The Scrutiny Officer presented the Committee with the Forward Work Programme (FWP) in Appendix A for discussion and consideration, requested any specific information the Committee identified to be included in the items for the next two meetings, including invitees they wished to attend, requested the Committee to identify any further items for consideration on the FWP having regard to the selection criteria in paragraph 4.3 and presented the FWPs for the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committees 1, 2 and 3 as Appendices B, C and D for coordination and oversight of the overall FWP.

She also advised that the Recommendations Monitoring Action Sheet was attached as Appendix E to track responses to the Committee’s recommendations made at previous meetings and the Recommendations Monitoring Action Sheets for each Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee were also attached as Appendices F, G and H.

Having considered the Forward Work Programme Update, the Committee indicated that they would like to monitor the proposed efficiency savings against schools delegated budgets, lessons learned from the Cost of Living Payment Scheme rollout and parking charges for blue badge holders.

The Committee requested that the challenges of recruiting Welsh speaking teachers into the County Borough be included in the scope of the report on Welsh in Education Strategic Plan and be considered for addition to the Annual Forward Programme at the next Scrutiny Planning Meeting for SOSC 1.

The Committee also requested that the progress of DFGs be reviewed by SOSC 2 with particular focus on Social Services and Health involvement.  

The Committee expressed concerns regarding the length of time responses to some of its recommendations had been outstanding and the Scrutiny Officer advised that older items had been chased and Directors reminded of the need to provide timely responses. 

There were no further items identified for consideration on the Forward Work Programme having regard to the selection criteria in paragraph 4.3, and this could be revisited at the next meeting.

There were no requests to include specific information in the items for the next meeting.

RESOLVED:               That the Committee considered and approved its

Forward Work Programme in Appendix A, subject to the above additions and requests, noted the Forward Work Programmes for the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committees following consideration in their latest respective Committee Meetings in Appendix B, C and D, and noted the Recommendations Monitoring Action Sheets to track responses to the Committees’ recommendations made at previous meetings in Appendices E, F, G and H.