Agenda and minutes

(a)     Consider Minute of the Meeting held on 12 January 2023 for approval and signature by the Chair.  (Copy attached.)

(b)     Consider updated Scrutiny Business Action Sheet.  (Copy attached.)

1.1       Copies of the Minute of Meeting held on 12 January 2023 had been circulated.  

1.2       </AI1>

<AI2>

Copies of the Action Tracker for Scrutiny decisions had been circulated.  The following items were to be considered at the meeting scheduled for 1 June 2023:  use of school premises by community groups; incorporation of rural proofing into checklists; and public transport and communities evaluation.

DECISION

(a)     APPROVED the Minute for signature by the Chair.

(b)     NOTED the dates where outstanding actions would be considered.

Consider report by Clerk to the Council.  (Copy attached.)

With reference to paragraph 4 of the Minute of 12 January 2023, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Clerk to the Council, the purpose of which was to provide details of those subjects submitted for consideration for review by the Scrutiny and Petitions Committee and to seek approval for their inclusion in the Scrutiny Review Work Programme.  Members were reminded of their strategic role whereby it was appropriate for reviews to scrutinise delivery against a plan, or benefit realisation against a target.  In the first instance, Members were to be cognisant of the two threshold criteria: the proposed review was within the scope of the Council and its objectives; and the scope of the review was clear and concise.  Further criteria were outlined in the report with due consideration to be given to the number of reviews directed to any particular Service at one time to ensure that their resources were not stretched too thinly. Officers from various Services of the Council would provide advice and support where appropriate.  Eleven subjects had been submitted for possible inclusion in the Scrutiny Work Programme, detailed in the Appendix to the report.  This list was to be added to, subject to Council approval, over the coming years as further subject reviews arose.  There followed a discussion on each review proposal.  It was agreed to combine proposals with commonality which resulted in nine proposed reviews as detailed in the Appendix to the Minute.  A further verbal proposal from Councillor Cox was considered and deemed to be under the remit of the Audit Committee.  The Council Management Team were to provide further details and outcomes for the proposed reviews.  The final list of subjects for review was to be considered for agreement at the meeting of 1 June 2023, and then presented to the Council for approval on 29 June 2023.  Reviews would be scheduled to begin in August 2023. 

DECISION

AGREED:

(a)     the list of subjects it wished to take forward for inclusion in the Scrutiny Review Work Programme as detailed in the Appendix to this Minute; and

(b)     that the Council’s Management Team would be asked to provide further details, including outcomes for such reviews, for consideration by the Scrutiny & Petitions Committee prior to it recommending its Review Work Programme for approval by Scottish Borders Council.