Agenda and minutes

This will be a short meeting to approve the Scrutiny Work Programme for 21/22.

The Chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Wilcox. Councillor Classick substituted for Councillor Wilcox.

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.

The following non-pecuniary interests were declared:

Agenda item 6 – Cllr Bradshaw declared that he was no longer Non-Executive Director of Bristol Holding Limited and Bristol Heat Networks Limited.

Agenda item 6 – Cllr Pearce declared that he was appointed Director of Bristol Waste Company Limited.

To note any announcements from the Chair

There was none.

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 democratic.services@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 Tuesday 14^th September 2021.

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 noon on Friday 17^th September 2021.

A statement was submitted by David Redgewell regarding bus and rail services. David was not in attendance to present the statement.

Resolved; That the public forum be noted.

The draft Work Programme will be tabled at the meeting.

It was noted that consideration had been given to the Scrutiny Work Programme for 21/22 during the Workshop that had taken place on the morning of Monday 20^th September.

It was noted that the Work Programme would be an evolving document subject to outcomes of Scrutiny Member briefings and additional items that may arise throughout the year.

The Chair of the Communities Scrutiny Commission noted that a sub-group to the commission had been formed which would look at Tree Management.

The Chair of the Resources Scrutiny Commission noted that there were discussions in the workshop around capital spend and the budget which had not been included on the draft Work Programme and advised that the Commission would like to add the item for discussion at their third meeting.

The Chair of the People Scrutiny Commission queried the approach to Scrutiny of the Dedicated Schools Grant, noting that it would be considered by the Resources Scrutiny Commission’s Finance Task Group, but that People Scrutiny may also wish to be included in this.  It was agreed that the respective Chairs would liaise to agree the best approach.

It was noted that the next Overview and Scrutiny Management Board meeting would take place on Monday 18^th October 2021. The provisional agenda included the Corporate Strategy; Corporate Performance Report Q1 and Risk Report Q1.  

The Chair noted that an Overview & Scrutiny Management Board meeting would take place in week commencing 7^th February 2022 and the Council owned companies would be on the agenda to align with the business planning.   It was noted that the Chair was an observer of the Shareholder Group and confirmed that the approved minutes of those meetings would be shared with Members of the Overview & Scrutiny Management Board when they were available.

Members discussed scrutiny of decarbonisation and suggested that a sub-group of OSMB would be the best way to review this cross-cutting area.  It was agreed this would be discussed further by the OSMB Leads, with further recommendations about the approach brought forward to the next OSMB meeting. 

Regarding other items for the OSMB work programme, Members requested that the forthcoming Trans Equalities Policy be added; and that consideration be given by the OSMB Leads to the approach to scrutiny of the Companies, City Leap and also commercialisation.

Regarding the Forward Plan, The Chair reminded Members that the Overview & Scrutiny Management Board submitted a statement asking for the publication of additional details to Cabinet on 14^th September. It was agreed that a progress update would be requested.

Resolved that;

The Scrutiny Work Programme 21/22 be approved.