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Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2, Sandwell Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury, B69 3DE

Contact: Lyndsey Roberts, Governance Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Daniel Barker, Paul Brown, Councillor Dean Carroll, Councillor Julian Grubb, Councillor Josh Jones, Councillor Tariq Khan, Councillor John Preece, Councillor Stephen Simkins and Councillor Lisa Trickett.

2.

Appointment of Chair

To note the appointment of the Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee made at the AGM of the West Midlands Combined Authority Board on 22 June 2018.

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The committee noted that at the meeting of the WMCA Board held on 22 June, Councillor Peter Hughes was appointed Chair of this committee for the 2018/19 year.

3.

Appointment of Vice-Chairs for Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Lead Members for Task & Finish Groups

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The committee considered the appointment of its vice-chairs and the lead members for its task & finish groups for 2018/19.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)       Councillor Ian Shires and Councillor Lisa Trickett be appointed Vice-Chairs of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for 2018/19.

 

(2)       The Lead Members for each of the committee’s task & finish groups be as follows:

 

·         Budget - Councillor Peter Hughes

·         Governance - Councillor John Cotton

·         Health & Wellbeing - Councillor Cathy Bayton

·         Inclusive Growth and Productivity & Skills Commission - Councillor Lisa Trickett

·         Housing & Land - Councillor Ian Shires

 

4.

Minutes - 16 April 2018 pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting were agreed as a correct record.

5.

Task & Finish Groups - Governance Arrangements pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Presented By: Lyndsey Roberts

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee considered a report from Lyndsey Roberts, Scrutiny Officer, on the governance arrangements for its five task & finish groups for 2018/19.

 

During the last year, the committee established five task & finish groups with responsibility for undertaking detailed thematic scrutiny in areas members had identified as particular areas of interest, and it was proposed to continue with these groups. Because the groups themselves did not have any delegated decision making authority, they would provide regular update reports to this committee, along with recommendations for consideration.

 

The Chair confirmed that the Governance Task & Finish Group would look at the appropriateness of transport scrutiny within the combined authority as part of its workplan. Lyndsey Roberts undertook to arrange the first meetings of these task & finish groups beginning in September.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)       The continuation of five task & finish groups for 2018/19 be approved, namely:

 

·         Budget

·         Governance

·         Health & Wellbeing

·         Inclusive Growth and Productivity & Skills

·         Housing & Land

 

(2)       The terms of reference (including membership and lead members/chairs) of these task & finish groups be approved as set out in the report (and as subsequently amended).

 

(3)       The Head of Governance, in consultation with the Chair of the committee, be given delegated authority to approve any changes or subsequent notifications in respect of the membership of the task & finish groups.

 

(4)       The Head of Governance, in consultation with the Chair of the committee, be given delegated authority to appoint expert advisors (as considered necessary) to support the task & finish groups in their work.

 

[NB. Councillor Stephen Craddock declared an interest in matters related to the future governance arrangements affecting the West Midlands Fire & Rescue Authority as a result of him being appointed by Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council to sit on that Authority during 2018/19.]

6.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

A forward plan of items to be considered at future meetings of the committee was noted.

7.

Tuesday 4 September 2018 at 10:00am

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The date of the next meeting was noted.

8.

Sarah Sprung, Interim Scrutiny Officer

Minutes:

The Chair thanked Sarah Sprung for the guidance and support she had given to both himself and the wider committee whilst she had been seconded from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to the post of Interim Scrutiny Officer. This support had been invaluable to the committee as it was becoming established and during its first year of operation. He wished her well during her upcoming period of maternity leave.