Issue - meetings

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2008/09.

(Annual Report to follow)

The Council received the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2008/09.

Members were extremely complimentary about the report and the continuing progress that had been made in Overview and Scrutiny over the past year. The work that had been undertaken into the Third Sector was particularly highlighted as an example of good practice and the Chair of the relevant Task and Finish Group acknowledged the praise on behalf of the Group.

It was noted that there were significant challenges coming forward in the year ahead with the roll-out of the Councillor Call for Action and the increasing prominence of an outward-focussed role for the Committee in relation to the Local Area Agreement and the Duty of Partners to Cooperate. It was also noted that the Council magazine, Redditch Matters could significantly enhance the public visibility of Overview and Scrutiny and the opportunities for interaction with the local community.

The Members of the Committee and the dedicated support Officers were both commended for their performance. The success in retaining a non-politicised Overview and Scrutiny function was remarked upon and it was hoped that this situation might continue. Members who were not on the Committee expressed the desire to receive feedback on some of the training events that Overview and Scrutiny Members had attended during the course of the year.

RESOLVED that

the Annual Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2008/09 be received and noted.