Scrutiny Reviews
What are Scrutiny Reviews?
The Committee commissions a number of “task and finish” time limited panels which conduct in-depth investigations into local policy and performance issues. Topics chosen for in-depth investigation are developed from consultation with Councillors, officers, partners and members of the public with a view to making recommendations to improve a particular service area. Panels are chaired by a member of the overarching scrutiny committee with other non-Cabinet members sitting on the panel.
Completed in-depth reviews with their recommendations for service improvement, must be approved by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Once approved the scrutiny reports are subsequently sent to Cabinet and/or to the relevant external body for decision and implementation. Overview and Scrutiny Committee then monitors the implementation of the recommendations agreed by Cabinet and request an update report to ensure the desired outcomes have been achieved.
|Back to topHow are Scrutiny Review Topics Selected?
Scrutiny topics are chosen having regard to:
- Government policy and new legislation which identifies additional or changed duties or powers
- The success of the partnership in achieving local improvement targets
- The views on services expressed in the Comprehensive Area Assessment process, other independent assessments including the annual external audit management letter, residents’ surveys and other assessments of need and provision.
- The views of the Standing Leadership Conference and its themed boards on those areas where scrutiny would be most beneficial
- The views of the local community including service users.
Suggestions for topics are usually received from councillors, officers, Council partners, the Standing Leadership Conference theme boards and members of the public. Please see our page 'Suggest a topic for scrutiny review' on how to become involved in scrutiny.
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