Forward Plans
Decision:
It was recommended to the WMCA Board that:
(1) Items on the Overview & Scrutiny forward plan be noted.
(2) Comments regarding other boards / committees be noted.
(3) Boards & Committees who had not implemented forward plans to provide an estimated date indicating when a forward plan would be available.
Minutes:
The committee considered the items as outlined on the WMCA Board forward plan and requested oversight of the Park & Ride Strategy and Common Approach to Cycling reports. Committee members’ comments regarding these items would be fed back to WMCA Board via the Chair on 8 February 2019.
In relation to the governance issues raised by committee, the Chief Executive suggested that the committee needed investment in order to develop further. The Chief Executive advised the committee members that they would be given the opportunity to undertake some work with the LGA and Centre for Public Scrutiny. She explained that this was not a criticism of the current arrangements, but she felt that an external body such as the Centre for Public Scrutiny or LGA could help to build on the role of scrutiny and more provide strategic oversight of the role scrutiny with the developing WMCA.
Councillor Cathy Bayton highlighted Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council’s concerns regarding the business case and arrangements of the finance for New Stations Outline Business Case – Packages 1 & 2 as outlined on the WMCA Board forward plan, due to be considered on 22 March 2019. The concerns were around the decision making process of the £14million feasibility study undertaken. It was therefore agreed that a targeted time-limited task & finish group would be implemented to review this further and feedback would be provided at a future committee. Councillor Vera Waters abstained from this recommendation.
Councillor Stephen Simkins requested that committee should oversee the Strategic Risk Register. The Monitoring Officer shared that the Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee had primary responsibility oversight of the Strategic Risk Register. The Chair also advised that there continued to be ongoing dialogue with the Chair of the Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee.
It was recommended to the WMCA Board that:
(1) Items on the Overview & Scrutiny forward plan be noted.
(2) Comments regarding other boards / committees be noted.
(3) Boards & Committees who had not implemented forward plans to provide an estimated date indicating when a forward plan would be available.