Completed in-depth reviews

Overview and Scrutiny Committees can develop their own programme of in-depth reviews, which allows them to investigate issues in innovative ways. Much of this work is undertaken by informal task groups of councillors who are able to call on advice from experts and evaluate best practice.

When an overview and scrutiny committee has completed its investigations, it can make recommendations to the council's decision-makers. The Cabinet or Full Council is obliged to consider these recommendations and provide a response back to the committee.

Below is a record of all the in-depth review reports produced by Medway Council's overview and scrutiny committees since they were established in 2001.

Review

Terms of reference

Date completed

Committee

2020      
Early Help (Parenting) Task Group To review the availability of parental support services in Medway and focus on identifying key opportunities for improved parental support, which will contribute to the forthcoming Parenting and Early Help strategies. December 2020 Children and Young People
2019      
The Impact of Social Isolation in Medway To review progress to date in Medway and opportunities to enhance existing work as well as considering the national picture to ensure that Medway’s approach is aligned with the emerging national picture.

It is recognised that the voluntary sector and local communities are both critically important to addressing the causes of social isolation and to promoting community connectedness and it will therefore be important to consider the views and contribution of community groups as part of the evidence gathering.
January 2019 Health and Adult Social Care

2018

     

Employment opportunities for 18 to 25 year-olds (including apprenticeships)

To consider the NEET rate for 18-25 year olds in Medway and the contributory factors
  • To evaluate the Council’s role as community leader in terms of a Medway Skills agenda working with partners locally and regionally to encourage the growth of the local job market and deliver outcomes around skills, training and employment for 18-25 year olds
  • To evaluate the Council’s performance as an employer - ‘leading by example’
  • To consider action required to address the particular needs of vulnerable young people including looked after children and those with disabilities in the 18-25 age range

February 2018

Regeneration, Culture and Environment / Children and Young People

2017

 

 

 

How far has Medway gone in becoming Dementia Friendly

(pdf 1,664KB)

To assess how far Medway has gone in developing a dementia friendly community and make recommendations on potential further areas for action with a view to Medway achieving national recognition by the Alzheimer’s Society as a dementia friendly community by 2020 in line with the (former) Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia.

 May 2017

Health and Adult Social Care

2016

 

 

 

Housing - Demand, Supply and Affordability

(pdf 1,957KB)

 

To review the demand, supply and affordability of housing in Medway in the context of the key social and economic role that housing plays, particularly for those who are struggling to access housing.

 

May 2016

Business Support

2010-2015

 

 

 

Support for Care Leavers (pdf 1,910KB)

 

To review how Medway can further support Medway’s care leavers to have a stable and productive adult life being positive and active citizens

March 2015

 

Children and Young People

Welfare Reform 

(pdf 1,485KB)

 

  • To consider the implementation and impact of the Welfare Reforms in Medway on people of working age.
  • To identify, where appropriate, any need for new interventions or different approaches to minimise detrimental impacts of the reforms.

September 2014

Business Support

 

Health Inequalities Task Group (pdf 9.83MB)

 

Health inequalities across Medway wards and how to direct investment where it is most needed.

Subsequently The Cabinet agreed the recommendations taking on board suggested alterations from the Health and Wellbeing Board which can be found here.

 

February 2014

 

Health and Adult Social Care

Mental Health Task Group 
(pdf 264KB)

 

A broad scrutiny review of mental health services across Medway, with a focus on user and carer
experience and the outcomes of using
services across all age groups.

 

January 2014

 

Health and Adult Social Care

De-cluttering streets in Medway (pdf 980KB)

 

 

The task group agreed the following terms of reference:

  • To review legislation, government policy and established best practice in relation to street clutter
  • To consider the current picture in Medway against national guidelines and best practice elsewhere
  • Take views from relevant stakeholders
  • To bring forward recommendations to reduce street clutter in Medway by way of future design principles

 

July 2013

 

Regeneration, Community and Culture

 

Supported Accommodation

(pdf 383KB)

Please note: This document is no longer draft

 

 

 

November 2012

 

Regeneration, Community and Culture

Fair access to credit (1) (pdf 643KB)

 

To examine and bring forward recommendations on:

  • The role the council can play in supporting Medway residents affected by unaffordable credit and development of a clear policy.
  • How the council can lobby the government to strengthen the rules governing the issue of lending licences and address the lack of affordable credit. A strategy to manage the supply and demand of high cost credit - focused on making the industry transparent and supporting alternatives such as credit unions.
  • How the council can provide financial literacy and affordable lending and debt counselling.

September 2012

 

 

Business Support

 

Fair access to credit (2) (pdf 643KB)

 

To examine and bring forward recommendations on:

  • The role the council can play in supporting Medway residents affected by unaffordable credit and development of a clear policy.
  • How the council can lobby the government to strengthen the rules governing the issue of lending licences and address the lack of affordable credit. A strategy to manage the supply and demand of high cost credit - focused on making the industry transparent and supporting alternatives such as credit unions.
  • How the council can provide financial literacy and affordable lending and debt counselling.

September 2012

 

Regeneration, Community and Culture

Effective challenge of underperformance in schools (pdf 214KB)

 

A task group of members carried out a review looking into ways of improving Key Stage 2 attainment in Medway, as well as identifying barriers to improvement and interventions to overcome them. The task group made a number of recommendations which were endorsed by the Cabinet at its meeting on 17 April 2012.

 

March 2012

 

Children and Young People

Countering bullying (pdf 2538KB)

 

This report provided the committee with a background to countering bullying and information on the work and findings of the countering bullying task group.  The committee held a themed meeting on 1st March, involving a number of external agencies and children and young people, to discuss the issues of bullying and identify good practice in tackling and preventing bullying and bad behaviour.  To read the minutes of this meeting please click on the following link.

 

 

March 2011

Children and Young People

 

2005-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter services

(pdf 433KB)

 

A task group of members looked into current winter highway services and recommended future provision of gritting and snow clearance services in Medway from 2010-17.

November 2010

Regeneration, Community and Culture

 

The effectiveness and future of PACTs

(pdf 3,630KB)

 

A task group undertook this review to evaluate the effectiveness and future of Partners and Communities Together (PACTs) in Medway.

 

November 2010

 

Regeneration, Community and Culture

 

Carers' review

On 18 November 2010 the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee held a second themed meeting on carers' support. The idea of the meeting was to consider what progress had been made since the last themed meeting on the topic held on 23 March 2010. A number of carers attended the meeting and put forward further issues. A small member task group will be meeting in the new year to consider the issues put forward and to look at the performance of the Carers' Centre and Crossroads who are commissioned by the council to provide support to carers.

It has been agreed that a report on progress will be considered by the committee in the autumn of 2011.

November 2010

 

Health and Adult Social Care

 

Healthy eating among children and young Children and people (pdf 1,259KB)

 

To review the service and interventions available to support and encourage children and young people to follow a healthy diet and healthy lifestyles.

 

September 2010

 

Children And Adults

 

Support for people in temporary accommodation

(pdf 7161KB)

Review of the position in Medway with regard to support for people in temporary accommodation.

 

October 2009

 

Business Support

Third party commentary to the Health Commission (pdf 500KB)

 

This review related to the extent to which Medway NHS Foundation Trust was now able to demonstrate compliance with core standard C20a - safe and secure environment, a standard that had been qualified by the Healthcare Commission in the 2007/08 annual health check.

 

March 2009

 

Health and Adult Social Care

Youth facilities in Medway

(pdf 2,102KB)

 

To review the provision of youth facilities in Medway run by both the council and other organisations.

October 2008

 

Children And Adults

 

Day care services for adults with a disability

(pdf 4,145KB)

 

To review day care services, investigating how services can be improved and modernised.

 

April 2008

Community Services

 

Bereavement Services

(pdf 1,776KB)

 

To review the cemetery regulations, current policies and other service issues.

 

September 2007

 

Community Services

 

Alleygates (pdf 48KB)

 

To carry out detailed work into long-term solutions, including giving consideration to community safety issues and the environment.

 

September 2007

 

Regeneration and Development

 

The future provision of water in Medway

(pdf 1,177KB)

 

To determine whether adequate plans and associated resources are in place to meet Medway's future needs for drinking water, taking into account the planned growth in Medway and the surrounding area.

 

July 2007

 

Regeneration and Development

 

14-19 Task Group Final report

(pdf 42 KB)

 

To consider issues in the 14-19 education inspection and contribute to the production of the action plan and monitor its progress.

 

February 2007

 

Children's Services

 

Bus fares

(pdf 21KB)

 

To investigate the introduction of half-price bus fares for children travelling to and from school.

 

February 2007

 

Children's Services

 

Fostering Task Group (pdf 18KB)

 

To review payment structures, training of providers and the out of hours pilot scheme. To also consider the restructure of the Carer Supervision Policy.

 

November 2006

Children's Services

 

2002-2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14-19 Task Group
Interim report
(pdf 30KB)
Addendum report

(pdf 11KB)

 

To consider issues in the 14-19 education inspection and contribute to the production of the action plan and monitor its progress.

 

December 2005

 

Education and Lifelong Learning

 

Sheltered housing

(pdf 228KB)

 

To evaluate the sheltered housing stock, taking into account specific elements set out in the terms of reference.

