In accordance with the suggested terms of reference for the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal (CCRCD) Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) as outlined in Appendix A to the report, regarding the recommended methodology for the election of Chairperson, it was agreed that Councillor Philip Edwards, Blaenau Gwent Council be elected in this position for the ensuing year.

In the absence of Councillor Edwards it was agreed that Councillor Jon-Paul Blundell be appointed as Chairperson for the meeting.

Councillor Blundell took the Chair. 

In-keeping with the above process, it was agreed that Councillor Jon-Paul Blundell, Elected Member for Bridgend County Borough Council be elected Vice-Chairperson for the ensuing year.

To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Philip Edwards, Elected Member Blaenau Gwent

To receive Declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members / Officers.    

None

The Head of Democratic Services, Bridgend County Borough Council submitted a report, the purpose of which, was to present for consideration and approval the draft Terms of Reference for the JOSC as drafted by the CCRCD Joint Cabinet.

By way of background information, the CCRCD Joint Working Agreement states that Councils shall work together to create and agree terms of reference for, to the extent permissible by law, a Joint Audit Committee and a JOSC and how the same will be resourced and funded.

In terms of the current situation, the draft Terms of Reference were presented to each of the ten local authorities relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Council meetings for information prior to submission to the JOSC for consideration and approval.

The JOSC draft Terms of Reference were attached at Appendix A (page 7) for information and consideration by the JOSC.

Appendix A also included information in respect of the following:-

• Membership of the Joint Scrutiny Committee
• Quorum requirements
• Process for election of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson (of the JOSC)
• Rules of Procedure
• Members’ Conduct
• Declarations of Interest
• Confidential and Exempt Information/Access to Information
• Openness and Transparency issues
• Functions to be exercised by the Joint Scrutiny Committee
• Duration of Joint Scrutiny
• Withdrawal (by any of the participating Authorities from the Joint Scrutiny arrangements)

The Scrutiny Officer then referred to the report’s financial implications as set out in paragraph 10. (page 4) of the report, following which she gave a resume of the report’s legal implications which gave particular reference to how the Terms of Reference for the JOSC had been prepared, ie in conjunction with the requirements of the Local Authorities (Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committees) (Wales) Regulations 2013, and more generally the provisions of the 2013 Regulations and Statutory Guidance, so issued.

The Scrutiny Officer finally referred to paragraph 12of the report, and the reasons for the report’s recommendations, namely to put in place formal Terms of Reference for the JOSC in accordance with the requirements of the Joint Working Agreement.

Following consideration of the report by Members, it was

RESOLVED:                  That the JOSC considered and approved the Terms of Reference of the new Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee attached at Appendix A to the report.  

The Head of Democratic Services, Bridgend County Borough Council submitted a report, the purpose of which, was

a)    To develop a Forward Work Programme (FWP) of items for future prioritisation and consideration by the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JOSC);

b)    To ask the JOSC to identify any invitees to attend future meetings to contribute to discussions and deliberations;

c)    To identify any training requirements required by the JOSC and;

d)    To develop a schedule of meetings of the JOSC; including preferred timings of meetings.

The Scrutiny Officer advised Members that the intention of the FWP would be for it to remain flexible and be re-visited at each JOSC meeting with input from Members and Officers on suggested topics for consideration.

The JOSC is asked to first consider and determine items it wishes to consider at future meetings of the JOSC and what further detail it would like the report to contain; what questions it wishes officers to address and what invitees it suggests to attend for this meeting to assist Members in their investigation.  Some suggested items for future consideration were shown in paragraph 4 of the report.

The Scrutiny Officer added that it was open for Members to also consider how many agenda items they would wish listed for future meetings. She added that Overview and Scrutiny Committees in Bridgend normally considered one main agenda item per meeting.

Attached at Appendix A to the report was a Scrutiny Criteria form which Members can use to propose further items for the FWP, which the Committee can then consider for prioritisation at a future meeting. Therefore, if Members had nothing in mind as of now, they could complete the above form and send it through by email to the Scrutiny Section  in Bridgend.

The Scrutiny Officer continued by advising that to assist Members in their role as a JOSC Member they are asked to consider any training requirements they have in relation to the CCRCD.  From this, Scrutiny Officers can then develop a schedule of training for JOSC Members which will also remain flexible and brought back to each meeting for consideration and scheduling.

Whilst it has previously been agreed that Bridgend County Borough Council is to act as the Host Local Authority for the administration of the CCRCD JOSC meetings, Members are asked to consider the location of future meetings of the JOSC, taking into consideration that all meetings of the JOSC are to be held in public.  Members may wish to consider the option of holding each meeting of the JOSC at the Host Local Authority venue or the meetings could rotate amongst the ten authorities in the JOSC. 

In considering its future meetings, the JOSC was also asked to consider the frequency of meetings and preferred timings of meetings, to allow for greater attendance of Members at each meeting.

The Scrutiny Officer advised that following the meeting she would send members copies of the training presentation that they had received earlier and also forms which the Scrutiny  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.