1. BUDGET SCRUTINY COMMITTEE REVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE WORK JUNE, 2003 COMMITTEE ITEM 7

2. WHAT DOES SCRUTINY DO? POLICY DEVELOPMENT REVIEW. HOLD THE EXECUTIVE TO ACCOUNT AND CALL- IN. CHAIRS INVOLVEMENT IN BEST VALUE REVIEWS. WIDER ISSUES AND OUTSIDE BODIES. PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT.

3. BUDGET COMMITTEE – TERMS OF REFERENCE TO HAVE OVERSIGHT AND SCRUTINY OF To monitor the implementation of budget proposals and make recommendations to the cabinet on the need to address variations from the Budget. To consider Budget proposals from Directorates and make recommendations to Cabinet as to their viability. To respond to the budget consultation exercise. To monitor and scrutinise net expenditure against the budget during the year and report to Cabinet on any issues of concern. To scrutinise and comment to cabinet upon any matters of budget strategy development referred to it by Cabinet. To scrutinise the financial implications of the Challenge, outcome and improvement plan proposals of best value and other service reviews. To require other members or officers, and may request representatives of the community or outside organisations, to attend meetings to advise, assist and inform their deliberations.

4. LOOKING BACK ON 2002 What has been good/not so good, what have we learnt? What is recognised as good practice? What are the development needs for scrutiny/members /officers/partners? What should our approach be for 2003/2004?

5. BUDGET COMMITTEE ISSUES ADDRESSED IN 2002/2003 THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL BE FUNCTIONING AS A SCRUTINY COMMITTEE.

6. ODPM – Good Practice Environment that should exist. Need an emphasis on Policy Development. Need good membership and leadership engagement. Need a responsive executive. Need non-partisan working. Need to continue to develop direct officer support. Need a supportive senior officer culture. Need for high levels of awareness.

7. Discussion What issues do we want to look at? How do we want the committee to function?

8. ISSUES TO DISCUSS FOR DEVELOPMENT How the committee carries out its business in a focussed manner. Further member and officer training. Research and comparative work. Engaging with the community and partners. Promoting our work. Relationships with others I.e. Cabinet/Directors Team/Officers/Partners and External Agencies. Work Planning. Improved focus for the committees work. Need to consider specific issues to look at ‘in depth’. Need to identify issues of community concern both locally and citywide. Continue to develop and build good practice and share good practice with other scrutiny committees both within and outside the City Council.

9. Discussion What issues do we want to look at in 2003/2004. How do we want the committee to function?