Issue - meetings

To review the Partnership’s progress against opportunities identified in the business case and lines of enquiry (report of Councillors Claire Rylott and Stuart Evans (BBC) on behalf of the Partnership Scrutiny Task Group enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of Councillors Claire Rylott and Stuart Evans (Boston Borough Council) on behalf of the Partnership Scrutiny Task Group.

Councillor B Alcock, who had been a member of the Task Group, presented the report.

DECISION:

1)    That the report attached at Appendix 1 and the associated recommendations be noted; and

2)    That the recommendations contained within the report be agreed.

(Other options considered:

·       Not to accept the recommendations;

Reasons for decision:

·       To continue to learn, build on experiences and continue successfully as a Partnership of Councils).

To review the Partnership’s progress against opportunities identified in the business case and lines of enquiry (report of Councillors Claire Rylott and Stuart Evans (BBC) on behalf of the Partnership Scrutiny Task Group enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of Councillor Claire Rylott and Councillor Stuart Evans (BBC) on behalf of the Partnership Scrutiny Task Group which reviewed the Partnership’s progress against opportunities identified in the business case and lines of enquiry.

As a member of the Partnership Scrutiny Task Group, the Chairman of the Performance Monitoring Panel introduced the report and the Scrutiny and Policy Officer attended virtually to support the item.

The Chairman of the Performance Monitoring Panel highlighted the following main points:

• That the panel comprised three members from each authority of the partnership. SHDC membership was drawn from the Performance Monitoring Panel and included Councillor Alcock, Councillor Booth and Councillor Brewis;
• Attendance at the virtual meetings for SHDC members had proved  challenging at times due to IT issues;
• Work of the task group included the gathering of evidence from all three Leaders, the Senior Leadership Team, Senior Officers, the Staff Forum. Enquiries focussed on areas members felt required preparedness for the future, such as in the areas of recruitment, retention and ICT;
• The three Leaders provided interesting and differing perspectives on the questions;
• It was encouraging to see that staff engagement had improved however perspectives in some areas were different to that expressed by senior officers;
• Members felt that the current arrangements for the joint scrutiny task groups of the partnership should be less prescriptive for future years, including that:
  • The ‘annual’ task group only take place if this was needed and not undertaken annually as a matter of course;
  • That the subject matter was able to be varied; and
  • That the membership was not tied to Chairman, Vice Chairman and one other councillor, as currently prescribed. Other interested members needed to have the ability to take part.
• The final report of the task group was at Appendix 1.

Councillor Booth and Councillor Brewis congratulated the task group on the work undertaken which highlighted the progress made by the partnership. The Scrutiny and Policy Officer was also thanked for her support during the process.

Councillor Booth added that he felt the joint partnership task group was very worthwhile and that the work had highlighted the differences between the districts.

AGREED:

a)    That the Annual Joint Scrutiny of the Partnership 2024 final report at Appendix 1 and associated recommendations be noted; and

b)    That the report be recommended to Cabinet.