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Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) at Hastings Borough Council has recently undergone a complete review. This has resulted in a change to the structure of O&S. Hastings Borough Council now has two O&S committees who meet formally on a quarterly basis to discuss Performance Management. The rest of the Committees' time is spent focussing on scrutiny reviews and policy development as decided by the members in their annual work programme.
The Chairs and Vice Chairs of the two committees meet on a quarterly basis to plan the forward agendas for the two committees, monitor performance of the annual work programme and discuss any training needs. They value your views and are keen to hear any suggestions regarding Overview and Scrutiny. They are especially keen to promote some new ways that you can get involved.
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We have two O&S Committees made up of non- Cabinet Councillors. They have a number of essential roles in the effective delivery of Council services:
The O&S Committees scrutinise decisions that are made by Cabinet, usually by influencing the policies before a formal decision is made. They make sure that the decisions taken by the Cabinet are appropriate. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair or any two members of the relevant O&S committee may request a decision be called in for scrutiny. They may then interview the Cabinet Member or Officers and make recommendations to the Cabinet to suggest that the decision be reconsidered.
They also have an important role in helping to develop new policies and making recommendations to the decision makers by:
The Committees can choose to review any of the Council services and to present proposals for improvement or change to Cabinet. Scrutiny Reviews involve carrying out a detailed assessment of a Council service before making recommendations to Cabinet on how the service might be improved.
The Committees also have the power to investigate services provided by other organisations within the borough if they affect the quality of life of people living and working here, for example, the provision of low floor buses.
Until March 2007, the Council decided on a programme of Best Value reviews relating to the Council priorities as laid out in the Local Performance Plan. The reviews were conducted by panels of Councillors and Officers. Their recommendations were reported to the Overview and Scrutiny Committees, and once approved, the recommendations for the future of the service were reported to Cabinet for decision.
With the introduction of the three-year Corporate Plan from April 2007, there is no longer a requirement to undertake Best Value Reviews on an annual basis. Our move towards a three-year strategic planning cycle has been supported by changes to the financial and performance framework within which Local Government now operates, i.e:
The move from annual to three year planning provides stability to plan into future, and identifies milestone actions that need to be taken to address issues in the medium term. This is an evolving process and will be embedded and improved during 2007/08. The Corporate Plan is a living document that provides an organisational steer - it will be reviewed and updated annually to reflect changes and new priorities.
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Has responsibility for Corporate Resources and Personnel and Marketing portfolios. Also looks at cross-cutting issues that fall within the remit of more than one Directorate.
This committee has decided on the following issues as part of their work programme for the forthcoming year:
Has responsibility for Community Well-Being, The Environment, and Community Prosperity portfolios.
This committee has decided on the following issues as part of their work programme for the forthcoming year:
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Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings are open to the public. Dates, times and venues are published in advance and agendas are published five working days before the meeting.
Use this link for Council Meetings, Agendas, Reports and Minutes.
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East Sussex County Council has set up a joint Health Scrutiny Committee with Hastings Borough Council and other local councils. The role includes the review and development of policy, budgets and major decisions in Health Organisations. The representative for Hastings Borough Council on the Health Scrutiny Committee is Councillor Eve Martin.
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From 1999 to 2001 the committees were known as:
Scrutiny Committee (October 1999 – April 2001)
Community Safety & Quality of Life Scrutiny Panel (November 1999 – June 2001)
Community Participation Scrutiny Panel (November 1999 – May 2001)
Modernisation & Best Value Scrutiny Panel (November 1999 – May 2001)
Economic & Physical Regeneration Scrutiny Panel (November 1999 – November 2000)
Transport & Communications Scrutiny Panel (November 1999 – March 2001)
From 2001 to 2003:
Overview & Scrutiny 1 – Community Safety & Quality of Life, Community Participation & Neighbourhood Renewal (July 2001 – April 2002)
Overview & Scrutiny 1 – Leisure, Culture & Amenities and Community, Neighbourhoods & Housing (June 2002 – March 2003)
Overview & Scrutiny 2 – Regeneration & Tourism and Transport & Environment (July 2001 – March 2003)
Overview & Scrutiny 3 – Council Wide Issues, Best Value & Organisational Development (July 2001 – April 2003)
Then for 2003 to 2004 they were:
Overview & Scrutiny Committee for Leisure & Environment (June 2003 – September 2004)
Overview & Scrutiny Committee for Corporate Governance (June 2003 to September 2004)
Overview & Scrutiny Committee for Economic & Social Regeneration (June 2003 to September 2004)
Then for 2004 to 2006 they were:
Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Regeneration and (October 2004 to March 2006)
Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Finance, Housing and Communities (October 2004 to March 2006)
Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Leisure, Culture, Communications and Staffing (October 2004 to March 2006)
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Area co-ordination
Lead officers: Don Katuwawala
Timescale for completion: October 2007
Membership:
Ongoing in 2007-2008
Council Tax Collection
Lead officers: Jean Saxby
Timescale for completion: March 2007
Membership:
Approved by Cabinet April 2007
Use of consultants/external advisors by Hastings Borough Council
Lead officers: Graham Belchamber
Timescale for completion: March 2007
Membership:
Approved by Cabinet April 2007
Public Contact Arrangements
Lead officers: Kevin Boorman and Mark Bourne
Timescale for completion: March 2007
Membership:
Ongoing in 2007-2008
Council Asset and Public Realm Maintenance
Lead officers: Adrian Rogerson
Timescale for completion: December 2007
Membership:
Ongoing in 2007-08
Provision of affordable housing and its relationship with Planning Policy
Lead officers: Andrew Palmer, Tim Cookson
Timescale for completion: May 2007
Membership:
Approved by Cabinet December 2007
Statutory Status of Allotments
Lead officers: Peter Mead
Timescale for completion: March 2007
Membership:
Recommendation to grant statutory status at one allotment site fell at Cabinet June 2007.
Recommendation for remaining sites to keep non-statutory status upheld by Cabinet June 2007.
Building the capacity of out local BME communities:
a prospective framework for meaningful engagement, in conjunction with Community Cohesion
Lead officers: TBC
Timescale for completion: TBC
Membership: TBC
Did not commence in 2006-2007
Voluntary Sector Accommodation
Lead officers: Sandra Garner
Timescale for completion: March 2007
Membership:
Approved by Cabinet April 2007
Maintaining and protecting seafront/delivery of Seafront Strategy
Lead officers: Simon Hubbard, Adrian Rogerson
Timescale for completion: TBC
Membership:
Ongoing in 2007-2008
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As part of the Overview and Scrutiny process, we encourage and very much welcome public views.
You can use this form to:
Please take a few minutes to fill in the form below and send us your views or suggestions.
Please read our Privacy Policy before using this form.
Thank you for taking the time to let us have your views. Whilst we cannot guarantee that your suggestions for Overview and Scrutiny areas will always result in a scrutiny project, every suggestion or comment will be carefully considered.
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Please contact us for further information and advice about Overview and Scrutiny.
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This page last updated: 20/05/2008