Report to:	People Scrutiny Committee
Date of meeting:	18 November 2021
By:	Assistant Chief Executive
Title:	People Scrutiny Committee Work Programme
Purpose:	To review and discuss the People Scrutiny Committee’s refreshed future work programme

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RECOMMENDATIONS: The Committee is recommended to:

1) review and agree the refreshed work programme set out at Appendix A, developed following the recent work planning awayday;

2) agree to progress proposed scrutiny reviews on School Attendance and Adult Social Care Workforce to the scoping stage and to appoint Members to the scoping boards; and

3) review upcoming items on East Sussex County Council’s Forward Plan as set out at Appendix B to identify any issues that may require more detailed scrutiny.

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1          Background

1.1       The work programme is an important tool in ensuring the correct focus and best use of the Committee’s time in scrutinising topics that are of importance to the residents of East Sussex, and the efficient and effective working of the Council. It also provides clarity for those who may be requested to give evidence to the Committee on the issues under review, and the questions the Committee requires answers to.

1.2       Discussion of the work programme provides the Committee with the opportunity to consider topics that it may be of value to scrutinise, and to decide whether further scoping work is required. This provides a basis for deciding the best way of scrutinising a topic, the timescale, and who from the Committee will be involved in carrying out the review work. If there are a number of potential topics for review, Members can determine the priority of the work within the resources available to the Committee.

2          Supporting information

Work programme and future scrutiny reviews

2.1       The Committee’s work programme has undergone a detailed review following the Committee’s work planning awayday in October. The refreshed work programme is attached at Appendix A and includes two new areas that the Committee has identified as potential scrutiny reviews:

• Adult Social Care Workforce – scoping whether there are new opportunities and innovative ways to address ASC workforce challenges in ESCC’s own workforce and the independent sector following the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• School attendance – to understand the drivers of school absences, the impact of school absences on children and young people, the work the Children’s Services Department is undertaking in response, and whether there are areas where scrutiny could make recommendations for change or improvement.

2.2       Subject to agreement at this meeting, scoping of these reviews will be progressed by scoping boards, the membership of which is to be confirmed. The scrutiny review of school exclusions remains on the work programme and is planned to progress in School Term 4 (Spring 2022); and a review of Elective Home Education (EHE) may be also be progressed at a later date when further national information is available.  

2.3       The refreshed work programme also:

• includes presentations and briefings on Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children; the awaited national Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Review; and ESCC’s work on Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls, all of which the Committee requested following its Awayday; and

• Confirms membership of the School Exclusions Review Board; the Health and Social Care Integration Programme (HASCIP) Reference Group; the Loneliness and Resilience Scrutiny Reference Group; and the Educational Attainment and Performance Scrutiny Reference Group.  

2.4       The Committee is asked to review, discuss any amendments to, and agree the refreshed work programme.

2.5       When considering potential topics for inclusion in the work programme, the Committee is asked to consider a range of questions. These include:  

• Is the topic relevant to the Council’s Corporate Priorities?
• Is the issue of concern or of relevance to East Sussex residents?
• Can Scrutiny have an impact and add value by scrutinising this issue, service or policy?
• Is the issue one that the Committee can realistically influence?
• Are the resources needed to undertake the review available?

2.6       Any suggestions for potential Scrutiny Review topics should be discussed with the Chair, or the Senior Policy and Scrutiny Adviser, in advance of the Committee meetings.    

Forward Plan

2.7       A copy of the Council’s Forward Plan of executive decisions for the period 1 November 2021 to 28 February 2022 is included at Appendix B. The Committee is requested to review the forthcoming items on the Forward Plan to identify any issues within the remit of this Committee that may require more detailed scrutiny. The Forward Plan is revised and published on a monthly basis and Committee members should regularly review the Forward Plan.

3.         Conclusion and reasons for recommendations

3.1       An important part of managing the work of the People Scrutiny Committee is regularly reviewing its future work programme. This involves the Committee assessing its priorities, ensuring its ongoing reviews are completed in a timely fashion and identifying new areas for scrutiny.   

3.2       The People Scrutiny Committee Work Programme has just undergone detailed review following a work planning awayday and the refreshed work programme is attached for the committee to review and agree so that work on the areas of interest identified can progress.

PHILIP BAKER
Assistant Chief Executive

Contact Officer: Beth McGhee, Senior Policy and Scrutiny Adviser           

Tel. No. 01273 335828

Email: beth.mcghee@eastsussex.gov.uk

Appendices

Appendix A – People Scrutiny Committee – Work Programme

Appendix B – Council’s Forward Plan of executive decisions 1 November 2021 to 28 February 2022