Hampshire County Council

Policy & Resources Select Committee Item 10

8 April 2008

Annual Report of the Hampshire Select Committees

Report of the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Select Committee

Pre scrutiny / scrutiny areas of investigation and influence

Action/s

Outcome/s

Estimated impact / influence

1. Scrutinising the work of the Executive and the County Council as an organisation

Two pieces of in-depth work undertaken during the year:

· Review of furniture procurement, replacement and disposal

· Review of scrutiny arrangements

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

2. Questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern

Various topics considered at quarterly meetings of the committee including:

· Hantsdirect Contact Centre

· Various ICT issues

· Use of consultants

· HCC's self insurance

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

3. Monitoring the strategic management of performance

Whilst P&R has the overarching responsibility for the monitoring of financial and performance information - which it does through an annual cycle of briefings and public scrutiny - the following topics have also been covered:

· HCC's approach to risk management

· Implementation of the Human Resources Action Plan

· Management of corporate complaints and compliments

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

4. Questioning Executive Members about performance, direction and decision

· External Funding

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

5. Pre-scrutinising recommendations from the Decision Programme

· Gender Equality Scheme

· Development proposals for the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

6. Monitoring the impact of external agencies on the people of Hampshire

· Local Strategic Partnerships

· Future partnership working arrangements in Hampshire

· Predicting the impact of the requirements of the Local Government White Paper and new legislation relating to scrutiny.

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

PRC role

Type of activity and date

Outcome, including action/s

Impact/Influence

Scrutinising the work of the Executive and the County Council as an organisation

In-depth scrutinies during the year 07/08:

· Review of HCC's procurement, replacement and disposal of furniture and fitments

· Review of HCC's Scrutiny arrangements

· Report to P&R Select Committee in May 2008 - date tbc

· First draft of review findings to be presented to P&R Select Committee at April 8 2008 meeting

· Tbc in response from Executive Member in 2008

· Tbc in response from Executive Members in 2008

Questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern

Consideration of topics at quarterly Select Committee meetings:

April 2007:

· Hantsdirect Contact Centre

July 2007:

· ICT update

· Use of consultants

October 2007:

· HCC's self insurance

· Hantsdirect Contact Centre

January 2008:

· ICT update

· Members provided with the opportunity to oversee the implementation of a major corporate project

· Ongoing monitoring of the Committee's recommendations of January 2007.

· Members received the results of a mini-audit of consultancy services used by HCC departments

· Committee received a breakdown of claims against the Council to identify where HCC's greatest risks lie

· Continued monitoring of project progress against project plan

· Regular monitoring of ICT issues identified by the committee for scrutiny

· Members highlighted key issues for ongoing monitoring throughout 2007-8.

· Recommendation that the Member `e-champion' carries out an investigation into Departmental IT Groups.

· Members recommended that an investigation into the value of a corporate policy on the engagement of consultants is undertaken. Work continues in 2008-9 work programme

· Committee supported the approach being taken to manage risk but identified key areas for further monitoring during the 2007-8 work programme.

· Members satisfied with progress and requested visit to Contact Centre site.

· Members identified further issues for ongoing scrutiny in 2008

Monitoring the strategic management of performance

· Annual ongoing cycle of budget and performance monitoring

April 2007:

· Annual Audit Inspection Letter and HCC response

July 2007:

· HCC's approach to risk management

· HCC's Corporate Business Plan and Year End performance results

October 2007:

· Implementation of Human Resources Action Plan

· Corporate Complaints and Compliments

· Committee proposed new approach to continuous budget and performance monitoring, involving regular briefings and live scrutiny.

· July 07: pre-scrutiny of final accounts

· October 07: Half-year financial monitoring

· January 08: Revenue and Capital budgets

· Members informed of priorities for improvement in HCC's services

· Members presented with the results of the annual corporate risk assessment along with specific information about risks associated with partnership working in the light of the Local Government White Paper

· Members provided with the opportunity to identify areas of service delivery requiring improvement

· Members provided with the opportunity to oversee implementation of this corporate plan

· Members provided with details of HCC's response to issues raised in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment regarding complaints handling at HCC

· Proposals implemented leading to increased opportunities for information gathering, pre-scrutiny and challenge of budget decisions throughout the year. HCC approach to budget scrutiny recognised as good practice and is now being followed by other local authorities.

