Issue - meetings

That the Forward Work Programme be noted.

The Housing and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Facilitator introduced the forward work programme of the Committee.  She informed Members that it had been agreed that the next meeting of the Committee on 26 March, would be held at Hawarden High School.  The Facilitator agreed to write to Members to inform them of the arrangements made with the School.

            The Facilitator also suggested, following consultation with the Chair, that the Draft Improvement Plan 2015/16 be added to the forward work programme for the meeting scheduled for the 24 April, 2015.  She also suggested that the Year End Performance Reports be moved back a cycle and submitted to the meeting scheduled for 16 July, 2015.  This would allow for the meeting scheduled for the 4 June, 2015 to be a joint meeting with the Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  The Committee agreed with these suggestions. 

            Councillor Nigel Steele-Mortimer asked that a working group be set up to look at issues around the school transport policy.  The Chief Officer (Education & Youth) advised that there were no plans to amend the current policy.  The Chairman suggested that a report outlining the current school transport policy be submitted to the next meeting scheduled for the 26 March, 2015, to allow Members to consider whether a working group should be set up to look at any issues.

            Councillor Nancy Matthews said that a commitment had been given during the budget 2015/16 consultation meetings, that Overview & Scrutiny Committees would be reviewing the impact of budget decisions.  She asked when the Committee would be undertaking this.  The Facilitator explained that the Chief Executive was currently undertaking a piece of work to look at how Overview & Scrutiny Committees would be reviewing the impact of budget decisions over the next 12 months.  This would then be fed into the Committees forward work programme.

            Councillor Nancy Matthews asked when the Committee would receive a report on options around prudential borrowing for the schools repairs and maintenance budget.  The Facilitator said that she would liaise with the Chief Officer (Organisational Change) to ask when it would be appropriate for a report to be submitted to the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the Forward Work Programme be noted.