Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that sought views on the Work Programme for 2022/23; the identification of any items for pre-scrutiny scrutiny by the Committee from the Key Decision Forward Plan; that sought views on the establishment of a Working Group to review the topic of the adoption of a strategic approach for waste containment/disposal across the Borough and to seek input from Sefton’s representatives on the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority; that  updated on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and seeking consideration of the views of the Cabinet Member – Locality Services and the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services in response to a request of the Committee concerning the implementation of recommendations arising from the Effectiveness of the Council’s Enforcement Activity Working Group.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following matters:

·       a suggestion was made that the recommended review of the adoption of a strategic approach for waste containment/disposal across the Borough be dealt with by an informal meeting of the Committee rather than establishing a Working Group to review the topic. Comments were also raised as to the informal meeting, if agreed, should be held remotely or in-person and what time of the day the meeting should take place

·       a comment was made that for adequate scrutiny to take place then background information on items contained in the Forward Plan needed to be disclosed; the Forward Plan item relating to Sandway Homes was cited as an example, but other Council wholly-owned companies were equally as relevant; and it was alleged that wholly -owned Council companies imposed charges for the copying of documents requested and that it was considered that this was unfair.  Councillor Dowd, Chair of the Committee indicated that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had earlier that day considered a report which allowed Members to carry out effective scrutiny of council companies; and that the extract for each company, including Sandway Homes, would be considered by the respective individual Overview and Scrutiny Committees in the next cycle.

RESOLVED: That