The scrutiny committee received a report of the Committee and Scrutiny Officer including the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 5 December 2016, when the Neighbourhood Forum Task Group’s recommendations had been considered.

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer reported that Cabinet had reviewed the task group’s recommendations.  The Mayor had decided to create a small working group to further review the recommendations.  The group would comprise, the Mayor, Councillor Collett, portfolio holder for communities, Councillor Cavinder, Chair of the task group and the Head of Democracy and Governance.  The meeting was due to take place on Monday 23 January.

Following a question about the make-up of the working group and lack of an opposition councillor, the Committee and Scrutiny Officer explained that Neighbourhood Forums were an executive function and Cabinet had approved the Mayor’s suggestion about the working group.  Further information would be fed back to Overview and Scrutiny Committee once more details had been received.  Councillor Bell, group leader of the Labour group had been present at Cabinet.  The Committee and Scrutiny Officer agreed to contact the Head of Democracy and Governance about the make-up of the working group.

RESOLVED –

that an update be presented to Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 23 March 2017.