Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board members and meeting attendees. New members of the Board were welcomed and introductions were made. Safety information was provided.

Apologies were received from Cllr Mark Bradshaw and Cllr Christine Townsend.

To note any declarations of interest from the Councillors.  They are asked to indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

There were no Declarations of Interest made.

To note any announcements from the Chair

There was no Chair Business.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum.  The detailed arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda.  Public Forum items should be emailed to scrutiny@bristol.gov.uk and please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:-

Questions - Written questions must be received 3 clear working days prior to the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received in this office at the latest by 5 pm on Wednesday 31 May.

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and statements must be received on the working day prior to the meeting.  For this meeting this means that your submission must be received in this office at the latest by 12.00 noon on Monday 5^th June.

A Public Forum question regarding the relationship between Scrutiny and the Mayor’s Forward Plan was submitted and presented by Suzanne Audrey. A written response was provided. As a supplementary question Suzanne Audrey asked whether the Mayor’s Forward Plan could be more proactive, with greater notice of upcoming items. The Chair responded by clarifying that whilst a more forward looking plan would be helpful, where some items were subject to external influence this was not always possible.

A Public Forum question regarding the low carbon advertising policy was submitted and presented by Nicola Round. A written response was provided. As a supplementary question Nicola Round requested a timescale for further action. It was agreed that Officers would provide this.

A Public Forum statement regarding the low carbon advertising policy was submitted and presented by Cllr Carla Denyer.

A Public Forum statement regarding the low carbon advertising policy was submitted and presented by Veronica Wignall.

A Public Forum statement regarding the low carbon advertising policy was submitted by Adblock Bristol and presented by a representative.

A Public Forum statement regarding the Climate Change Working Group was submitted and presented by Cllr Katy Grant.

A Public Forum statement regarding the scrutiny of WECA was submitted by David Redgewell, Brendon Taylor and Gordon Richardson and noted.

Resolved; that 1) OSMB note the Public Forum, and that 2) a response to the supplementary question requesting a timescale for action on the low carbon advertising policy be provided.

Members will be participating in an informal workshop on Tuesday 6th June 2023 where they will agree the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2023/2024. The purpose of this meeting is to ratify the outcome of the workshop, which will be published as soon as possible on 6th June 2023. This may include consideration of any changes to the Scrutiny Terms of Reference.

The Head of Democratic Engagement introduced the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2023-24 advising that a workshop with Scrutiny Members had been held on the morning of 6^th June 2023 immediately prior to the OSMB meeting to discuss priorities, and a final work programme was produced as an outcome of that workshop. It was noted that the timings of meetings were to be considered indicative only and subject to confirmation.

The Chair added that some further items may be added later in the 2023-24 year as necessary once further information was provided. This would include the report from the Climate Change working group once available, as referenced in Public Forum, and expected to go to OSMB for consideration.

A Member raised a concern over the timing of Scrutiny for Bristol Waste. The Chair clarified that the OSMB committee would need to be flexible and responsive to matters arising through the 2023-24 year, and that it was anticipated that Bristol Waste would be added to the OSMB work programme in due course.

Members were asked to approve the Scrutiny Work Programme 2023-24. This was unanimously supported.

Resolved; that the Scrutiny Work Programme 2023-24 be approved.

The Chair thanked the attendees and closed the meeting.