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Report to: |
Place Scrutiny Committee
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Date of meeting:
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30 September 2022 |
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By: |
Assistant Chief Executive
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Title: |
Place Scrutiny Committee future work programme
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Purpose: |
To review and agree items for the Place Scrutiny Committee’s future work programme and receive updates on previous work. |
RECOMMENDATIONS: The Place Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:
1) Review and agree agenda items for the future Committee meetings, including items listed in the updated work programme in appendix 1;
2) Review and agree topics for Scrutiny Reviews to be included in the Committee’s future work programme; and
3) Review upcoming items on East Sussex County Council’s (ESCC) Forward Plan in appendix 2 to identify any issues that may require more detailed scrutiny.
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 examine 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 topics
for review, the Committee can determine the priority of the work
within the resources available to the Committee.
2. Work programme and future scrutiny reviews
2.1 The Committee held its annual working programming Away Day on 6 September 2022 to review the items in the current work programme and discuss the future agenda items and other scrutiny work of the Committee. At the Away Day the committee members proposed a number of changes to the work programme and an updated work programme is contained in appendix 1 of the report for agreement by the Committee. The main additions to the work programme are reports on the following topics:
· Community Asset Transfers and Asset Use – an initial report to understand the current policies and processes for declaring assets surplus and offering them for community use through Community Asset Transfers (CAT). The suggested timescale for the report is March 2023.
· Library & Information Service – An update report to outline the current service provision, progress against the Strategy, current challenges and priorities and any future developments for the Service. Timescale to be agreed.
· Environment Act, Food Waste – A report on the implications of the Environment Act for ESCC of the requirement to put in place a food waste collection service. The report to cover the implications for ESCC as the waste disposal authority and a presentation on the position and plans to deal with this requirement, including the models or facilities required to process the food waste and the opportunity for local composting/processing. Timescale to be agreed.
· Electricity Grid Capacity – A report on the capacity and constraints of the electricity grid in East Sussex to accommodate Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure and other developments such as solar farms and new housing developments. Timescale to be agreed, dependent on agreement with potential witnesses UK Power Networks/electricity distributors.
2.2 The Committee is also asked to consider whether there are any potential topics for future scrutiny reviews, or agenda items for future meetings, that should be included in the work programme. This can include any topics or issues identified through the Committee’s work on the Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) process.
Updates from Reference Groups and Working Groups
2.3 The Committee will receive verbal updates from the Chairs of the various reference groups and working groups that have met since the last Committee meeting. The groups are:
· Highways Contract Re-Procurement Reference Group
· LTP4 Reference Group
· Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) Working Group
2.4 The Committee is asked to note that the date of the Place Scrutiny Committee RPPR Board meeting will be Thursday 22 December 2022 at 2.00pm and will be held remotely via Teams. All Place Scrutiny Committee members are invited to attend.
3. Forward Plan
3.1 A copy of the Council’s Forward Plan of executive decisions for the period 1 September 2022 to 31 December 2022 is included in appendix 2. The Committee is requested to review the forthcoming items on the Forward Plan to identify any issues that may require scrutiny work. The Forward Plan is revised and published on a monthly basis, and Committee members should regularly review the Forward Plan.
4. Conclusion and reasons for recommendations
4.1 The Place Scrutiny Committee is recommended to agree the updated work programme contained in appendix 1 and agree any further agenda items or topics for scrutiny reviews to be included in the future work programme. The Committee is also recommended to review the Council’s Forward Plan of decisions to identify any issues that may require more detailed scrutiny.
PHILIP BAKER
Assistant Chief Executive
Contact Officer:
Martin Jenks, Senior Scrutiny Adviser
Tel. No. 01273 481327
Email: martin.jenks@eastsussex.gov.uk
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
None.