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The Panel discussed potential timings for portfolio holder briefings, and the form which these should take, with the noting of previous concerns raised by Panel members in 2021-22 that these briefings would be more useful if the Panel were to specify matters of particular concern and use these briefings to discuss them with the relevant members of Cabinet. The Panel agreed that this would likely help, especially when considering the timing of each briefing. It was noted that portfolio holders would need some time to gain experience in their new roles, given that this was a new administration, and it was felt that 16 August 2022 would be too early for the first briefing, and that the Cabinet Member for Resources should be invited to brief the Panel after the Council’s 2023-24 Budget had been drafted, to scrutinise its aims and content. The Panel noted the importance that these briefings provide a good mix of successes and difficulties.
The Panel discussed how it would sit as the statutory Crime and Disorder Committee of the Council. A Panel member noted that previous meetings had seen all statutory and non-statutory partners invited to provide updates, which had resulted in such lengthy meetings that thorough scrutiny had proved impossible. A request was made that future meetings of that Committee concentrate less on statistics and figures and more on what efforts were being made to deal with perpetrators of crime and antisocial behaviour and to reduce recidivism. The Panel agreed that the Chairman would meet with lead group members to assess how to structure the next meeting of the Crime and Disorder Committee to best scrutinise the work of the Safer Colchester Partnership.
The Panel discussed the problems presented by heavy agendas leading to late finishes for meetings. These included guests being kept waiting before they were called forward for their items, and the Panel requested shorter meetings and a minimization of waiting times for external guests attending to provide evidence. It was noted that hybrid meeting capacity would reduce the need for guests to give evidence in person, and the Council was in the process of obtaining a system to allow for in-house hybrid meetings, live streamed via YouTube.
The Panel considered when it might want to next receive an update on the work of the arts organisations which were in receipt of Council funding. It was suggested by a Panel member that this should be widened to include an update from the relevant portfolio holder to give an update and assurance that the Council is obtaining value for money from the funding it provided. The Panel agreed that there should be such an update scheduled for this municipal year and a suggestion was made that the Panel should specify the areas it most wants to look at, such as encouraging diversity and nurturing new talent, thus condensing the meeting around specific topics. The potential for a wider, all-councillor briefing was mooted, which could give the arts organisations an opportunity to give a wider explanation of their activities, with Scrutiny Panel then focusing in on a narrower consideration of their activities as they related to the requirements within the funding agreements made by the arts organisations with the Council. It was suggested that the holding of an all-councillor briefing be recommended to Councillor Doctor Pam Cox, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Heritage.
The Panel were informed that the timing of the Panel’s Annual Report to Council had been recommended for moving to the end of the 2022-23 municipal year, rather than the start of the 2023-24 municipal year. This would allow the Panel to report back on its work prior to any change in Panel membership which might occur at the start of the 2023-24 municipal year.
RESOLVED that: -
a)
The portfolio holder briefing on 16 August 2022 be cancelled
b)
The Cabinet Member for Resources be invited to brief the Panel after the Council’s 2023-24 Budget had been drafted
c)
The Chairman and lead group members meet to assess how to structure the next meeting of the Crime and Disorder Committee to best scrutinise the work of the Safer Colchester Partnership, and how and whether to examine the governance arrangements relating to the Partnership now operating under the oversight of the wider One Colchester Partnership
d)
The Arts Organisations in receipt of Council funding be invited to a future meeting, which would focus on their commitments to the Council within the relevant funding agreements
e)
The Scrutiny Panel approves its Work Programme for 2022-23, with the cancellation of the portfolio holder briefing which had been proposed for 16 August 2022.
RECOMMENDED to the PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR CULTURE AND HERITAGE that an all-councillor briefing be arranged, to give the arts organisations in receipt of Council funding an opportunity to give a wide overview and explanation of their activities