· Members identified efficiency savings and cost reductions as requiring further attention. Members requested a further update on how the Council achieves efficiencies without cutting services

· Members highlighted the need for better and earlier information from Health on the number of children coming into the Early Years system

· Recommendations received by Executive Member Policy and Resources

· Members requested that ongoing consideration of performance management information should form part of their annual cycle of budget scrutiny in order to ensure resources follow priorities.

· Monitoring progress against the priorities in the HCC Risk Management Strategy to become an annual item for the committee's scrutiny of performance.

· Information to be used to assist with prioritisation of topics for scrutiny in the P&R work programme

· Specific issues for annual monitoring identified by committee.

· Members to undertake further monitoring of key issues arising and use information on complaints and compliments to inform the selection of topics for future scrutiny

Questioning Executive members about performance, direction and decisions

January 2008:

· External Funding

· Members received a report from the Executive Member for Economic Development on the action he had undertaken to address concerns raised by the Committee in July 2007

· Holding the Executive to account. Executive Member accepted committee's recommendations and agreed to report back to the committee on a regular basis with details of progress being made

Pre-scrutinising recommendations from the Decision Programme

In addition to the regular pre-scrutiny of reports relating to the County Council's finances, the committee has pre-scrutinised the following:

April 2007:

· Gender Equality Scheme

· Development proposals for Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

· Members highlighted the need to raise awareness of this scheme with the public and service users and recommended that the scheme is monitored regularly through the P&R Select Committee. Recommendations made to Cabinet

· Members supported proposed recommendations to Executive Member

· Recommendations accepted by Cabinet. Members requested that progress with implementing the scheme is reported to the Committee in 12-18 months' time.

· Members provided with opportunity to influence decision making of the Executive.

Monitoring impact of external agencies on the people of Hampshire

July 2007:

· Local Strategic Partnerships

· Members updated on the outcomes and impact of LSPs in Hampshire. Members also received information about proposals for future partnership working arrangements, including the Hampshire Senate

· Members requested that the development of new partnership arrangements became a regular item on the committee's agenda, leading to future scrutiny of partnership performance in 2008-9 once new arrangements are in place

Dealing with other topics

Pre scrutiny / scrutiny areas of investigation and influence

Action/s

Outcome/s

Estimated impact / influence

1. Scrutinising the work of the Executive and the County Council as an organisation

Four pieces of in-depth work undertaken during the year:

· Review of School Exclusions

· Review of Education Provision for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children

· Development of a Pledge for Children in Care

· Completion of stage 1 of the review of Respite/Short Break Services for families of children with severe disabilities

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

2. Questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern

Various topics considered at quarterly meetings of the Committee including:

· New protocols for shared funding for children with complex needs

· Progress with the roll-out of Locality Teams

· Payment of Foster Carers

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

3. Monitoring the strategic management of performance

Activity in this area has ranged from the monitoring of progress against performance targets (i.e. Hampshire Joint Area Review) to monitoring the outcomes of previous scrutiny reviews. Work has covered:

· Non-county placements and independent fostering providers

· Access to Therapy Services

· Monitoring against the Local Public Service Agreement targets

· Prevention and management of risk with children and young people

· Hampshire Joint Area Review

· Special Educational Needs

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

4. Pre-scrutinising recommendations from the Decision Programme

Decisions scrutinised have included:

· Final content of the Pledge for Children in Care

· School Places Plan

· Final Accounts

· Development of the 14-19 curriculum

· Development of an integrated youth service

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

5. Monitoring the impact of external agencies on the people of Hampshire

The Committee's work on Respite/short breaks has resulted in the identification of issues requiring ongoing focused monitoring in the activity of HCC and its partner agencies to ensure the sound delivery of this important agenda.

See detail in table 2 below.

See detail in table 2 below.

PRC role

Type of activity and date

Outcome, including action/s

Impact/Influence

Scrutinising the work of the Executive and the County Council as an organisation

In-depth scrutinies during the year 07/08:

· HCC's approach to identifying, promoting and supporting strategies to tackle key factors leading to and arising from school exclusions.

· Education provision for deaf and hearing impaired children.

· Development of a Pledge for Children in Care

· Respite/short breaks for families of children with severe disabilities. Multi-agency conference on 10 March 2008.

· Report to the CYP Select Committee on April 23 2008

· Report approved at 3 October 2007 meeting of the CYP Select Committee

· Workshops with children in care and Executive Member for Children and Families leading to the development of the Hampshire Pledge.

