Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with

the Code of Conduct

Note:

1. Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter

that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal

interest: and

2. Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the

disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when

they leave.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct no declarations were made pertaining to the agenda

To receive for approval the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 27 September 2023

RESOLVED: To approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 27 September 2023 as a true and accurate reflection of the meeting

Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee.

The Principal Scrutiny Officer reminded Members of the consultations that are open should they wish to respond to them.

To review the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme

The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications presented the report to Members to provide them with an opportunity to review their Work Programme.  He referred Members to the Cabinet Work Programme which was attached at Appendix 2 to the report in order for them to review this and to determine if there are any matters that they wished to be brought forward to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee or referred to the thematic Scrutiny Committees for Pre-Scrutiny consideration.

The Chairperson proposed that to ensure consistency as the Overview and Scrutiny had previously considered service changes and budget proposals that these matters continue to be scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, particularly where matters are of public consultation. Members were supportive of this recommendation.

RESOLVED to:

      1. Agree on issues for inclusion on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme for the 2023/24 Municipal Year, as set out in Appendix A with appropriate amendments as necessary;

2.Request that the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications notifies the appropriate Cabinet Member and responsible Officer, of the matters identified for pre-scrutiny in advance of Cabinet consideration;

3. Agree that the Work Programme be reviewed at regular intervals to ensure the items identified for inclusion are relevant and that any additional referrals are incorporated;

4. Consider, where appropriate, any items which could be presented to the Committee as Information Reports, to allow Members the flexibility to consider any urgent items to be brought forward for Members consideration potentially freeing up time for more urgent items to be scrutinised; and

5. Agree which matters (if any), should be referred to the thematic Scrutiny Committees for inclusion in their individual Work Programmes.

6. Agree that any future decisions, which relate to the MTFP, and are subject to public engagement, are to be scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as part of any agreed consultation arrangements  

to formally respond to the Welsh Government’s consultation which sets out the proposals on a Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill.

The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications presented the report to Members to seek their response to the Welsh Government’s consultation which sets out the proposals on a Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill. 

Members were advised of the proposals, one of which is to create a duty on the Welsh Ministers to put in place arrangements aimed at improving diversity within the Senedd and Local Government democratic structures.  Another proposal is to disqualify Town and Community councillors in Wales from serving as Members of the Senedd, and remove the existing “grace period” for principal Councillors elected to the Senedd and Members of the Senedd elected as Members of Parliament.

Members commented on the proposal to put a duty on Ministers to improve diversity in the Senedd and Local Government and were wholly supportive of this.  Members considered that this should be monitored to ensure any improvement can be measured and give the public confidence in the system and encourage those that may not have previously stood for an election to have the confidence to do so.

A Member referred to the proposal to introduce electoral registration without application, and the ability to pilot the most appropriate means of achieving this and asked if this would link in with the Councils systems for paying Council tax bills for example.  The Director Legal Services advised that there are ongoing discussions on what databases could be used to auto register as the Council tax databases are not always up to date for example, maiden names may not have been updated etc.  He reassured that this will be looked at as part of the proposed pilot.

RESOLVED to:

1.    Provide feedback on the proposals as outlined in paragraph 4, and decide whether they wish to make any further comments or suggestions as appropriate following consideration of the information before them.

2.    Authorise the Service Director Democratic Services and Communications to submit the feedback provided by Members to Welsh Government on behalf of the Committee

To consider any items, which the Chairman, by reason of special circumstances, is of the opinion should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

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