Ealing Scrutiny Conference Monday 23 Victoria Hall - Stakeholders Evening Tuesday 24 Pitzhanger Manor House - Members Evening Hosted by the Scrutiny Executive

Aims of Conference  To engage more with scrutiny’s key stakeholders.  To raise the profile of scrutiny.  To plan for the forthcoming municipal year (2005/06).  To review the past year’s approach and work. Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

What we wanted to get out of the evenings...  More engagement  Ideas for scrutiny topics  To see if our communications strategy is going along the right lines  Enthuse members about scrutiny  Hit some of our BV targets  To see if a Conference works Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Stakeholders Evening - Content  Presentations from a range of speakers Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Stakeholders Evening - Content  Workshops: 1) how can the community and voluntary sector be more involved in scrutiny? 2) suggesting and scoping topics for scrutiny Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Stakeholders Evening - Content  Feedback and close Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Members Evening - Content  Opening presentations Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Members Evening - Content  Workshops 1) scoping topics for scrutiny 2) raising the profile of scrutiny OR making best use of the Scrutiny Unit OR performance management OR engaging service officers Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Members Evening - Content  Feedback (what we do now, why it’s important, what we want to achieve, how) and close Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Actual outputs...  A lot of ideas  Topics for future scrutiny - ad hoc panels and one-off agenda items  Engaging with community and voluntary groups  Members setting direction for scrutiny Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

What worked well...  Good attendance - wide range of people  Balanced range of speakers  Scrutiny coup? - new Leader and Chief Executive both speaking at the event  Gathering a lot of information to help build next year’s programme  Raising the profile of scrutiny amongst those attending  Venues and catering Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

What didn’t work so well...  Sticking to the original idea of a Members’ AwayDay  Timing - tried to squeeze in a lot into the 2.5 hours each evening  Workshops (Stakeholders Evening) a bit hit and miss, and depended a lot on facilitators  Media coverage - both before and after the event Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

What the delegates told us evaluation forms returned on Stakeholders Evening – most were extremely positive e.g.:  “Very positive event for involving community and voluntary sector.”  “Surprising good fun.”  “Speaking as an ‘anorak’ – well organised, well run and all round top event.”  “Very worthwhile and interesting.”  “Please publicise the outcome of today’s meeting.”  “Overall it was a good conference and very informative.” Members too seemed to think the Conference had been worthwhile. Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

What delegates told us (2)... Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Key learning points  A lot of officer time was spent on this project but it showed the importance of teamwork and drawing on the wider Performance and Scrutiny Division  A long lead up to planning the project needed but it does show that a Scrutiny Conference can be done (and can be fun?)  Important to get members on board and enthusiastic about the Conference Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Key learning points (2)  The Ealing Community Network was an useful route to our stakeholders  Need to appreciate that we are working with a diverse audience with wide knowledge base The Conference raised expectations and scrutiny has to manage these  Evaluation is vital and we need to build on the comments fed back Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Next time...  Need to gauge members’ enthusiasm for a Conference next year:  Do we go for a similar approach?  Think about the timing of event(s) and allow plenty of time to plan  Need to start thinking about next year’s Conference now... Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005

Proposed timeframe for 2006  January/February Consultation on scrutiny work programme with stakeholders  February Members AwayDay  April/May Scrutiny Annual Report 2005/06  4 May Local Elections  May/June Scrutiny Conference Ealing Scrutiny Conference 2005