Issue - items at meetings - Oxfordshire LINk Group

10:55 – 11:05

To agree the Committee’s work programme for the next meeting, and to confirm its plans for work programming the remainder of the 2023/24 civic year.

The Committee is recommended to:

a) AGREE the Committee’s work programme to September including, if necessary, an extraordinary meeting at the end of June, having made any additions or other changes as necessary

b) CONFIRM its wish to undertake an in-depth work programming exercise to include engagement with HOSC members, and the County Council, NHS and Healthwatch colleagues to refine the programme and timings.

The Chair invited the Committee to discuss its work programme for the 2022/23 municipal year.

These points were highlighted by the Committee during the debate:

· Helen Mitchell reminded the Committee that Scrutiny was a Member-led function within the Council and as such it was for the Committee to determine its work programme. Members of the Committee should take responsibility for both drawing up and managing their own work programme. The work programme was a dynamic document that was a subject to change and Members could add, subtract, and defer items as necessary.

· The Chair outlined that she would meet with Interim Chief Executive to discuss on resources to deliver the programme.

· Some Members felt that Primary Care update could be brought forward considering that a lot of concerns had been raised at the last meeting.

· In terms of the Primary Care update – the Committee expressed their concerns at the last meeting and going forward on this matter there may be a workshop in September

· The Chair informed the Committee that she had not lost sight of ‘Covid recovery’ and ‘Community Services Strategy’ items. The Chair reminded the Committee that concerns were raised by Members at March meeting in terms the lack of information and wider public, partners and community groups engagement (in particular for ‘Community Services Strategy’) on these issues, and for those reasons dates for above items were yet to be allocated.

· Members of the Committee were invited to engage in items on the work programme and therefore minimise pressure on scrutiny officers and internal/external officers. Such engagement could be in a way of visiting sites, discussions with public, partners and community groups, performing a research, etc.

· The Chair welcomed a proposal from the Committee to add ‘Smoke Free Strategy’ to the Work Programme. The Chair suggested that this item could be consider at September meeting of the Committee.

· The Committee debated next steps in terms of the Sub/Working Group work as well as progress with Briefings for Member Information. The Chair said that progress on these would depend on Member engagement and their time to participate in workshops, officers and partners availability and the timing of events relevant the nature of particular issues (i.e. development of ICB Strategy, details around section 106 agreement within housing developments and primary care neds, and similar).

It was RESOLVED to note the current Work Programme and take on board comments and suggestion from the Members on future items.

11.10 am

To discuss the Committee’s work programme for the 2022/23 municipal year.

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to: -

a) Agree the Committee’s work programme for the municipal year 2022/23;

b) Note that the work programme is a document that is subject to change and Members can add, subtract and defer items as necessary;

c) Agree to consider the work programme at each meeting of the Committee over the course of the municipal year alongside the Council’s Forward Plan;

d) Agree to undertake further engagement with the County Council, NHS and Healthwatch colleagues to refine the programme and timings.