Issue - meetings

The Task and Finish Group discussed the draft terms of reference which had been presented at the meeting and whether the review should be extended to secondary schools in the District as well, but it was agreed that this review should be focused on primary schools and any recommendations could be extended to secondary schools if it was felt they were applicable.

A third term of reference was added:

“3. On conclusion of the review a report will be made to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with recommendations based on the Group’s findings.”

The Committee noted the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme.

Following the Committee’s earlier decision to dissolve the sub-committees, the Vice Chairman welcomed any suggestions for reviews by task and finish groups.

Three suggestions had been made at the meeting, the first formed part of the agenda which suggested a review into the traffic problems and issues at primary schools in the District. Members welcomed this review but agreed that consideration should be given to the work which was currently being done on this subject by West Sussex County Council as they were the Highways Authority and also the North Horsham CLC.

The second  suggestion was to combine recommendation one and two in the S106 Funding Review Report and undertake a review within a task and finish group to investigate appropriate ways to fund parishes, wards and unparished areas, with no planned developments.

The third suggestion was to review the CenSus Revenues and Benefits Services, work had already begun on this under the Finance and Performance Sub-Committee, however since the decision to dissolve the sub-committees it was suggested that this could be picked up through a task and finish group.

The Members also noted the terms of reference which had been circulated at the meeting for an officer report on the Business Transformation programme.

The Work Programme would be revised to reflect the decisions made at the meeting.

Members of the Committee were encouraged to look at the Cabinet Forward Plan

and if they wished look at decisions before they were made, Members could do so

through the Committee, although it was advised that Overview and Scrutiny should

be careful not to duplicate the role of the Cabinet Members Policy Development

Advisory Groups.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be given the opportunity to review and

comment on the Budget later on in the year.