Agenda item

Report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships – Overview and Scrutiny Officer – Transformation and Partnerships.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer referred Members to the report in the agenda papers relating to the Review of the Committee’s Work Programme for 2018-19 (for copy see file of minutes).

Members noted the report set out the work programme for the year ahead and Councillors were reminded of the need to include some ability to look at any emerging issues within the year. 

The Committee noted that Appendix 2 set out the work programme and priorities and noted topics to be monitored include: EU Funding; DurhamWorks; Digital Durham; Private Housing; Visit County Durham; Business Durham; refresh of the Masterplans; and transport locally and regionally.  Members noted that reviews of the progress against the recommendations from previous work on Skills Development and the Support for the Retail Sector Review, once completed, would be built into the Work Programme.  It was added that new issues for 2017/18 had included: empty properties project; the Homelessness Reduction Act and the impact for County Durham; the funding rationale in terms of major investments; and overview of the work of the NELEP. 

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted there were proposed special meetings of the Committee to look at topics including: the County Durham Plan, Private Sector Housing and Transport.

The Chairman noted that normally Members would look at a potential focused piece of work, however, it was suggested that with a great deal or work to be undertaken by the Committee, and the topics of the County Durham Plan and Brexit falling under the remit of Economy and Enterprise, that the Committee did not take on a focused piece of work.

Councillor E Adam noted that Brexit was not until March 2019, the Chairman noted that there was the Support for the Retail Sector Working Group to be concluded within the new cycle, as well as the CDP element and several additional Special Meetings as described by the Overview and Scrutiny Officer.  She therefore asked Committee Members to raise their hands if they agreed in terms of no focused piece of work being undertaken during the current municipal year.  This was agreed.

Councillor D Hall added that he felt that the topic of Brexit would simply entail a number of updates on the position, rather than feeding into any process and that he felt that a light touch review on some topic may have been preferable, such that there was a “product” at the end of the year.  The Chairman noted that there was already heavy commitment in terms of Member time in the items as set out within the work programme, including the additional Special Meetings and workshop sessions and any focused piece of work would impact even further on the Members of the Committee.

Councillor R Ormerod noted the inclusion of workshop sessions on the County Durham Plan and noted while he understood the rationale as regards session in July 2018, he asked as regards a session to take place in February 2019.  Councillor E Adam noted the link to the Government’s Industrial Strategy and if there would be reports back to Committee in terms of Council business parks.  The Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted that when Business Durham attend Committee they would provide feedback on this and there would be links to key milestones in terms of the Strategy White Paper, at the meeting in January 2019.

Resolved:

That the Work Programme at Appendix 2 to the report be agreed.