What Is Overview And Scrutiny And How Does It Work?
While the Executive makes all of the Council’s decisions within the budget and policy framework set by full Council, it is the Overview and Scrutiny function of the Improvement Committees that provide the checks and balances in the new political structure.
What does ‘overview’ mean?
Each Committee has the responsibility to examine the council policy falling within their particular remit. They can decide to take an ‘overview’ of one area of policy, for example rubbish collection, and conduct an examination of how the council provides that service. The Committee will look at what the Council is doing and how it can improve its service, taking into account the views of expert witnesses, members of the public and examples of best practice elsewhere in local government. To obtain the input of external groups and individuals, the committee will use a number of methods. They might put a press release in the local paper asking for written submissions from interested people, or carry out a survey of local opinion. They might also invite groups and individuals concerned with or interested in the committees’ current investigation to speak at a committee meeting.
What does ‘scrutiny’ mean?
The Committees also have a more inward looking role. They have a duty to examine or ‘scrutinise’ documents such as the budget and corporate plan before they become council policy and they also have the responsibility to monitor the decisions taken by Executive Members. The Committees have the power to ‘call-in’ those decisions about which they require more information. A special call-in meeting will be held to discuss these issues with both Executive Members and council officers, and the Committee can then pass on their conclusions and recommendations to the relevant cabinet member based on the information they gather at the meeting. The Executive Members can choose whether to amend their decision in light of these comments, or stick with their original decision.
So, what is Scrutiny?
Scrutiny involves Councillors working with local people, community organisations, agencies that work in partnership with the council, customers and competitors to improve policies and provide effective and responsive services.
How do Improvement Committees work?
Improvement Committees carrying out the Overview and Scrutiny function are the Council’s “watchdogs”, examining its decisions and recommendations as well as monitoring the performance of local services. They are also “think tanks” openly exploring issues and examining services or policies.
Scrutiny’s role is to take steps to ensure that the Executive Councillors who make decisions about these services are held to account for their actions, and that the decision making processes are robust and transparent.
As well as Councillors on each Scrutiny Committee, there are representatives of community groups or outside bodies that are co-opted for their special knowledge. The meetings are open to the press and public.
What does scrutiny do?
The Improvement Committee carries out its activities in the context of the overview and scrutiny work programme (as listed for each individual Committee). The work programme for the Improvement Committee includes details of up and coming investigations, policy development and monitoring. Each Improvement Committee will consider the draft work programme in June / July each year.
What is the role of Overview and Scrutiny?
The role of the Overview and Scrutiny within Improvement Committees is to:
- Contribute to better decision making by the Council, the Executive, committees and sub committees including the development of policy, strategies and plans and the budget and policy framework.
- Implement a programme of Best Value reviews in accordance with the Local Government Act 1999.
- Secure continuous improvement in service delivery within the agreed policy framework through monitoring the effectiveness of implementation
- Examine the way in which external organisations contribute to the benefit of the District and recommend ways in which these bodies may improve their contribution
- Review the development of community participation in the activity of the Council including policy formulation
- Assist in the monitoring and development of Local Public Service agreements
- Support the Executive towards the achievement of the Council's corporate priorities contained in the Corporate Plan
Who can be scrutinised?
Improvement Committees also look at how other organisations in the district are providing important services to the people of the district. This can include other public organisations, such as health service, or private or voluntary organisations. Through this, they help the Council as a community leader to improve the well-being of the people in the district.
