloucestershire considering the best review to pursue. Several were small number of specific officers for their views on the County Council, North Somerset County Council scoped and reconsidered. As a result the enhanced The issue of proposed Post Office closures and the cost/benefit of SLA services to the Council/Community. and Swindon Borough Council. This will provide review process proceeded. Members were aware that consequent consultation process led to the holding of an important opportunity to monitor and call for the topic chosen was complex. As such members two special meetings of the Corporate Co-ordination improvements in this important area of public service have commenced the review by gathering as much Select Committee to discuss ways in which they provision. information as possible before prioritising further. could be opposed. Both these meetings were well attended, with valuable assistance being given by E) HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE However, once the review had started Members soon Dick Whittington, the representative from Postwatch. Reflecting Public Concerns realised that the topic chosen was more complex A senior manager from Post Office Ltd was also than at first thought. They decided to concentrate on The Committee carries out a statutory scrutiny function in attendance at the initial meeting and answered The Committee regularly receives and welcomes gathering as much information as possible before required by government to scrutinise public health questions on the proposed closures. As a result of submissions from the Patient and Public Involvement deciding how to progress. Meetings have taken place providers. these additional meetings members were able to Forum raising various issues e.g. the re-provision of with officers from the Council and NHS Trusts who have ensure that a detailed and well argued response to the RAC day services. shown a commitment to the review.

proposed closures was provided. Policy Scrutiny The Breast Cancer Unit Support Trust (BUST) raised their concerns, with the Select, in respect of the The Committee has continued to receive and comment Member-led Review centralisation of breast surgery. BUST believed that on many strategic documents e.g. the Community the public consultation was not carried out in an open Strategy, the Learning Difficulties Strategy and South Following on from the previous member review of the and transparent manner. The Select proposed to refer Gloucestershire PCT Strategic Framework and Council’s Contract arrangements, the Select Committee this issue to the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee. This Commissioning Strategy. The Committee welcomed decided to look at the use of Service Level Agreements referral has halted the centralisation of breast surgery. the opportunity to comment on the strategic plans of (SLAs) within the Council. The aims of the Review are partnership organisations. to examine the extent of the Council’s Service Level Agreement arrangements, to identify where and under what circumstances Service Level Agreements are being used, to discern the effectiveness of Service Level 20 | Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 Select Committee Achievements 2007/08 | 21

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Forum regarding traffic light controls on the Ring Road reflected by member representation of their constituents F) PLANNING, TRANSPORTATION AND Bus and Rail Issues were addressed as part of the call-in of the executive concerns and press reports on transport matters, the STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT SELECT decision to change the Local Transport Capital remit of PTSE is of great public interest. As shown by the COMMITTEE By introducing standing items on Bus and Rail updates programme relating to the deferral of the promotion attendance at the residents parking scheme meeting, and Regional Issues updates it succeeded in ensuring of the proposed Park and Ride facility at Nibley, Dave where the public perceive they may be directly affected all members were kept fully up to speed on matters of Redgewell of Transport 2000 is a regular attendee at by Council actions, as with development control Policy Scrutiny which they might not normally have been aware. the Select Committee and on occasion is co-opted to matters, they will attend. allow his detailed knowledge of matters at a regional The Select Committee continued its role as a consultee Reflecting and responding to public concerns the Select and ministerial level help the Select in its scrutiny of / scrutineer on major policy documents, eg on the has monitored/scrutinised bus and rail services in some particular matters. Mr K Walton of the Severnside Member-led Review government’s “Planning for a Sustainable Future”, the detail. Eg. via a mini-review in July, of the supported Community Rail Partnership has also contributed to Community Strategy, Sustainability Appraisal and the bus service budget cuts, it succeeded in achieving discussions on rail matters. The Select took great care in its selection of its current upcoming Core Strategy. Its comments, particularly changes to the supported services which caused least member-led review following the May local authority on the Sustainability Appraisal and Core Strategy were inconvenience to the public. The review did recognise elections and Ambitious Scrutiny events in summer incorporated into officer final reports. that the deletion of the original service 312 was still Scrutinising Outside Bodies 2007. It took on board the clear message from those problematic even with the substitution service, and events that PRIME principles of project management this was again reflected in a petition considered in Where appropriate, the Select endeavours to talk should be followed. It has accepted that this may Holding the Executive member to account December when members asked for further work to directly to outside bodies with a view to seeking well mean that the review will run over more than be undertaken on patronage figures. Following this improvement in services. Eg in December it spoke one municipal year. The review is looking at how the By having a standard item on executive member work and following further member representations, the to Flights Hallmark , the successor the South planning process might be developed to ensure that the scrutiny at each meeting, with the executive member executive member promised to keep the service under Gloucestershire Bus and Coach Company, and Council’s own strategies and those jointly agreed with in attendance, it holds the Executive Member to review. received assurances that certain issues relating to its partners, can be progressed. By meeting/contact account for his current actions and, via the scrutiny of service 517/518 had been resolved. Such face-to-face with Council officers, the Primary Care Trust and the the Forward Plan, for his future proposed actions. The meetings allow both members and the public to be police, this on-going review has already picked up on Select has also alerted the executive member to certain Joint Scrutiny confident that the select process is not just about high issues relating to play, open-space, crime and disorder, issues of which he was not aware which he has agreed level policy matters but is also about services on the licensing, affordable and life-time housing, and health to progress. e.g. the Select highlighted the reference in It has cooperated with the Communities Select ground. It is planned to speak to the First (Bus) Arriva issues which it will discuss at future meetings with Bristol City’s growth point bid to South Gloucestershire Committee and is working jointly with its counterparts (Rail) companies at future meetings. development control and building regulation officers. Council being a “co-delivery partner” in their bid for a at B&NES, Bristol City Council and North Somerset Meanwhile current discussions have already influenced Park & Ride facility off the M32 which this authority had Councils on the on-going scrutiny of the West of the draft Core Strategy document which will set future not been consulted on at all - the Executive member England Waste Management and Planning Strategy PTSE Meeting Ethos/Public Participation high level planning policy. agreed to investigate the matter. The lack of a disabled actively promoting and finally succeeding in having its access ramp at Keynsham railway station was drawn to meetings on this issue of great public interest, in the Select meetings enjoy a certain level of informality the attention of the executive member who undertook public arena. encouraging members and particularly non-members to use his good offices with the rail company to have to take part in the meetings subject to the agreement of one installed. The Select alerted the executive member the meeting. As in the past, this year Dave Redgewell to their concerns about a press report which indicated Reflecting Public Concerns of Transport 2000 has been a regular and valued the possible sharing of the Bristol-Bath Railway Path contributor. The meeting looking at resident parking (currently a cycle path) with a future rapid transit route. The Select regularly questions the relevant planning schemes was particularly well attended by the public. The executive member undertook to seek clarification officers on current issues ensuring that issues raised It has to be admitted that public interest in most from his counterpart at Bristol City Council re the press by the public and particular interest groups are PTSE Select meetings, as represented by public/ report. addressed, eg the concerns raised at a Chase Area press attendance is very disappointing. However, as Designed by South Gloucestershire Council Design+Print Services • www.southglos.gov.uk (access is free from your local library) • Printed on recycled paper • 4302/11/08

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