Last night’s Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel welcomed the return of Cllr John Howe, who has been absent for some months due to illness.
Throughout the meeting (reports to follow later), he asked pertinent questions and played his part in scrutinising the agenda items.
It was towards the end of the meeting that Cllr Howe criticised the effectiveness of the panel over the last four years.
Howe: “Not a very strong force”
He said, “I feel that Scrutiny is not a very strong force within this council. I feel some of us think that we’re here just to purely criticise the cabinet member.
“I’d sooner see Scrutiny actually investigating and making recommendations,” he went onto say.
Seeking other opinions
Cllr Howe went on to say, “We should be looking into things more, listening to people more, understanding what’s going on and we don’t do it. We are councillors and we should be doing this.
“We should have witnesses and people coming in to give other opinions.”
Howe: “Only one option”
He pointed out that only one option was being put in front of the panel in relation to the child protection action plan – to approve the report.
“Some things I like in it, some things I don’t,” he said.
Cousins: Recommendations would be included
Cllr Cousins responded that the report had been brought into front of the panel, as requested by them, in order for her to take comments back to the Cabinet next week.
She gave an assurance that when she presents the report to Cabinet on Tuesday (12th March) she would expect any recommendations or input made by the Scrutiny Panel would be included.
Lack of investigation
Welcoming the input at the meeting of those attending from Hampshire County Council, Cllr Howe said, “I think it’s been absolutely brilliant.”
He recalled that the council used to have Select Committees, which carried out investigations, “We don’t do that any more,” he said, “We should be meeting monthly, not every other month.”
“Otherwise how can you keep up with things?” he finished.
His points weren’t addressed further, with the chair moving onto the next question.