· Key issues for ongoing monitoring and review of HCC and its partners identified. Timely opportunity for multi-agency partners to engage early to identify opportunities and threats presented by recent government policy development in this field.

· Tbc in response from Executive Member in 2008

· Main recommendation (that the Executive Member did not proceed with proposals to consolidate education provision for deaf and hearing impaired children in Hampshire into three pyramids) accepted by Executive Member.

· CYP Select Committee contribution to policy development in this area. CYP Select Committee recommendations to Executive Member Children and Families regarding final content of Pledge accepted on 22 January 2008. Ongoing monitoring of the implementation of the Pledge to take place throughout 2008.

· CYP Select Committee to make recommendations for where attention needs to be focused on this agenda in 2008. Monitoring of progress against aims to be undertaken in a second conference in early 2009.

Questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern

Consideration of topics at quarterly Select Committee meetings:

July 07:

· Protocol for Shared Funding for Children with Complex Needs

October 07:

· Progress with the roll-out of Locality Teams

January 08:

· Payment of Foster Carers: referral from the Hart and Rushmoor Hampshire Action Team (HAT)

· Members received information on proposals to develop joint commissioning arrangements between HCC and Health.

· Ongoing monitoring of topics of interest to the committee.

· Members considered concerns raised at the local level which impact on the strategic management of the foster carer service in Hampshire.

· Members engaged with emerging policy at an early stage, providing opportunities for ongoing monitoring and possible scrutiny.

· Members provided with opportunity to influence this agenda from an early stage.

· Committee responded to the HAT with details of the Committee's ongoing work in this area. The Committee agreed to use the HAT submission to advise its work on this topic in the 2008 work programme.

Monitoring the strategic management of performance

July 2007:

· Non-County Placements and Independent Fostering Providers - receiving data on Hampshire's position against comparator authorities.

· Access to Therapy Services: monitoring progress against recommendations of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee from 2005.

· Monitoring of Local Public Service Agreement.

October 2007:

· Prevention and management of risk with children and young people.

· Joint Area Review for Hampshire

· Special Educational Needs - update to the Children's Special Needs Task and Finish Group

· Members provided with up-to-date information on Hampshire's position

· Members identified key issues requiring further action and requested that further consideration of these issues take place in the 2008 work programme.

· Members are brought up-to-date with performance issues.

· Monitoring of performance through the Children and Young People Plan of recommendations made by the Policy and Resources Select Committee in June 2006.

· Using performance information to identify priorities for scrutiny activity.

· Monitoring progress against recommendations made by the Committee in May 2006.

· Members used information provided to inform ongoing monitoring of the management of foster care placements throughout 2007.

· Members identified areas of services delivery by HCC and its partners causing concern. Topic referred to 2008 work programme for further scrutiny.

· Members used this performance information, together with the Joint Area Review findings, to inform their selection of topics for their evolving work programme.

· Members identified issues requiring ongoing monitoring within the 2008 work programme.

· Members considered information in the JAR to advise their final selection of topics to be scrutinised in their 2007-8 work programme.

· Members identified issues requiring ongoing monitoring within the 2008 work programme.

Pre-scrutinising recommendations from the Decision Programme

· Development of a Pledge for Children in Care. 23 January 2008.

· School Places Plan consultation. 5 July 2007.

· Final accounts, January 2007.

The Committee also requested that all reports to Executive Members relating to the following areas of work are presented for pre-scrutiny:

· Development of the 14-19 curriculum

· Development of an Integrated Youth Service

· Pre-scrutiny of Executive Member's decision regarding the final content of the Pledge for Children in Care.

· Members decided to input to consultation on the Plan.

· Members provided with the opportunity to question and challenge finance and departmental officers on proposed budget items.

· CYP Select Committee recommendations to Executive Member Children and Families regarding final content of Pledge accepted on 22 January 2008. Ongoing monitoring of the implementation of the Pledge to take place throughout 2008

· Select Committee Members' views contributed to policy development on School Places Plan.

· Members identified several recommendations which were communicated to the Policy and Resources Select Committee as potential proposals to Cabinet.

Monitoring impact of external agencies on the people of Hampshire

· Respite for families of children with severe disabilities.

· 10 March 2008 workshop identified aspects of multi-agency working impacting on HCC's management of short break services in Hampshire.

· Findings of the workshop to be reported with recommendations to Executive Members and partner agencies including Health.

