[Ed Hammond]

If you are e-mailing Julia would you please also copy me in?

Is anyone planning to do a partner event / public event to help to select topics? I know that this has been popular in recent years but what with the cutbacks in discretionary budgets is this an approach now considered too resource or time intensive in many authorities?

[Gemma Waugh]

Don't do what we did. For our Children's Trust Scrutiny Panel (sits outside main scrutiny panel) we did a long list of topics based on priorities of our Children and Young Peoples Plan/LAA and inspections. We narrowed that down to a short list of three to then let our members select the two topics to cover. All said "we can't rule one out they are all very important" and were adamant all three topics had to be covered, despite the fact that this would require an additional three meetings in the year (we work on a 3 meeting plan-do-review cycle where the do is a field visit). If you are going to give them a choice then be clear how many they must select and give a big enough pot for them to select from to stop them saying "why not just do it all".

[Tracey Tiff]

Hi

We recently hold a similar workshop for our non-Executive Councillors - happy to share the programme with you. The public was also asked to forward suggestions too - the press promoted the event.

If you want to discuss further or receive a copy of the programme, let me know

Tracy

ttiff@northampton.gov.uk

[Heather Smith]

I thought that Jessica's article on scrutiny cafes was a really interesting idea. I am working on programme for a community event that will include a topic selection element and I'm considering whether this might be a good approach. Has anyone tried it for this purpose?