Page last updated at 12:14 GMT, Wednesday, May 25 2011

Overview and Scrutiny Panels

Public scrutiny is an essential part of ensuring that government remains effective and accountable.  Public scrutiny can be defined as the activity by one elected or appointed organisation or office examining and monitoring all or part of the activity of a public sector body with the aim of improving the quality of public services.  A public sector body is one that carries out public functions or spends public money.  Scrutiny ensures that executives are held accountable for their decisions, that their decision-making process is clear and accessible to the public and that there are opportunities for the public and their representatives to influence and improve public policy.

Public scrutiny is now moving into another era with community-led scrutiny of local decisions.  This is where the public’s involvement in challenging local authorities and public service providers on public service improvement and delivery is actively sought by elected representatives (such as MPs or councillors) or appointed non-executives on governing bodies (such as school governors or non-executive directors of hospital trusts).  Constructive and ongoing engagement with stakeholders, from experts to the general public, helps to achieve genuine accountability for the use of public resources.

Public scrutiny therefore provides a unique perspective on how well public services are being delivered and how they could be improved, from the point of view of those receiving and using those services.

(From: CfPS http://www.cfps.org.uk/introduction-to-scrutiny )

The Council has two Scrutiny Panels to discharge the functions conferred by section 21 of the Local Government Act 2000 or regulations under section 32 of the Local Government Act 2000. Their areas of responsibility, which are related to Cabinet lead responsibilities, are shown below.

• Resources - Regeneration and Resources, Customer Service and Business and Skills
• Policy and Performance - Environment, Transport and Streetscene, Health, Leisure, Housing and Communities.

(a) review and/or scrutinise decisions of the Cabinet and Local Area committees on a post-implementation basis;

(b) make reports and/or recommendations tot he Cabinet, Local Area Committees or the Council in connection with the discharge of any functions;

(c) assist with policy development and budget evolution or other work; and

(d) undertake work related to Best Value.

The full terms of reference are as follows:

(a)   To overview and scrutinise the Cabinet decisions of the Cabinet and Local Area Committees on a post-implementation basis.

(b)   The overview and scrutiny of policy implementation, and the effectiveness of policy in achieving objectives.

(c)   To review, on a regular basis, the contents of the Forward Plan;

(d)   To assist with policy development, and budget evolution or other work when requested by either the Cabinet or the Council.

(e)   In liaison with the Cabinet or relevant lead, to undertake efficiency and improvement work related to their theme areas.

(f)     To monitor the implementation of improvement plans arising from efficiency and improvement reviews related to their theme areas.

(g)   To make recommendations to the Cabinet, Local Area Committee or the Council in the light of (a) to (e).

(h)   To recommend to the Council that other policy development, overview or scrutiny work should be undertaken.

(i)     To scrutinise organisational performance related to their theme areas, including the outcomes achieved and other key performance indicators.

In carrying out their role each Panel will liaise with the lead Cabinet Member for its theme areas, and with Local Area Committee Chairs, to facilitate effective working relationships.