Agenda item

Invitees:

-       Rhys Cornwall – Strategic Director for Transformation

-       Tracy McKim – Head of People, Policy and Transformation

-       Janice Dent – Policy and Partnership Manager

-       Nicola Dance – Senior Policy and Partnership Officer

The Policy and Partnership Manager introduced the report to the Committee and explained the timeline leading up to it being published in May 2023 and expressed hope for it to be discussed in Full Council taking place in February 2023.  The Committee was asked to receive and note the development of a new regional scrutiny committee to take forward the duties under Section 35 of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and to recommend adoption and agreement by full Council.

Once Regional Scrutiny Committee is established, Members will need to consider the terms of reference for Partnerships Scrutiny, including Safer Newport, Newport’s Community Safety Partnership. Members were directed to pages 23-26 for the terms of reference and were reminded that One Newport is still the local delivery group as scrutiny is required a local level as well as the regional level of the PSB. If agreed to take to full council for adoption, two members would be nominated to sit on the committee. Members were informed their role would be considering how confident they feel that the Gwent membership is helpful to Newport.

Members asked the following:

·         The Chair felt it would be useful to observe what work is going on regionally and for officers to bring it back to committee for information.

The Head of Service wished to highlight that it gives the Committee an opportunity to rethink the terms of reference and dis-entangle community safety partnerships that may sit under an umbrella and look at other local matters.

·         A Committee Member sought to clarify if the representation would be rotated for Newport in the regional meetings.

The Head of Service confirmed that if any Member has a view, that within the current meeting would be the time to put that forward. Members were advised that would be a Council decision so all Members could decide.

Further on this point, the Member appreciated that it is time sensitive and that they have to be open minded on where the meeting would be held to which the Head of Service agreed that it is important on where the meeting would be held

·         Members commented that if there is a rotation on the board, to prevent long journeys, they suggested if it could be done on Microsoft Teams but were mindful if that would be efficient or not.

The Committee Members thanked all officers for their time and presentation.

Conclusions

-          The Committee noted the development of the Regional Scrutiny Committee, and agreed for it to go to Full Council in February 2023 for adoption, and agreed to the Terms of Reference. Members wished to include in the Terms of Reference that all meetings should at least be offered via Hybrid on Teams, so that Members from different Local Authorities can attend the meeting if they cannot travel. The Committee felt that this supported the climate change agenda as well as supporting the maximum participation from Regional Scrutiny Committee Members.  

-          The Committee advised that the regional scrutiny committee should have a clear focus on the effectiveness of the overall plan and the input of each in supporting and enhancing the effectiveness of local delivery.