Agenda item

Discussion paper on the roles and responsibilities

*HC3           

The Chairmanintroduceda discussionpaperthatwas circulatedas partof the agendapapers.  Membersof theCommitteediscussedthespecific rolesassetouton page2 ofthepresentedagenda.

The majorityof LeadMemberswerecomfortablewiththeirPortfoliosand listofassociatedfunctions.  Manyhadalready helddiscussionswith their leadofficers.

Therewasan acceptancethattherewouldbe anoverlapbetween Portfolios,for instancePlanning& StrategicHousingwouldoverlapwith Economy,particularlyin respectof takingOurPlanforward.  Itwasalso confirmedby theExecutiveDirector(SD&CD)thatthePortfoliofor Environmentwouldincludedogfoulingand litterpicking,althoughthere maybesomeoverlapwithCommercialServicesinrespectof waste.

TheCommitteewenton todiscusstheRoleofHubMembers,as setout on page1 ofthe presentedagenda.   TheChairmanexplainedthe importanceofcommunicationand theneedforLeadMembersto liaise with  their  Senior  Leadership  Team  and  Extended  Leadership  Team officers,and feedbackto otherMembers.  Memberscoulduse theBulletin as a meansofcommunicationto thewidermembership.

Membersstatedthatthe ‘ExpectedBehaviours’sectionofthedocument shouldapplyto allMembers,notjustHub CommitteeMembers.

Membersalsonotedthatthe section entitled‘WorkingTogether’omitted reference  tofullCouncil  meetings  butitwould  be expected  thatLead Members  wouldrespond  to questions  relatingto theirPortfolios  atfull Councilas wellas Overviewand ScrutinyCommittees.

Members   discussed   the  Forward   Plan  and  the  Executive   Director (SD&CD)confirmedthatthiswasan ongoingdocument.   ThePlanwas onemethodofLeadMembersbringing items forwardfor considerationat Committeemeetings,althoughin thefirstinstanceitwasexpectedthat discussionswould take placewiththe relevantofficersto confirmthatthe matter  was  onethat  required  a Committee  report.   TheForward  Planwouldalso enablean indicationofworkloadsto beassessed.  Finally,the Forward  Plan  would  enable  Overview  and  Scrutiny  Committees  to  be awareoffutureitemssothattheycouldrequesta LeadMemberattend theirmeetingto give furtherinformation.