Pre scrutiny / scrutiny areas of investigation and influence

Action/s

Outcome/s

Estimated impact / influence

Scrutinising the work of the Executive and the County Council as an organisation

Questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern

Monitoring the strategic management of performance

Two in-depth reviews:

_ Library and Information Services

_ Outdoor and Field Studies Centres

There has been consideration of many topics at quarterly Select Committee meetings, details of which are provided below.

Integral to scrutiny review process, and evidenced in two in-depth reviews in particular

Report approved at Culture and Communities Select Committee meeting 24 January 2008

Report approved at Culture and Communities Select Committee meeting 24 January 2008

Some topics have been for information for Members in support of their scrutiny of Culture and Communities, eg. Arts Council funding. Other topics have enabled Members to engage and contribute to policy eg. development of tourism strategy.

Recommendations by the Committee accepted, and being taken forward or responses being provided by departments.

The Committee's recommendations were welcomed by the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage on 11 March 2008

The Executive Member for Policy and Resources accepted the recommendations at his Decision Day, 28 January 2008.

Influence on strategy/policy development, improves effectiveness of Members, and potentially performance of Hampshire County Council.

Potential contribution to the ongoing process of management and performance improvement by HCC

Select Committee role

Type of activity and date

Outcome, including action/s

Impact/Influence

Scrutinising the work of the Executive and the County Council as an organisation

In-depth scrutinies during the year 07/08:

Libraries Review

Outdoor and Field Studies Centres Review

Report approved at Culture and Communities Select Committee meeting 24 January 2008

Report approved at the Culture and Communities Select Committee meeting 24 January 2008

The Committee's recommendations were welcomed by the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage on 11 March 2008

It is proposed that a full response to the recommendations will be provided by the Director of Recreation and Heritage

The impact of the review could be critical for the library service as it consolidates its strategy for the next 5 years (one of the recommendations)

Recommendations taken to the Executive Member for Policy and Resources Decision Day, 28 January 2008.

The Executive Member accepted the Recommendations with the amendment that the 4^th recommendation inform the first.

The impact of the review and recommendations is cross-cutting, enabling the development of a co-ordinated management approach, single policy and framework to be applied across all centres. Opportunities may exist to achieve better use of resources and better value.

Questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern

Consideration of topics at quarterly Select Committee meetings:

April 07

· Draft Tourism Strategy

· Draft Cultural Strategy

· Proposal for Review of outdoor and field study centres

· Progress with Library and Information Service Review

· Consultation Strategy

· Mosaic briefing

July 07

· Arts Funding and Innovation briefing

· Progress with Library and Information Service Review

· Progress with Outdoor and Field Studies Centres Review

· Recreation and Heritage: Finance and Performance 2006/7 and 2007/8

· Recreation and Heritage: Monitoring Customer Feedback

· Vehicles in the Countryside (with Environment and Transport Select Committee)

· Update on Basingstoke Canal

October 07

· The `Edge' Programme:

o Hampshire Museums Trust,

o Youth Theatre and Arts and

o Hampshire Museums Service

· Draft New Cultural Strategy for Hampshire

· Progress of Library and Information Service Review

· Progress of Outdoor and Field Studies Centres Review

January 2008

· Recreation and Heritage: Revenue Budget 2008/9, 2009/10 & 2010/11

· Recreation and Heritage: Capital Programme

· Outdoor and Field Studies Centre - Scrutiny Report

· Library and Information Service - Scrutiny Report

· Cultural Pathfinder

Committee members provided input to the consultation for the tourism strategy

Committee provided input to consultation on the Cultural Strategy

Proposal agreed for commencement of review

For information and comment

Raised awareness of existence of strategy to Members.

Raised awareness of power of sophisticated demographic information to better inform planning, targeting and delivery of LA services

Provision of information by the Arts Council and basis for funding of projects

As previous comments for LIS review

For information and comment

Provision of opportunity for Members to question and interact with department and finance officers about issues of finance and performance

Members informed about issues highlighted by complaints.

Members provided with information about issues

Information provided to Committee which is monitoring the Department's management of the canal. Opportunity for Members to raise issues and have questions answered.

Information provided to Committee about this initiative. Opportunity for members to ask questions and raise any issues.

