{Disestablished Committee} - Finance and General Purposes Overview and Scrutiny Committee

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February 2007

Present:

• Councillor Priest - In the Chair 
• Councillors Andrews, Clayton, Isherwood, Morrison, Trafford, Trotman and Watson. 

Present by Invitation:

• Councillor R Cowell, Assistant Executive Member for Planning and Highways 
• Sir Richard Leese, Leader of the Council 

FGP/07/12 Overview and Scrutiny and the Manchester Partnership

A Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Performance) and Head of Democratic Services was submitted summarising the reports and discussions that had taken place before the Finance and General Purposes Sub Group.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Performance) addressed the Committee and highlighted how the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill would introduce powers to subject local authorities' partners to scrutiny from 2008. It was envisaged that this would bridge the gap between partner agencies and local communities and encourage greater accountability within partnerships.

The Leader of the Council highlighted to the Committee how the Council was negotiating more focused Local Area Agreement targets which better reflected local concerns.

Members expressed broad support for the new powers and how they would impact on Overview and Scrutiny, but suggested that a uniform policy would not be appropriate for all Manchester's diverse partners and sought clarification regarding how ward co-ordination would be strengthened to support the new role.

The Leader of the Council stated that Overview and Scrutiny Committees need not focus on particular organisations, but rather more general issues of concern and could invite the partners that tie into this.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Performance) responded that Councillor Battle was currently undertaking a review of ward co-ordination, and how the Council can maximise the benefit of providing 'bottom-up' information from residents and Ward Councillors to service providers in ward co-ordination meetings. The Leader of the Council reassured members that the focus on thematic partnership would not detract from the importance of the views of local service users. In relation to this members commented that although information was often passed upwards from ward-co-ordination meetings to service providers, little feedback on the effect of those recommendations was returned to ward co-ordinators and Councillors who could inform residents on their practical impact at the next meeting. The Leader of the Council stated that the procedures in place required reviewing to address this.

Members commented that a structure would need to be put in place to develop positive relationships where partners had a full understanding of the role of Overview and Scrutiny and the positive effect it can have on improving services internally and externally. It was important that lead officers for Scrutiny Committees could co-ordinate Committee arrangements with external organisations effectively through these relationships.

Members also questioned whether the current structure of Scrutiny Committees would accommodate the new powers or whether a new model more closely aligned with the thematic partnerships, whilst still retaining flexibility, would be more appropriate. This was being considered through the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group.

In relation to Community Calls for Action, members expressed concern that community concerns are heard at the appropriate forum, and that complaints are not heard by Overview and Scrutiny Committees as Community Calls for Action prior to being referred to the Council's complaints system or through ward co-ordination.

Members requested a list of the Council's current partners; the Assistant Chief Executive (Performance) undertook to provide this.

Decision

To make the following recommendations to the Executive and the Manchester Partnership Board: -

1. That all Members of the Council are provided with full details of the structure and financial arrangements of partnership arrangements.

2. That all Members of Overview and Scrutiny Committees need to be provided with full information regarding Local Area Agreement targets, and targets established for partnerships.

3. That all Members of Overview and Scrutiny Committees are provided with agendas, minutes and reports of meetings from the thematic partnerships' meetings.

4. That a clear and systematic approach to developing relationships with the City Council's partners be devised, so that staff within them are aware of how Overview and Scrutiny can contribute to their service, and are advised on how to make information clear and informative in presentations.

5. To recommend that the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group review the structure and remit of the existing Overview and Scrutiny Committees to ensure that they are appropriate to scrutinise the partnerships in place in the city, at their next meeting.

6. To note the demands that the new role will place on the Scrutiny Support service and recommend that the existing service be developed to be able to provide a comprehensive information base to members.

7. To recommend that an appropriate framework exists for ensuring that community concerns are heard at the appropriate forum, and that complaints are not heard by Overview and Scrutiny Committees as Community Calls for Action prior to being referred to the Council's complaints system or through ward co-ordination.

8. To recommend that members are provided with bespoke training for scrutinising external partners.