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.

(Consultation strategy requires monitoring - a review?)

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