Committee provided feedback to consultation on key ideas for the cultural strategy

As previous comments for LIS review

As previous comments for outdoor and field studies review

Opportunity for Members to question and challenge Finance and Departmental officers on proposed budget items

Opportunity for Members to question and challenge Finance and Departmental officers on R&H capital programme

Report considered, approved and recommendations to be taken to Executive Member Policy and Resources Decision Day.

Report considered, approved and recommendations to be taken to Executive Member Recreation and Heritage Decision Day. Initial response 11 March 08.

For information

The tourism strategy has potential to help stimulate local economies, particularly during summer months.

The cultural strategy should have a cross cutting impact on some council services, could influence applications for national grants where cultural awareness is important, and affect the Council's performance assessment.

Review undertaken - acknowledged positive influence on provision of outdoor and field studies centres by HCC.

Review taken forward with support of Committee.

Further monitoring required.

To improve effectiveness of Members when scrutinising departments through knowledge of possible good practice.

Potential value to Members involved in supporting arts through funding.

As previous comments for LIS review

Review taken forward with support of Committee.

Issues highlighted and challenged by Members

Issues resolved and taken to Executive Member's decision day

Potential benefit to the County's reputation and priority of enhancing our quality of place for people of Hampshire.

As previous comments for cultural strategy

As previous comments for LIS review

As previous comments for outdoor and field studies review

Potential to influence budget at level of detail through P&R Select Committee and Executive Member's Decision Day?

Potential for Members review or make recommendations if concerns existed

Potential to rationalise management, develop unified policy, and better exploit resources in future.

Constructive observations fed into LIS and to be taken forward as part of service improvement.

Monitoring the strategic management of performance

a) Integral part of review of Library and Information Service:

· Library Direction and Performance

Strategy

Marketing

Efficiency

Staff

· Availability of Books and Information Services

· Library Location and Access

· Improving Customer Experience

b) Integral to issues considered for Review of Outdoor and Field Studies Centres which include:

· A County wide approach to planning and managing outdoor and field studies centres in Hampshire that provides coherence and consistency of funding and access.

· How the services provided by independently run centres fit with those provided by the Hampshire centres and how the overall provision of `out of classroom' education fits with County priorities.

· Marketing research be undertaken, and promotion of centres be considered in order to improve occupancy of centres particularly at periods of the school year that are less popular for school usage.

· The funding and value for money provided by centres run by the Southampton and Portsmouth unitary authorities

If recommendations in these areas are accepted and acted upon, an existing good service will consolidate plans to develop and further improve over the next 5 years.

The recommendations have been accepted by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources

Acting upon the recommendations will contribute directly to supporting the County's priorities of `maximising wellbeing' and `enhancing our quality of place'

Acting upon the recommendations will facilitate a coherent management approach to running the centres and contribute to achieving the County's priorities of `maximising wellbeing' and `enhancing our quality of place'

Questioning Executive members about performance, direction and decisions

Review of Outdoor and Field Studies Centres provided opportunity for executive members to consider the report's recommendations and comment upon them.

Executive members accepted recommendations

Cabinet level influence

Pre-scrutinising recommendations from the Decision Programme

Decision lists from Recreation and Heritage Department are considered at every agenda planning meeting for the Culture and Communities Select Committee

Items selected for pre-scrutiny:

· Monitoring Customer Feedback

· Finance and Performance 2006/7 and 2007/8

· New Cultural Strategy for Hampshire

· Draft Hampshire County Council Policy regarding the use and management of motor vehicles on rights of way and unsurfaced roads in the countryside

· Cultural Pathfinder - the experience and learning from participation in a national pathfinder programme

· Funding support to Southampton and Portsmouth outdoor activity centres 2008/9 (see Outdoor and Field Studies Review/Report)

See section on `Questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern' for comments on `impact or influence'

Monitoring impact of external agencies on the people of Hampshire

n/a

Dealing with other topics

Other topics included above

DETAIL OF SELECT COMMITTEE WORK

PRC role

Type of activity and date

Outcome, including action/s

Impact/Influence

Scrutinising the work of the Executive and the County Council as an organisation

In depth scrutinies during the year of:

- Lyndhurst traffic congestion and bypass issue, and

- Transport in the Community

Monitoring outcomes of scrutinies in previous year:

- motorway diversion routes

- bus subsidy mechanism

- street lighting

- Lyndhurst report to March 2008 Cabinet

- Transport report expected to be completed by April 2008

- receipt of Executive response and consideration by Select Committee

Lyndhurst:

a) influence of recommendations to be identified once received and responded to by Cabinet

b) the review itself has impacted on the way in which a long standing issue has been looked at again, involving a wide range of stakeholders and ensuring transparency of evidence considered

