The
Scrutiny Committee will:
·
Innovate and challenge the way the Council
operates
·
Exercise the call in powers contained in the
Constitution
·
Add value to the Council through in-depth
studies
·
Add value to the Council through selective studies
of external crosscutting issues
·
Promote more informal smaller group
working.
·
Open up the local democratic process to greater
public involvement.
·
Add value to the Council through pre-decision
scrutiny of Key Decisions through using the Forward Plan
·
Be involved in performance management on a selective
and strategic basis.
·
Develop effective and positive channels of
communication between itself and the Cabinet.
·
Adopt a Select Committee style and approach wherever
possible.
·
Require effective and reliable officer
support
·
Be involved in the development of Policy
·
Scrutinise areas of interest or concern and make
recommendations to Cabinet and where appropriate full Council
following the completion of such scrutiny
Functions
Within its scope and terms of reference, the Scrutiny Committee
will:
(a)
review and monitor the performance of the Council’s
services;
(b)
review and/or scrutinise policies, proposals, decisions made or
actions taken in connection with the discharge of any of the
Council’s functions;
(c)
make reports and/or recommendations to the Council and/or the
Cabinet in connection with the discharge of any
functions;
(d)
consider any matter affecting the area or its
inhabitants;
(e)
exercise the right to Call-in, for reconsideration, decisions made,
but not yet implemented by the Cabinet.
(f)
consider matters arising from a Councillor Call for Action (CCfA)
under Section 119 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in
Health Act 2007 and Regulations thereunder; and
(g)
undertake the functions of the Council’s crime and disorder
committee for the purposes of Section 19 of the Police and Justice
Act 2006, including CCfA relating to crime and disorder
matters.
Specific
Functions
(a)Scrutiny - Within its scope and terms of reference Scrutiny
may:
(i)
review and scrutinise the decisions made by and performance of the
Cabinet and/or Committees and the appropriate Officers both in
relation to individual decisions and over time;
(ii) review and scrutinise the performance of the Council in
relation to its policy
objectives, performance targets and/or particular service
area;
(iii) question Members of the Cabinet and/or Committees and
appropriate Officers about their decisions and performance, whether
generally in comparison with service plans and targets over a
period of time, or in relation to particular decisions, initiatives
or projects;
(iv) make recommendations to the Cabinet and/or appropriate
Committees and/or Council and/or any external bodies arising from
the outcome of the scrutiny process;
(v)
review and scrutinise the performance of major partnerships and
other public bodies in the area and invite written reports and/or
request them to address the Committee and local people about their
activities and performance;
(vi) require Members of the Cabinet, the Chief Executive,
Directors and Service Heads to attend to answer questions and give
evidence on receipt of at least 5 days’ written
notice.
(vii) question and gather evidence from any person, not a Member
or an Officer of the Council, with their consent;
(b)Advisory and
Review – Within its scope and terms of reference the
Scrutiny Committee may:
(i)
assist the Council and the Cabinet in the development of its Policy
Framework by in-depth analysis of policy issues, excluding those
policy areas which fall under the remit of the Strategic Planning
and Regeneration Committee;
(ii) conduct research, community and other consultation in the
analysis of policy issues and possible options, excluding those
policy issues which fall under the remit of the Strategic Planning
and Regeneration Committee;
(iii) consider and implement mechanisms to encourage and enhance
community participation in the development of policy options,
excluding those policy issues which fall under the remit of the
Strategic Planning and Regeneration Committee;
(iv) make recommendations to Cabinet and/or appropriate
Committees and/or
Council and/or any external bodies arising from the outcome of
the scrutiny process.
(v)
review and scrutinise the performance of major partnerships and
other public bodies in the area and invite written reports and/or
request them to address Councillors and local people about their
activities and performance.
(c)Annual Report
– The Scrutiny Committee will report annually to Council
on function on their workings and make recommendations for future
work programmes and amended working methods if
appropriate.
(d)Work Programme
– The Scrutiny Committee will exercise overall
responsibility for the Scrutiny Work Programme and for ensuring
that this is sustainable with regard to the support and resources
that are available to it and that is considered in conjunction with
other committees of the Council and their respective work
programmes in order to minimise duplication of effort.
Proceedings of Scrutiny
The
Scrutiny Committee will conduct their proceedings in accordance
with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules set out in the Council’s
Constitution.