Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Further to Minute No. 69 of the meeting held on 3 December 2020, the Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer presenting the views of the four Overview and Scrutiny Committees seeking formal approval of changes to the Executive/Scrutiny Protocol.

Appendix A to the report set out the amended Executive/Scrutiny Protocol if the recommendations were approved by the Cabinet. Tracked changes highlighted in red show the proposed changes to paragraphs 6.13, 8 and 8.3.

Decisions Made:

That changes to the Executive/Scrutiny Protocol be approved in relation to:

(1)      Executive Directors and Assistant Directors, whose responsibilities fall within the remit of Overview and Scrutiny Committees, being requested to seek the views of the Committees on all strategies and plans prior to submission to Cabinet and Council; and that if it is not possible, due to time constraints, to submit the final strategy or plan for consideration, then an outline or synopsis be submitted to the Committees to allow an oversight of the proposals to be considered and commented upon; and Section 6 of the Protocol relating to pre-scrutiny be amended accordingly; and

(2)      reference being made to informal meetings of Overview and Scrutiny Committees to review topics in Section 8 of the Protocol.

Reasons for Decisions:

To comply with decisions of the four Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

No alternative options had been considered because a decision was required by the Cabinet.