Agenda item

To submit a report in relation to the above.

Submitted – a joint report by the Senior Partnership Manager, Gwynedd and Anglesey, Democratic Services Manager, Gwynedd Council and the Scrutiny Officer in relation to the above.

The Scrutiny Officer reported that a joint report had been published by the WLGA and CfPS in 2010 entitled ‘Scrutiny of Multi-Agency Partnerships’ outlining some of the lessons learned from the development of scrutiny arrangements of Local Services Boards and identified some important points to bear in mind when developing arrangements. These were outlined within the report.

In order to be in a position to advise Members on possible options to scrutinise the Gwynedd and Anglesey LSB, a multi-agency Task and Finish Project Group had been established.  Membership included representatives from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, North Wales  Police, Snowdonia National Park and Scrutiny Officers from both Councils. In order to obtain an independent perspective the Centre for Public Scrutiny was also invited to comment and input to the range of options for consideration by the Elected Members of both Local Authorities. The Task and Finish Group had also sought  the views of both Medrwn Môn and Mantell Gwynedd as the umbrella organisations representing the interests of the Third Sector. In light of its deliberations, the multi- agency Task and Finish Group and Centre for Public Scrutiny proposed that there were three options for Elected Member consideration which can summarised as :-

Option A – Maintain existing scrutiny committee arrangements in both Isle of Anglesey County Council and Gwynedd Council.

Option B – Establish a Joint Gwynedd and Anglesey LSB Scrutiny Panel. Option C – Establish a Joint Gwynedd and Anglesey LSB Scrutiny Committee.

Although each option had its own advantages and disadvantages, the multi-agency Task and Finish Group were of the unanimous view that Option B be proposed as the preferred option for consideration by Elected Members of both Gwynedd Council and the Isle of Anglesey County Council.

Dependent upon which option was supported by Elected Members of both  Councils, the next step would be for the multi-agency Task and Finish Group to reconvene in order to consider practical arrangements as to membership of the joint scrutiny forum, implementation and training arrangements, meeting schedule and venue etc. The Centre for Public Scrutiny would continue to provide support and mentoring.

The Officers stated that 3 Members of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee would need to be nominated on the LSB Scrutiny Panel.

Issues raised by Members:-

•  Members supported Option B which was to establish a Joint Gwynedd and Anglesey LSB Scrutiny Panel with the membership referred to at Appendix 2. However it was considered that the interests of Community Voices Gwynedd & Anglesey should be represented on the Panel.  The Officers responded that it was considered that 3rd Sector representation on the proposed Panel would address this issue.

•  Questions were raised as regards who would administrate the LSB Scrutiny Panel. The Officers responded that the matter would need to be discussed at the first meeting of the LSB Scrutiny Panel.

•  Members deliberated regarding the propriety of also nominating a substitute Elected Member on the LSB Scrutiny Panel.

Officers advised that this report would be considered by Gwynedd Council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting to be convened on 15th January, 2015.

RESOLVED:-

•  Proceed with Option B – to establish a Joint Gwynedd and Anglesey Local Services Board Scrutiny Panel and request Officers to progress the practical arrangements, meetings schedule and venue.

•  Nominate the following Members as representatives of Anglesey County Council on the Local Services Board Scrutiny Panel :-

Chair and Vice-Chair of the Partnership & Regeneration Committee Councillor John Griffith

Councillor Dylan Rees – Substitute Member

ACTION: An update report be submitted to a future meeting of this Scrutiny Committee.