Agenda item

Consideration was given to report of the Chief Officer Commercial.

The Chief Officer Commercial presented the report which outlined the findings of the Wales Audit Office review on Delivering with Less -–Leisure Services reported in May 2019.

The Officer went through the report and highlighted points contained therein.  She confirmed that the proposals for improvement had been taken on board and included in the second phase of the ongoing Leisure and Culture Review.

A Member referred to Page 95 of the WAO report which stated that the ‘review lacked timely and meaningful scrutiny Member involvement’; and asked how it was intended to improve the process moving forward.

In response the Officer confirmed that since phase one of the review, a Members’ Working Party was established by the Community Services Scrutiny Committee and the outcomes of that work had been reported back to the Committee.  Reports on the current phase continue to be reported through the democratic process.

The Member referred to the Community Services Scrutiny Committee held the previous week where two major pieces of work were considered, namely the Waste Management & Recycling Strategy; and the Strategic Business Case for the Development of a Second HWRC.  He said both were controversial issues affecting the County Borough, and expressed concern that only a small number of Members had had the opportunity to scrutinise and make a decision on these strategic issues.  He said the Leader of the Council in May 2017 gave assurance that Joint Committees would be convened to consider such items affecting the Council, like the Leisure Services Review, and expressed concern that this was not currently happening, resulting in approximately only 48% of Members having an input in major issues.

In response the Head of Governance & Partnerships said the only constituted Joint Committees under the Council’s Constitution was Safeguarding and Budget Monitoring.  She said balance was needed around the remit of Scrutiny Committees and the rationale for ‘opening up’ certain issues to all Members.  However, she pointed out that if a Scrutiny Committee was ‘opened up’ to all Members, it was not a constituted Joint Committee in the same way as Safeguarding and Budget Monitoring, and only Members of the host Committee would have voting rights.

The Member said he understood the process, but where demand was significant with major pieces of work affecting the Council, all Member Scrutiny Committees should be convened, as per the Leader’s commitment in May 2017.

Another Member said the Officer had indicated that the Second Phase of the Leisure Services Review would be reported to the Community Services Scrutiny Committee for consideration by Members.

A Member said a more ‘joined up’ approach was needed and said a Cross Party Working Group should be established, along with Officers to meet with the Leisure Trust Board.

RESOLVED that the content of the Wales Audit Office review and findings on Delivering With Less – Leisure Services be accepted and the Management Response be endorsed, as it provided assurance that the proposals for improvement would be fully endorsed.