- Transport:

a) Influence of recommendations to be identified after the report is received and responded to by the Executive Member

b) The review has impacted on the way in which the public is involved in consideration of county wide transport issues, involving a wide range of stakeholders and ensuring transparency of evidence considered

- Executive response accepted with no further action

Questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern

Consideration of topics at quarterly Select Committee

meetings:

a) Environment Agency State of the Environment Report

b) Carbon offsetting: national consultation

c) Water metering: national consultation

d) The state of Hampshire roads

e) Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007

Various:

* raised awareness of Hampshire issues in the context of the South East

* consideration of issues being consulted on

* consideration of issues, and submission of comments to DEFRA

* raised awareness of current issues and plans for future changes

* selection of topic for light-touch scrutiny

* increased knowledge about legislative changes affecting overview and scrutiny, to be introduced in 2008

Various:

· connection established between Select Committee and Environment Agency

· raising the profile of Hampshire environmental issues

.

· exercise of influence on national policy setting

· strengthening of scrutiny role through increased knowledge among Members of changes to come

Monitoring the strategic management of performance

a) Environment Department performance against Environment and Transportation Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs)

b) monitoring of Local Transport Plan 2006 -2011

* performance considered twice during the year.

* presentation received in October 2007 on a limited range of targets and indicators

· highlighting of and challenge on issues where progress is required

· questionning about plans for improving on areas of weakness

· greater impact could have been achieved if report had been made available earlier

Questioning Executive members about performance, direction and decisions

Invitation to Executive Member to give evidence to the Lyndhurst and Transport scrutinies

* attendance by Executive Member for the Environment at the Lyndhurst meeting in public

* attendance by the Executive Member for the Environment at a Transport scrutiny meeting in public

· broadening of pool of evidence within scrutiny reviews to include the Executive perspective

· consideration of the Executive perspective in drawing review conclusions and making recommendations

Pre-scrutinising recommendations from the

Decision Programme

Consideration of decision lists from the Environment Department

at Select Committee Chairman Agenda Planning meetings throughout the year, with a view to identifying items of interest for consideration by Members at Select Committee meetings

* selection of items for pre scrutiny at Select Committee

meetings during the year:

- establishment of a Transport

Delivery Agency for South

Hampshire

- Hampshire Minerals and Waste

Development Framework -

Core Planning Strategy

- speed and traffic management

- climate change

- Lyndhurst bypass

- vehicles in the countryside

- bus subsidy savings plan

- future funding arrangements for

community transport schemes

- Capital Programme 2007/08

- Revenue Programme 2007/08

· exploration of aspects of topics and appropriate

challenge

· requests for additional reports where necessary

· direct communication of comments and challenges about the budgets to the Executive Member at the meeting

Monitoring impact of external agencies on the people of Hampshire

Environment Agency representative attended April 2007 meeting where the Area Manager for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight engaged in discussion with Select Committee members about the state of the environment in Hampshire and the role of the Environment Agency

Communication of Environment Agency priorities and plans for action

· mutual exchange of information about role and function between the Select Committee and the Environment Agency

· communication to Environment Agency of elected Member perspective on environmental issues

· raised awareness about county wide environmental issues to strengthen scrutiny role of Members

Dealing with other topics

Pre scrutiny / scrutiny areas of investigation and influence

Action/s

Outcome/s

Estimated impact / influence

Consideration of departmental decision lists at Select Committee Chairman Agenda Planning sessions

Included in all Agenda planning sessions during the year

Selection of decisions for further consideration or not

Exercise of Select Committee role of holding the Executive to account

Pre scrutiny of decisions

Discussions of decision topics at all Select Committee meetings during the year

Challenge to the department originating the decisions

- raised awareness of decision topics among the Committee members

- challenge to aspects of proposed decision

Progress with scrutiny reviews

a) in depth scrutiny of Transport in the Community progressed during the year

b) in depth scrutiny of Lyndhurst bypass issues during the year

c) monitoring of outcomes of previous years scrutinies

Reporting timescale: April 2008

Report made to Cabinet in March 2008

Receipt of Executive response and consideration by Select Committee

To be identified after the report is published

To be identified when report is considered by Cabinet

Executive response accepted with no further action