NEATH PORT TALBOT COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL

DEMOCRATIC SERVICES COMMITTEE

11th July 2019

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

Matter for Decision

Wards Affected:

All Wards

Member Attendance at Pre-briefings

Purpose of the Report:

To report the outcome of a review of Member attendance at pre-briefings.

Summary:

As part of a programme of improvement work undertaken during the last Administration, pre-meetings were introduced prior to Scrutiny Committee meetings;

The general view is that pre-meetings have delivered a range of benefits: greater coherence in lines of inquiry; improved participation of all Members – to name just a few;

Whilst most Members attend the pre-briefings, it was identified that there could be scope to improve on this and the Head of Democratic Services was asked to review the position;

Records indicate that very few Members routinely miss pre-meetings;

Most of the those Members are in employment;

Council approved, on the recommendation of this Committee, that flexibility be given to each Committee to vary their start times by up to an hour to better accommodate these Members;

Having reviewed the position, no further actions are considered necessary at this stage.

Financial Impacts:

None

Integrated Impact Assessment:

Not required

Valleys Communities Impacts:

None

Workforce Impacts:

None

Legal Impacts:

There is no requirement for Members to attend pre-meetings. Attendance is voluntary.

Risk Management Impacts:

Very limited. The participation of people in the meetings who did not attend the pre-meetings can be managed by the Chair in other ways.

Consultation:

‘There is no requirement for external consultation on this item’

Recommendations:

That the Democratic Services Committee notes this report.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

To confirm action/or not related to a request from the Committee to examine the attendance at pre-meetings in the context of identifying further opportunities to enhance the scrutiny arrangements of the Council.

Appendices:

None

Officer Contact:

Mrs K Jones, Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Digital Officer. Tel: 01639 763284 E-mail: k.jones3@npt.gov.uk