Agenda item

Work Programme 2023/24, Scrutiny Review Topics and Key Decision Forward Plan

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that sought views on the Work Programme for 2023/24; the identification of potential topics for scrutiny reviews to be undertaken by informal meetings of the Committee; the identification of any items for pre-scrutiny by the Committee from the Key Decision Forward Plan; and updated on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee (LCRCAO&S).

 

In respect of the membership of the LCRCAO&S the Committee was updated  that at its meeting held on 29 February 2024 the Council had appointed  Councillor Robinson to serve as Councillor Howard’s replacement and Councillor Hart had been appointed as the new Scrutiny Link.

 

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

 

·       The role of registered social landlords in the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024 2029

·       Information was sought on the opportunity, through collaboration with colleagues in Children’s Social Care, for a focus on care leavers as part of the Council Housing Governance and Management Arrangements

·       Information was sought on the role of registered social landlords to help meet the capacity challenges associated with the procurement of temporary accommodation

·       Potential topics of care leavers and housing; and the formal and informal processes for engagement between officers at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCR CA) and at Sefton Council, relating to the review, approval, funding, development and implementation of strategies, policies and projects. This relates to both regionally-led (LCR CA-led) and locally-led (Sefton Council-led) proposalsto be the subject of reviews at informal meetings of the Committee

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)

 

the Work Programme for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be noted;

 

(2)

in respect of the selection of topics for review at informal meetings of the Committee:

 

(A)

(i)

an informal meeting of the Committee be arranged to consider the topic of the provision of housing for former looked after children who were now care leavers;

 

(ii)

an invitation be extended to Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services and Safeguarding) to take part in the informal meeting;

 

(iii)

representatives of care leavers, the Corporate Parenting Board and registered social landlords be invited to the meeting; and

 

(iv)

the informal meeting take place on either the 15 or 19 April 2024 and the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer be requested to liaise with Members to secure the most mutually agreeable date and time for the meeting; and

 

(B)

an informal meeting of the Committee be arranged in the new municipal year to consider the topic of the formal and informal processes for engagement between officers at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCR CA) and at Sefton Council, relating to the review, approval, funding, development and implementation of strategies, policies and projects. This relates to both regionally-led (LCR CA-led) and locally-led (Sefton Council-led) proposals;

 

(3)

the briefing notes in respect of Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-2029; Council Housing Governance and Management Arrangements;and Procurement of Temporary Accommodation be noted; and

 

(4)

the update on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted.

 

 

Supporting documents: