Scrutiny and Overview Function

Overview and Scrutiny

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PROGRAMME 2010/2011

Shepway Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committees review decisions of the council, look at how the council performs and investigate issues affecting the district.

The Corporate Scrutiny Committee is responsible for reviewing and scrutinising Cabinet decisions, contributing to the development of the budget and associated financial strategies, and performance plans.

During 2009/10 the committee reviewed a range of reports before they went to Cabinet for a decision including the Fees and Charges Strategy, Capital Investment Strategy, Medium Term Capital Programme and a report about enhanced access to services

The Community Overview Committee contributes to the development and review of the Community Strategy, considers how the council engages with the community and develops relationships with its partners, and helps prepare responses to consultation on various local matters including health or education for Cabinet to consider.

Plans and strategies reviewed by the committee during 2009/10 included the Shepway Local Development Framework, East Kent Sustainable Community Strategy, Shepway Housing List, Folkestone West Proposed Parking Zone and the Shepway Car Park Residents' Permit Scheme.

The Annual Scrutiny programme is now being planned and both committees want to look at issues that are important in your community. It need not be about the council or its services.

If you would like an issue considered for inclusion in the scrutiny programme please contact the Committee Administrator, Shirlee Chatterton, on 01303 853488 or by email shirlee.chatterton@shepway.gov.uk.

Introduction

The Local Government Act 2000 changed the structure under which councils in England and Wales operated. Instead of the committee-based decision-making system that had existed since 1974, the new system was based on either a directly elected Mayor or a Leader and Executive model. Shepway District Council operate under the Leader and Executive model also referred to as ‘Cabinet’.

Scrutiny explained

Under this decision-making model, councillors fall into one of two catagories - either executive (Cabinet members) or non-executive (non-Cabinet members). The role of the non-executive councillors is to hold the Cabinet to account and to review the performance of the council. 

The powers of overview and scrutiny bodies are set out in the council’s constitution. The powers include:

• review of executive decisions and actions
• review of other decisions
• reporting on issues affecting the council area and inhabitants
• call-in and review of executive decisions which have not been implemented.

The main roles of Overview and Scrutiny

Main roles of overview and scrutiny in local government:

1. Review of executive decision using call in power
2. Holding the council to account:
     Holding to account: pre-decision scrutiny of executive decisions
     Holding to account: scrutiny of past performance or events
3. Performance Management
     Keeping implementation under review
     Contributing to the improvement of performance
4. Policy review
5. Policy development
6. External scrutiny
   

Overview and Scrutiny at Shepway District Council

Shepway District Council has two overview and scrutiny committees Corporate Scrutiny Committee and Community Overview Committee.

Corporate Scrutiny Committee undertakes to:

• Review and scrutinise the executive’s decisions.
• Contribute to the development of the budget and other financial strategies
• Contribute to and review the development of the council’s policies and strategies.
• Contribute to and review the council’s performance plan and performance management system.

Community Overview Committee undertakes to:

• Contribute to and review the council’s community strategy and review against performance targets.
• Review and monitor the Council’s strategies that have an impact on relationships with the public.
• Review and monitor the Council’s relationship with its partnerships and scrutinise the work and decisions of the partnerships.
• Prepare responses to consultations on any matters that affect community services.

Speaking at an Overview or Scrutiny meeting

While conducting reviews, an overview or scrutiny committee may call upon interested members of the public or relevant professional experts to help it in its deliberations.

The following guide has been produced to help those who have been called to speak at the meeting of an overview or scrutiny committee

A guide for witnesses.