Agenda item - Traveller Strategy Scrutiny Review

Report of the Strategic Director, Resources (copy attached).

83.1         Councillor Littman introduced the report which detailed the findings and recommendations of the Traveller Scrutiny Panel and the response to those recommendations from the Administration.  He stated that it had been a challenging and complex subject and he wished to acknowledge the role of the Chair, Dr. McGarry from the University of Brighton and the panel members.  The Panel had been expertly supported by the exceptional scrutiny team and he hoped it would become a model for future scrutiny reviews.

83.2         Councillor West stated that it had been a pleasure to welcome the report which detailed a valuable and comprehensive piece of work, for which he wished to thank the panel members, the various witnesses and scrutiny officers.  It was an excellent example of how scrutiny work could contribute to policy development and he believed it had improved the final commissioning strategy which was the next item on the agenda.  He noted that the majority of the recommendations had been taken on board and built into the strategy which he hoped would be the foundation for future development.

83.3         Councillor Summers stated that she had welcomed the opportunity to sit on the panel and believed that a balanced report had been produced, based on current up-to-date data.  She wished thank everyone who had given evidence, noting that at times it had been very intense with differing views being outlined and taken on board.  She hoped that it had influenced the commissioning strategy and that the recommendations would be closely monitored under the new governance arrangements.

83.4         Councillor Robins stated that he had learnt a lot during the course of the panel and was pleased to have been a member and part of the process.  He wished to pay tribute to the panel members and especially the Chair, Dr McGarry and to thank the scrutiny staff for their support throughout.

83.5         Councillor G. Theobald welcomed the report and thanked all concerned for taking his request forward and producing what was overall a very good report and a number of excellent recommendations.  He was concerned about the final recommendation which he felt went too far in regard to the role of councillors and felt that Chair’s foreword was unhelpful in referencing councillors.

83.6         Councillor Littman noted the comments and stated that he had nothing to add other than to recommend the report to all Members.

83.7         The Mayor noted that the report was before Members for information and asked that it be noted.

83.8         RESOLVED: That the report be noted.