Agenda item

To present the report of the Health and Social Care Impact Officer.

The Committee considered the report and sought clarification of the following issues relating to its proposed role with regard to partnerships –

•           The Committee noted that in order to be able to fulfil the expectations in providing assurance that key partnerships are  managing risks, it needs to be provided with high level information and analysis regarding the performance of the principal corporate partnerships so that it can identify the risks they are facing and be satisfied that they are being managed appropriately.

The Committee was informed that consideration will be given to the information that needs to be provided to the Committee to equip and enable it to formulate an opinion and provide assurance that the risks in relation to partnerships are being managed, and information about the performance of the partnerships at a high level is an essential part of that process.

•           The Committee noted that as well as monitoring the risk related issues affecting partnerships, it needs to be assured that working in partnership is providing added value to the Council and that partnerships are also delivering value for money to the Island’s residents and ratepayers.

The Committee was informed that Added Value and Value for Money are two of a number of criteria considered by the Council when deciding whether or not to work in partnership and in evaluating partnership effectiveness as set out in the Partnerships Policy document. Scrutiny has a clear role in assessing the added value which partnerships bring to the Council and the roles of the Audit and Scrutiny committees need to be clearly defined and a balance struck between their respective responsibilities. Discussions are taking place as to how the outcome of scrutiny work can be fed through to the Audit Committee to ensure it has all the information it requires to come to a view on assurance.

•           The Committee sought an explanation of the separation of partnerships into private, public and voluntary and it was suggested that arrangements entered into with the private or independent sector are typically contractual or based on a service level agreement which may or may not involve the concept of a partnership. The Committee highlighted the potential for ambiguity in this respect and it noted, and it was accepted,  that the distinction needs to be made in the policy.(Mr Richard Barker declared a personal  interest as  a trustee of an independent sector organisation)

•           That with regard to partnerships adhering to Council policies, the Committee noted that the policy document is not clear as to how adherence will be monitored and it suggested that there needs to be a mechanism for ensuring that partnerships have regard to the Council’s principal policies as non-compliance by partner organisations could hold a reputational risk for the Council.

The Committee was informed that details of the monitoring of partnerships including having due regard to the Council’s principal policies would form part of another partnerships work stream and details would be available over the coming months.

It was resolved that the Committee:

•           Accepts the responsibility in relation to risk associated with the significant key partnerships.

•           Accepts the process and timeline for reporting to the Committee on the risk associated with the significant key partnerships.

NO FURTHER ACTION ENSUING