Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This report provides an update on the work of Hampshire County Council's Select Committees in 2008-9.

1. Introduction

1.1 `Overview and Scrutiny' was introduced as part of the new political arrangements set out in the Local Government Act 2000. The Act required all local authorities to revise their political management function and put in place new arrangements. Hampshire chose a 'Leader and Cabinet' model of decision-making and an independent scrutiny function.

1.2 Under this model, the Cabinet is responsible for making decisions, and scrutiny holds the Executive to account for these decisions.

1.3 Developments at a national level have continued to impact on overview and scrutiny throughout 2008 and further change is awaited in 2009. Hampshire's select committees have been proactive in responding to new requirements, whilst simultaneously delivering full work programmes, including several major reviews.

1.4 A full summary of each Committee's work in the period 2008-9 can be found at /decisions/decisions-docs/090304-parprc-R0226112536 However, key highlights of the Committees' work follow below.

2. Highlights of Select Committee activity

2.1 Policy and Resources Select Committee

2.1.1 In addition to regular monitoring of a range of interest areas, the key focus of the P&R Select Committee in 2008-9 has been the review of the County Council's scrutiny arrangements. This was a major piece of work, recommendations of which were endorsed by the Cabinet in October 2008. Implementation of the findings has commenced and the impact is already evident with, most notably, greatly improved links with Hampshire's district and borough council scrutiny functions.

2.1.2 Throughout the year the Committee has been monitoring legislation and national guidance relating to overview and scrutiny in order to prepare for the impact of forthcoming regulations relating to scrutiny in 2009. This work has involved in-depth consideration of how joint scrutiny with districts and boroughs may function, together with the development of a proposed approach to scrutinising partnerships and the Hampshire Local Area Agreement. Scrutiny of the County Council's performance and finances continues to be a major part of the Committee's remit, with the new annual cycle of budget and performance scrutiny assisting members in tracking the impact of financial decisions over time.

2.2 Children and Young People Select Committee

2.2.1 The Children and Young People Committee has undertaken a wide variety of activities, from workshops and site visits, to in-depth select committee-style enquiries in order to execute its work programme in 2008.

2.2.2 Major pieces of work have included the finalising of the 2007 review of School Exclusions. The Executive Member's response, which was received in August 2008, demonstrated a high level of appreciation for the Committee's thorough investigation of this complex topic. The Committee's recommendations are now informing new workstreams within the Children's Services department and the Committee's monitoring of the full range of recommendations will commence in 2009.

2.2.3 The scrutiny of Short Break Services which commenced in early 2008 will conclude with a second multi-agency workshop in May 2009. Between times, the Committee has been monitoring the development and implementation of the Aiming High for Disabled Children agenda which has led to a natural broadening of the Committee's field of interest with regard to short break services. The workshop in 2009 will therefore address aspects of the Aiming High agenda to contextualise the Committee's scrutiny of this topic.

2.2.4 The major review for 2008 - Recruitment and Retention of High Quality Teachers and Headteachers - has been concluded and the final report is due to be received at the March 12 2009 meeting of the Committee.

2.3 Culture Communities and Rural Affairs Select Committee

2.3.1 The Committee has followed up and monitored progress with the major review of the Library and Information service completed last year and adopted by the Executive Member. All the recommendations are being implemented and a forward looking strategy is being formulated to take on the themes of the review and other improvements to services.

2.3.2 As a consequence of the review of the management and financing of the County's outdoor and field study centres, the Committee has been reviewing similar issues for the various charitable outdoor centres around the County, and has come up with a score-card system of evaluating these centres' effectiveness and the extent to which they accord with the County Council's priorities. That approach has been endorsed by the Executive Member and it will also be applied to the County's own centres so that the performance and contribution of all can be assessed against the same criteria.

2.3.3 Another significant review currently under way is that relating to "hard to reach" groups and the way in which the County Council and other partners seek to engage with them, to encourage awareness and take-up of services. There have already been three in depth sessions with witnesses and a wealth of relevant information is emerging. That will need to be evaluated and more evidence may be needed to substantiate the common themes that are beginning to manifest themselves. This represents work in progress.

2.3.4 In addition to the detailed reviews summarised above, the Committee is continuing to receive information about the wide range of partners and external organisations whose work impacts on the County Council and its residents, in areas such as the arts, nature conservation and countryside access.

2.4 Environment and Transportation Select Committee

2.4.1 The Committee began its year with planning the follow-up to the two major scrutiny reviews from 2007/08: Transport in the Community, and Lyndhurst bypass. This involved consideration of the Executive response to the recommendations, and identification of aspects the Members wished to continue to monitor. This was built into the work programme for the year, allowing continuing oversight of outcomes in relation to identified recommendations, and on-going challenge.

2.4.2 The Members selected a new topic for in-depth scrutiny in the autumn, and a review on the subject of Road Infrastructure and Housing Growth is now underway.

2.4.3 In addition to focused and light touch reviews, the Committee's work programme has included regular attention to, and follow up of, topics within the Committee's terms of reference, some of which have been scrutinised in real-time. Work has also been undertaken on monitoring aspects of Hampshire County Council performance.

2.4.4 Regular pre-scrutiny of Executive Member decisions and engagement with outside bodies has complemented the above work, supporting a well-balanced work programme for the year.

2.5 Safe and Healthy People Select Committee

2.5.1 The Safe and Healthy People Committee has undertaken a variety of work during the year, including questioning and exploring areas of interest and concern relating to the Committee's terms of reference, pre-scrutinising matters from the Executive decision programme for Adult Services and Regulatory Services, and monitoring the strategic management of performance in relation to Adult Services.

2.5.2 Adoption by members of the committee of the role of Lead Scrutineer in 2007 encouraged the identification of topics of interest for inclusion in the Committee's agenda during the year. It also informed the process of identifying this year's choice of scrutiny review. There have been links with outside bodies such as the Hampshire Local Involvement Network (LINk), and partner agencies such as Age Concern Hampshire in connection with scoping this year's major review.

2.5.3 In depth scrutiny has begun on the subject of age-proofing mainstream public services in Hampshire as part of the wider issue facing the county of preparing for an ageing population. This review will be on-going during 2009, and involve a variety of organisations and representative groups; it will also consider, where appropriate, partnership aspects as well as prospects for improvement. The outcome of the review is expected to be reported to the January 2010 committee meeting, followed by communication of the recommendations to relevant decision making bodies and individuals.

2.5.4 In addition, scrutiny monitoring of progress with the implementation of aspects of the Access to Services for People with Alcohol Problems review has taken place during the year; this has allowed Members oversight of the suggestions for improvements identified in the review, and the opportunity to make further comments and additional challenges.

2.5.5 Members have also kept abreast of national policy change impacting on the work of Select Committees in general.