Scrutinising the scrutiny committee: Motion before the full District Council: Wednesday 17th December

Following last week's meeting of the District Council's cabinet last week
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: District Council cabinet meets Wednesday 3rd December: analysis of proposals

... when the main issue was the Knowle relocation project
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project... online forums react to BBC Radio Devon interview with District Council Leader
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: comparing the Sidmouth and Honiton/Exmouth options

... the District Council will be having its regular meeting next week
... Wednesday 17th December at 6.30pm.
Here is the agenda:
new.eastdevon.gov.uk/media/570866/171214-council-combined-agenda-inc-minute-book.pdf

Another contentious issue will be that of scrutiny - or the perceived lack of it:
Futures Forum: Transparency and lobbying: District Council "agrees with the principle" of "declaring any contact with developers or campaign groups"
Futures Forum: "Scrutiny committee set up to look at the East Devon Business Forum, which Mr Brown chaired, should now reconsider its scope."
Futures Forum: East Devon councils "should be held to account"
Futures Forum: Scrutinising the East Devon Business Forum... "EDDC will not separate the police investigation from the separate issue of interference in the planning process which was one of the causes of the draft local plan being thrown out."

The latest such example appears to be over the way the scrutiny cttee's own task force looking at trees should conduct itself:
Tory chairman of East Devon tree scrutiny task force resigns at its first meeting - Claire Wright

Here is comment from the East Devon Alliance:

FULL COUNCIL AGENDA: KNOWLE – WEDNESDAY 17 DECEMBER 2014, 6.30PM

December 8th, 2014

Full council isn’t in the mood to do anything much this month UNLESS a shock announcement is made under agenda item 6 – announcements from Chairman and Leader provokes surprise. That leaves public questions (PLEASE!) and the following motion which, not unsurprisingly, has no paety political support – just (truly) independent councillors!

“10 Motion – East Devon District Council Scrutiny

An effective and independent scrutiny function is important for achieving a transparent and an effective council. Scrutiny should be a completely open and impartial process, not subject to interference or pressure.

This Council believes the Overview and Scrutiny Committee alone should determine what matters it considers, who it calls as witnesses and who forms part of its considerations. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny must be non-majority party councillors in order for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be fully effective.

Proposed by Councillor Roger Giles, Seconded by Councillor Ben Ingham and supported by Susie Bond, Trevor Cope and Claire Wright.


Full Council agenda: Knowle – Wednesday 17 December 2014, 6.30pm | East Devon Alliance


This is from today's piece at Cllr Claire Wright's blog:

EDDC scrutiny group is scrutinised

Wednesday, 10 December 2014 by Claire

The EDDC Independent group has submitted a motion for next Wednesday’s full council meeting on the scrutiny process at EDDC, which (understandably) frequently disappoints members of the public, with its lack of rigour.

EDDC scrutiny group is scrutinised - Claire Wright

And here is yesterday's report from the Express & Echo:


Scrutiny group is scrutinised

By Exeter Express and Echo | Posted: December 09, 2014

EAST Devon District Council’s independent contingent is calling for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be “genuinely” independent.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees were set up under the Local Government Act 2000. They hold the function of developing and reviewing policy, making recommendations to council and, in effect, holding the executive or cabinet to account.

Ottery St Mary ward member, Councillor Roger Giles, has proposed a motion to be considered at the next full council meeting on Wednesday, December 17.

The motion reads:

“An effective and independent scrutiny function is important for achieving a transparent and an effective council.
“Scrutiny should be a completely open and impartial process, not subject to interference or pressure.
“This Council believes the Overview and Scrutiny Committee alone should determine what matters it considers, who it calls as witnesses and who forms part of its considerations.
“The chairman and vice chairman must be non-majority party councillors in order for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be fully effective”.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Ben Ingham and supported by councillors Susie Bond, Trevor Cope and Claire Wright.

Cllr Giles, said: “An effective scrutiny function makes for an effective council. What we want is a genuinely independent scrutiny committee which can do its job properly without fear or favour of political influence.

“One way of ensuring this is to have a non-majority party councillor in the positions of chair and vice chair, like Devon County Council.”

Scrutiny group is scrutinised | Exeter Express and Echo
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