Children, Families and Communities Scrutiny Committee

Membership and Quorum The Committee shall be politically balanced and comprise 10 councillors plus any coopted members appointed by Full Council, the Committee, or those required by statute. The quorum shall be one third of the Committee membership.   Purpose To scrutinise and review matters relating to children, families, and communities in Newcastle upon Tyne, ensuring that services are effective, inclusive, and responsive to local needs. In doing so the Committee will discharge the council’s overview and scrutiny function in respect of the following council functions: ·  Adults and children’s safeguarding ·  Education ·  Early Help and support for families ·  Community safety and resilience ·  Community cohesion and inclusion ·  Voluntary and community sector engagement ·  Libraries, leisure, and cultural services ·  Such other areas allocated by Full Council   Crime and disorder The Children, Families and Communities Committee shall be designated as the council’s Crime and Disorder Committee (in accordance with sections 19, 20 and 21 of the Police and Justice Act 2006) with responsibility for scrutinising crime and disorder and community safety matters, including Councillor Calls for Action on those topics and to exercise the duties and powers of a crime and disorder committee as set out below. The Children, Families and Communities Committee may delegate the responsibility for discharging these duties and the powers to carry out this role to a sub-committee. 1.  The Crime and Disorder Committee shall meet to scrutinise decisions made or other actions taken in connection with the crime and disorder functions of the “responsible authorities” at least once per year. 2.  If the Committee makes a request in writing for information from a “responsible authority” or “co-operating person or body” the information must be provided in the timescale specified in the request unless this cannot reasonably be done, in which case it should be provided as soon as reasonably possible. The information provided shall: a.  Be depersonalised unless the identification of an individual is necessary to allow the committee to properly exercise its powers. b.  Not include information that would be reasonable likely to prejudice legal proceedings or current or future operations of the responsible authorities or co-operating person or body. 3.  The Committee may require the attendance of an officer or employee of a responsible authority or cooperating person or body. Reasonable notice of the date and time of the intended date of attendance must be given. 4.  If the Committee makes a report or recommendations to “a cooperating person or body” they must consider it and respond to the Committee in writing within 28 days or if this is not reasonable possible as soon as possible thereafter. For the purposes of this paragraph “Cooperating persons or bodies” means: a.  A parish council b.  An NHS Trust or Foundation Trust c.  The governing body of an Local Education Authority maintained school or further education establishment d.  The proprietor of an independent school e.  A private registered provider of social housing f.  Any other person or body prescribed by the Secretary of State under section 5(2)(c) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998  

Terms of Reference

  In carrying out its functions the committee shall:   a.  Consider, or arrange for the consideration of, any decisions (relevant to the Committee’s terms of reference), which are “called in” for scrutiny in accordance with the provisions of section 15 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules (Part 4E of the Newcastle Charter). b.  Consider, or arrange for the consideration, of any matter referred to it (relevant to the Committee’s terms of reference), by a member of the Council in accordance with section 9FC of the Local Government Act 2000 (Councillor Call for Action). The committee may discharge this responsibility by referring the matter to an appropriate sub-committee, standing or task and finish group for consideration. c.  Co-ordinate its own work programmes and consider any related insight and guidance provided by the Scrutiny Governance Group. d.  Make reports or recommendations to City Council, the Cabinet or other committees or sub-committees or relevant partners or other organisations. e.  Conduct or commission research, subject to resources being available. f.  Consult with relevant individuals, groups, communities and experts. g.  Require members of the Cabinet and senior officers of the Council (Head of Service and above) to attend to answer questions in accordance with paragraph 13 of Part 4E of the Charter. h.  Review and scrutinise the performance of other organisations and public bodies relevant to its area of work, utilising where necessary the powers conferred by section 9F (2) of the Local Government Act 2000. i.  Question and gather evidence from any person or organisation (with their consent). j.  Make appropriate use of any resources allocated to them to help it carry out its functions. k.  Appoint sub-committees, task and finish groups, and standing groups to help it carry out the Council’s scrutiny functions relevant to the committee’s terms of reference. The Scrutiny Governance Group will be consulted about any such proposal and their advice and guidance considered prior to formalising any appointment. l.  When creating these sub-committees and groups, the committee shall: ·  Determine the remits, and nominate members to serve on any sub-committee, standing or task and finish groups it appoints. Each sub-committee, standing or task and finish group should include at least one member of the original scrutiny committee amongst its membership. The original scrutiny committee will normally appoint at least the Chair of any such groups, who shall be drawn from the membership of the original scrutiny committee. ·  Standing and task and finish groups shall normally be time limited, and the original scrutiny committee should set timescales for them to complete their work. ·  Ensure all sub-committees, standing and task and finish groups are making progress and require them to report to the original scrutiny committee on a regular basis, and at least quarterly. m.  Task small groups or individual members to carry out work on its behalf including areas related to its work programme (for example making a site visit or interviewing witnesses), subject to all such work being agreed by the committee in advance and to report back to the committee at the appropriate time. These powers may be delegated to sub-committees, standing or task and finish groups in order to allow them to effectively carry out the functions they are tasked with. The committee may wish to reserve to itself the power to sign off any reports from its sub-committees, standing and task and finish groups and to make decisions about the use of resources. n.  Resolve any disputes between the sub-committees, standing and/or task and finish groups it appoints, in which event the decision of the committee will be final. In respect of the above and in all scrutiny matters, the committee shall consider the advice and guidance of the Scrutiny Governance Group.