Archived decisions

Contact: Emma Gordon

1. Introduction

This report introduces proposals for approaching the scrutiny of partnerships and the Hampshire Local Area Agreement.

2. Rationale

2.1 National background

2.1.1 The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 states that `Executive arrangements by a local authority must include provision which, [...] in the case of a local authority in England, enables any member of the authority to refer to an overview and scrutiny committee of the authority of which he is not a member any local government matter which is relevant to the functions of the committee'. The Act also facilitates the appointment of joint overview and scrutiny committees comprising a county council and one or more district councils in a local area. These committees have powers to make reports and recommendations relating to the attainment of any local improvement targets specified in local area agreements. Furthermore, the Act contains provisions under which a district council may confer on their overview and scrutiny committees the power to make reports and recommendations to the related county council, or that council's executive which relate to any local improvement targets in the local area agreement. Specific regulations relating to the execution of all these activities is awaited.

2.2 Local background

2.2.1 Findings of the Review of Scrutiny by the Policy and Resources Select Committee during 2007-8 demonstrated strong encouragement from some Executive Members for scrutiny to focus on the governance of partnerships. It was noted that the advent of Local Involvement Networks (LINKs) should complement scrutiny but would require better arrangements for partnership scrutiny to be put in place. The role of democratic accountability in emerging partnership arrangements was highlighted in this respect.

2.2.2 Feedback from HCC's departmental directors also highlighted the significant impact scrutiny stood to make in the emerging environment of increased partnership working.

2.2.3 Members of the Policy and Resources Select Committee are therefore keen to ensure that communications and working relationships are established to support future opportunities for joint scrutiny with districts and opportunities for partnership scrutiny as they emerge.

3. Proposed approach to partnership scrutiny

3.1 Links between the County Council and Hampshire's district council scrutiny functions are still very much their infancy. In order to gauge the districts' views on how best joint scrutiny arrangements and partnership scrutiny could function, it is proposed that a series of meetings are arranged commencing in September 2008.

3.2 In order to manage the programme of Members' visits to districts, it is recommended that 3 lead Policy and Resources Select Committee Members, accompanied by 3 deputies, undertake a programme of visits to districts within each of the following 3 groups:

· Group 1: North Hampshire:

o East Hampshire District Council

o Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

o Hart District Council

o Rushmoor Borough Council

· Group 2: West Hampshire:

o New Forest District Council

o Eastleigh Borough Council

o Winchester City Council

o Test Valley Borough Council

· Group 3: South Hampshire:

o Fareham Borough Council

o Gosport Borough Council

o Havant Borough Council

3.3 The outline agenda for each meeting would include the following:

· Discussion of general matters of interest and concern for scrutiny in each district

· Sharing of scrutiny work programmes

· Identification of any high risk, high profile partnerships contributing to outcomes in the Hampshire Local Area Agreement.

3.4 On this latter point, the HCC Partnership Portal database can provide outline information on the top tier, high risk partnerships in which HCC is involved.

3.5 The HCC Scrutiny Team is in the process of developing a framework within which topics suitable for inclusion in scrutiny work programmes can be prioritised. This prioritisation framework was a further recommendation of the Policy and Resources Select Committee's Review of Scrutiny Arrangements. Once meetings with districts have concluded, the information gathered at these meetings will be taken through the prioritisation framework and, under the direction of the Policy and Resources Select Committee, key items for possible individual or joint scrutiny will be agreed. Additionally, a mechanism to support the scrutiny of partnerships will be developed. This process will help to reinforce the role of the Policy and Resources Select Committee as the overall management and coordination committee for HCC's scrutiny function.

3.6 Future work on developing joint scrutiny arrangements with districts will involve the development of ongoing working relationships, protocols and communications between the County and district scrutiny functions.

4. Recommendations

That the Policy and Resources Select Committee:

1) Endorses the proposed approach to setting up joint scrutiny arrangements and partnership scrutiny described in section 3 of this report.

2) Identifies 3 lead Members and 3 deputies to undertake the programme of meetings with Hampshire's district councils outlined in section 3.2 of this report.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

(Quote list of documents here: either "none" if 1 or 2 above apply; or list the relevant letters, memos, etc. and their location)