Councillor Jim Hakewill

The Scrutiny Management Board approved the Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26 on 24 August 2026. The Board agreed that the recommendation tracker should inform the Scrutiny Annual Report for 2026/27, including measures of recommendations made, accepted, and implemented, along with their outcomes.

The Scrutiny Management Board approved the establishment of a Task and Finish Panel to scrutinise the Highways Maintenance Contract on 24 August 2026. The panel will comprise nine members from the Place and Environment Scrutiny Committee and the Corporate Scrutiny Committee. The panel's findings and recommendations will be reported to the Place and Environment Scrutiny Committee and then to the Executive, and resident engagement will be included from the outset.

The Scrutiny Management Board reviewed and approved the updated Scrutiny Work Programme for 2026/27 on 24 August 2026. The Board considered adding items from the Executive Forward Plan for pre-scrutiny. The approved work programme will be communicated to the four Scrutiny Committees for management at their next meetings.

The Corporate Scrutiny Committee decided to approve recommendations regarding the indicative budget timeline and scrutiny process for 2027/28 on 18 August 2026. The committee noted the proposed timeline, commented on the Scrutiny Task and Finish Panel Scoping Document and the budget setting arrangements for the Children's Trust, and recommended the draft timeline and areas for the 2027/28 scrutiny process to the Executive.

The Corporate Scrutiny Committee decided to approve recommendations on 18/08/2026. The committee noted the council's performance for Q1 2026/27 and requested the Chief Executive write to the Ministry of Justice regarding the financial and practical impact of young people being remanded into local authority care.