Issue - meetings

A Scrutiny Inquiry Day is a mechanism for a short single topic scrutiny, used where a formal panel meeting may not be as effective or appropriate, or to review progress in an area which has already been the subject of scrutiny work.

It is standard practice for Policy Development & Scrutiny Panels to invite people with relevant experience or knowledge to give information, expert opinion or advice. Such experts may be Council officers, outside agencies, academics, voluntary organisations, community or campaign groups, local residents, service users etc.

How will the Scrutiny Inquiry Day achieve an impact?

There are two main aims of Scrutiny Inquiry Days. These are to:

•  enhance understanding of an issue that involves many organisations, in addition to the Council

•  develop recommendations for an inclusive and positive way forward.

Given that the scrutiny methodology more often than not involves bringing together practitioners and strategic-level staff from different sectors, scrutiny activities may also have a lasting beneficial effect beyond their immediate aims. These benefits include facilitating communication and co-operation between jointly interested parties on a topic or issue.

The Chair of the Panel, Councillor Marie Longstaff welcomed everybody and gave an overview of what would take place during the day.

She informed those present that presentations would be delivered by the following individuals / groups;

Kirsten Elliott, local resident and joint organiser of the Single Inquiry Day

Statements from the Public

Current situation and the powers we have to take action

Councillor David Dixon, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Cath Humphries, Neighbourhood Environmental Manager, B&NES

Peter Rock, Ornithologist

Cllr Geoff Ward

Andrew Cooper, Bath Business Improvement District Manager

Experiences of other authorities

Carlisle Council

Julie Wight, Gloucester City Council, for the Severn Estuary Gull Group

Facilitated workshop

What can we all do to tackle the urban gull problem in Bath?

Copies of these presentations will be available on the Panel’s Minute Book and on the Council’s internet pages.

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and explained that the Panel’s recommendations would be submitted to their January 14^th 2014 meeting.