Archived decisions
POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEES (PRCs) - TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. Part 1 : Chapter 4, paragraph 4.1(f) of the Constitution requires the County Council to approve changes to committees' terms of reference. Proposed revised terms of reference for the County Council's PRCs are attached as an appendix to this report, to take effect from 1 October 2006 as a direct consequence of the Democratic Review. The key outcomes of the review were approved by the Council at a special meeting on 30 January 2006. The terms of reference replace paragraphs 6.3 to 6.5 of Part 1, Chapter 6 of the Constitution; it is recommended that consequential amendments to Part 3D, the Rules of Procedure for PRCs, be dealt with by the Monitoring Officer and reported to the next meetings of the Cabinet and Council in line with the procedural requirements of Part 1:Chapter 15 of the Constitution for other detailed changes.
2. The proposed terms of reference have been developed in consultation with a cross party group of leading non-Executive members and have their support. Given the County Council's approval of the new terms of reference, the next significant step will be to formulate a realistic work programme for each of the PRCs and to prepare for implementation of the revised operating arrangements.
3. In the context of the Democratic Review, the Committee has also agreed the framework within which the Hampshire Action Teams (HATs) will commence their work. The HATs are piloting new ways of working at local level and the framework will be kept under review accordingly. The approved framework has been circulated electronically to all members of the Council and copies are in the Members Rooms.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the revised terms of reference for PRCs set out as an appendix to the report be approved and that the Chief Executive be authorised to make consequential changes to part 3D of the Constitution, the Rules of Procedure for PRCs.
Appendix
POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEES - TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. Policy & Resources
· Coordinating Scrutiny:
_ To ensure resources of the scrutiny function are being effectively targeted
_ To ensure the outputs and outcomes of Scrutiny are having impact and being evaluated
_ To prioritise topics for scrutiny task & finish groups (thematic reviews) to create an annual work programme.
_ To identify where each thematic review on the work programme should be ratified.
_ To provide an annual report to Full Council outlining the effectiveness, outcomes and learning of the scrutiny function (i.e. PRCs and overall work programme).
· Scrutinising Corporate Functions:
Looking at how policies, services and decisions ensure effective use and management of all resources; how effectively is cross-cutting / corporate policy developed, implemented and performance evaluated and improved.
_ Efficiency; Human Resources; Partnership working (internal & external); Procurement; Financial Management (eg budget setting and monitoring, final accounts, capital programme, capital receipts); Asset& estate management; Information management (including records management); Communication; Use of IT; Health & Safety; Corporate policy & performance; Business Units.
_ Departments Covered:
_ Chief Executives (including HR)
_ Treasurers
_ PBRS (Property and Business particularly)
_ IT Services
_ R&H (Records Management)
_ Potentially whole organisation as a corporate entity
2. Children & Young People
Looking at how the needs and interests of children and young people are met by all departments, policies, services and decisions; and how performance is evaluated and improved.
· Universal, targeted and specialist services for children & young people: prevention & management of risk; social care; children's & young people's wellbeing; Education - supporting and enabling learning for all children & young people; internal and external partnership working re Children & Young People (i.e. Recreation & Heritage / Adult Services); supporting parents & families.
· Departments Covered:
_ Children's Services
_ Recreation & Heritage
_ Any other Department doing work with or impacting on Children or Young People
3. Safe & Healthy People:
Looking at how policies, services and decisions support safe, well, independent, and continuously developing people (adults and older persons).; how they are implemented and how performance is evaluated and improved.
· Working alongside the Health Overview & Scrutiny function with primary focus on how Hampshire County Council is contributing to delivering the Wellbeing agenda for adults; crime prevention; crime & disorder; adult social care; promoting independence & quality of life for older people, healthy & safe families; Regulatory Services
· Departments Covered:
_ Adult Services
_ Chief Executives
_ Recreation & Heritage
_ PBRS (particularly Regulatory Services)
_ Any other relevant functions in other Departments
4. Culture & Communities:
Looking at how policies, services and decisions support thriving culture and sustainable, inclusive communities; how they are implemented and how performance is evaluated and improved.
· Culture & recreation; heritage; economic development; community development; developing sustainable communities; supporting diversity & inclusion; community engagement & consultation; lifelong learning for adults
· Departments Covered:
_ Recreation & Heritage
_ Chief Executives
_ Adult Services
_ Environment
_ Any other relevant functions in other Departments
5. Environment & Transportation:
Looking at how policies, services and decisions support a positive and sustainable environment, accessibility to services for all and effective management of natural resources; how they are implemented and how performance is evaluated and improved.
· Passenger transport; transport policy; road infrastructure; access; protection of the environment; sustainable development; climate change; land management; waste management.
· Departments Covered:
_ Environment
_ Recreation & Heritage
_ Children's Services
_ Adult Services