Agenda item

6.1  The vice-chair proposed three possible topics for scrutiny review – the election and counts, primary school places allocation and the overspend on the Canada Water library.  The committee agreed that the second and third topics be included in the list of possible topics to be put to each of the sub-committees when considering their work programmes for the year ahead.

6.2  Members of the committee felt that it would be important to look into whether the counts for the general and council elections were organised effectively and to establish the impact of any queues at polling booths.  The committee asked the head of overview and scrutiny to investigate whether any other London boroughs were considering a scrutiny of their election process.  The head of overview & scrutiny indicated that, in terms of any scrutiny, it would be necessary to explore with the Returning Officer where accountabilities lay.  This discussion would need to take place before the committee began to look into any issues around the election.