Scrutiny - Completion of the Fly Tipping Review 2023-24 and Identification of a Topic for 2024-25
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 December 2023
Back to Audit and Scrutiny Committee — 19 December 2023 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL AUDIT AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE FINANCIAL SERVICES 19 DECEMBER 2023 SCRUTINY – COMPLETION OF THE FLY TIPPING REVIEW 2023-24 AND IDENTIFICATION OF A TOPIC FOR 2024-25 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The objective of the report is to provide the Audit and Scrutiny Committee (the Committee) with an update for a planned approach for the progress and completion of a scrutiny review in the context of the Scrutiny Manual and Framework as part of the Committee’s scrutiny role for 2023-24. 1.2 In 2023-24 it was agreed that the scrutiny work which was previously undertaken on ‘Fly-Tipping’ be revisited based on the need for additional data which would be collected from within the Council. Limited additional data has now been collated and which the Panel may wish to consider in any final conclusions to that work. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 The Audit and Scrutiny Committee is asked to: 2.2 Consider and approve, given that only one further meeting of the original Scrutiny Panel is likely to be required to complete the ‘Fly-Tipping’ scrutiny review, the appointment of Martin Caldwell for that purpose. 2.3 Consider and determine whether the topic for 2024-25 will be a review on Persistent Organic Pollutants ‘POPs’. - (The Committee has previously alluded to as an item of interest for Scrutiny in financial year 2024-25 thereby allowing a clear link between the outstanding work which will have been undertaken in relation to ‘Fly-Tipping’). 2.4 In the event of the Committee being minded to approve ‘POPs’ as the area identified for scrutiny in 2024-25, appoint a Panel Chair and two further Members to form a Scrutiny Panel for the review which will commence within financial year 2024-25. 3 DETAIL 3.1 The development of the scrutiny function has progressed successfully and has been well received within the Council. During the review of ‘fly tipping’, data which would have been helpful to the review was not available in which to provide a more accurate assessment. It was agreed that such data should be captured by the Council and once this information was available, for the Scrutiny Panel to revisit, the information would allow a more complete picture based on new data. Some additional data has now been provided and the Panel will need to consider whether this can better inform its conclusions at the time the original report had been prepared and to form a final opinion or view in relation to ‘Fly Tipping’.
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3.2 The original Panel consisted of three Members and was Chaired by Cllr Lynch, one Member of the original Panel is no longer a Member of the Committee and given the expected one final meeting required to review this additional data and to allow continuity due to previous knowledge of the review, allow Martin Caldwell to be appointed for this final meeting in order to conclude the review. 3.3 In 2023-24 it was mentioned at Committee the effects of POPs and how that may further result in additional problems and challenges associated with waste processing, costs to the Council and issues linked to an increase in Fly- Tipping and whether that may be topic which could also be looked at as part of our scrutiny function. Such an option may well follow on well from the work undertaken on Fly-Tipping and the Committee may want to pursue this as a viable option to be considered as the area identified for Scrutiny in 2024-25. 4. CONCLUSION 4.1 The scrutiny process continues to evolve as each review is progressed. Members and officers continue to identify areas for improvement and these will be addressed as they are raised. It is planned that one scrutiny topic will be taken forward for inclusion in the scrutiny work plan for 2024-25. 5 IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy - None 5.2 Financial -None 5.3 Legal -None 5.4 HR - None 5.5 Fairer Scotland Duty - None 5.5.1 Equalities – None 5.5.2 Socio-Economic Duty – None 5.5.3 5.6 Islands Duty - None Climate Change - None 5.7 Risk – None 5.8 Customer Service - None Paul Macaskill Chief Internal Auditor 19 December 2023 For further information contact: Paul Macaskill, Chief Internal Auditor (01546 604108)