 

December 2005

 

Community Services

Parliamentary Election (pdf 132KB)

Review of the arrangements for the last parliamentary election.

November 2005

 

Business Support

 

Raising attainment at Key Stage 2 (pdf 231KB)

 

To investigate and identify ways to improve attainment at Key Stage 2.

 

February 2005

 

Education and Lifelong Learning

Delayed discharges from hospital (pdf 379KB)

 

To investigate the reasons for delays and identify the strategies and services which the NHS and the council are adopting to limit the delays.

December 2004

Community Services

 

Access for All - Local Transport Plan

(pdf 312KB)

 

To investigate the issues around accessibility in relation to work, education, health care, leisure and shopping, to examine potential solutions to problems and identify prospective partners to work with to help deliver those solutions.

 

December 2004

 

Environment and Front Line Services

 

Greenspaces Regeneration Strategy (pdf 52KB)

 

To oversee the process of policy development and project implementation and encourage partnership working and community participation.

 

September 2004

 

Environment and Front Line Services

 

Youth Services (pdf 62KB)

 

To review services provided to young people and to review the council's performance against national standards.

 

May 2004

 

Education and Lifelong Learning

 

Youth Justice Plan update (pdf 129KB)

 

To contribute to the production of the Youth Justice Plan.

March 2004

 

Education and Lifelong Learning

 

Community Learning Service (pdf 256KB)

 

 

To investigate how the service can be enhanced and improved to provide quality services, responsive to the needs and lifestyles of all areas of the community and to take the service into the 21st century.

 

 

 

December 2003

 

Community Services

Effectiveness and evaluation of referral and initial assessment systems (pdf 279KB)

 

To investigate the referral and initial assessment systems and identify any weaknesses. To ensure that systems exist to inform senior managers of important issues affecting teams that provide direct services to children and families.

 

December 2003

 

Community Services

Education of looked-after children (pdf 22KB)

 

 

To explore the educational achievements of Medway's looked-after children, the support provided and ways to improve their chances of success and progression.

December 2003

 

Education and Lifelong Learning

Library Services

(pdf 251KB)

 

 

To investigate how Medway is developing community-based learning and leisure facilities, to look at schemes currently offered and to consider how increased provision could be offered to communities.

 

December 2003

 

Community Services

Property and Property Services (pdf 89KB)

Review of the non-operational holdings, premises used to support service delivery (operational portfolio) and services and systems used to manage the property portfolio.

November 2003

 

Business Support

NHS Renal and Vascular Services (pdf 126KB)

To participate in a Joint Panel with Kent County Council to respond to the consultation on the future configuration of renal, vascular and interventional radiology services in Kent and Medway.

 

August 2003

 

Community Services

Understanding the work of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) (pdf 152KB)

 

To review the LSC's relationship with the council, its roles and responsibilities for the education of 14-19 year olds, funding arrangements, participation and performance and to explore the skills gap in the local economy.

 

June 2003

Education and Lifelong Learning

Housing provision for vulnerable young people (pdf 405KB)

To investigate increasing the number of dedicated beds available to young people known to the Youth Offending Team and to develop working links with the Supporting Young People Programme.

 

April 2003

Education and Lifelong Learning

Review of the 24-hour economy (pdf 183KB)

 

To investigate ways the council can develop the economy by making services, entertainment and facilities more widely available at times and venues which suit the needs of all age groups and backgrounds, taking into account changing work patterns.

 

March 2003

 

Community Services

 

Behaviour and SEN

(pdf 44KB)

 

To consider issues of inclusion, behaviour and special educational needs

 

February 2003

 Youth and Education

Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) domestic services (pdf 212KB)

 

To participate in a Select Committee with Kent County Council to review CTRL domestic services and to identify the best service pattern for the communities of both areas.

 

January 2003

 

Environment

 

Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) freight services

(pdf 144KB)

 

 

 

To participate in a Select Committee with Kent County Council to review CTRL freight services and to identify the best service pattern for the communities of both areas.

 

January 2003

 

Environment

 

 

The future development of air transport in the United Kingdom (pdf 761KB)

 

To review the consultation document The Future Development of Air Transport in the UK, particularly those elements associated with the option of establishing a new airport at Cliffe.

October 2002

 

Environment

 

 

SEN - Home to School Transport (pdf 21KB)

 

To review the criteria on Special Educational Needs (SEN) - Home to School Transport for children with an SEN statement.

 

September 2002

Youth and Education

 

Parking charges (pdf 23KB)

To explore changes to the parking tariff structure and differential changes in the towns.

 

July 2002

Environment

 

School Organisation Plan (pdf 19KB)

 

To scrutinise the draft School Organisation Plan.

 

July 2002

Youth and Education